#101/#001G Replies to Comments of Anonymous

Anonymous said... why did they take bows and arrows into forest then? digging?

REPLY We need not find fault with Rama and Lakshmana carrying bows and arrows, as warrior Princes. They can use them for self-defence from wild animals and demons . They can also hunt, as non-vegetarians do for their food. The problem is: Rama pledged to live like a sage before Guha, Kausalya and Jabali. The very next day of entering the forest he broke his pledge. Everybody calls Rama an Ocean of Compassion. How can an Ocean of Compassion, show no pity on poor deer? Lakshmana did lot of felling trees and cutting trees and creepers to build cottages. He might have done some digging also, to erect wooden or stone poles. Bows and arrows might have partly helped, since arrows have metallic points.

Anonymous has left a new comment on post "#025, No loin cloth to cover himself": here is a poor brahmin. what about your statement thaa all brahmins are greedy, avaricious etc.

REPLY I am unable to recollect, where I have made this generalisation that all Brahmins are greedy. Could you please quote post number or name?

vitahavya said... excepting for jainism, no religion in the world has advocated complete abstinence from meat eating. the dichotomy between vegetarianism and meat eating behaviour pointed out in the texts have persisted throughout the ages. albiruni in monumental book on india quotes indian brahmins as stating that beef eating was permissible in ancient times but not now. so is meat eating. all religions as dr. radhakrishnan said needs to be interpreted and reinterpreted to suit the times that we live in. e.g. most muslims now (excepting some extremists) would point out that quran does not permit forcible conversion. however, if you travelled back in time, muslims then would argue that they are doing other beings a favour by forcibly converting them and saving them from hell. (the concept of religious freedom is a modern (albiet good) idea.). thus there is an re-intepration of scriptures. likewise you will find most christian tracts (like jehova witness) point out the bible does not say any where the world for created in 7 (literal) days. that the days mentioned here should be interpreted as (interminate) no. of days or a period of time. that such a period of time provides scope for accomodation of big bang as well evolution therory. however had you asked a person who lived in 14 or 10th century, he would think that you are blaspheming. in god all things are possible in keeping with his omni potent powers, he could create anything in 7 days. so the karuna rasa etc. that you are saying is projection of later day social-religious more. thus by so arguing, being a lawyer, you should say that i have proved your point. i agree. all i say is be dispassionate in your analysis of any text (not just hindu. it applies to all religions. they evolved over a period of time.)

REPLY I didn't intend this Ramayana blog to be a religious blog. Karuna rasa (Compassion) has nothing to do with religion. My central idea in writing this blog: Valmiki wanted Rama to be an ideal human being. I am just making a loud thinking how much an ideal human being is Rama. You can see the opening description of the Rama's qualities made, by Valmiki in his Epic work.