Theological Studies

What is Rama’s caste and dharma, on the definitions given in the Laws of Manu?  Does he fulfill his caste-duty in the Ramayana?  How? when? where?

 

According to Laws of Manu, Rama is born to king Dashrath of the Suryvanshi dynasty. Rama is Kshatriya caste by birth, but God by karma. Rama is important to Vaishnavism and a central figure of the ancient Hindu epicRomania. Rama fulfills his caste-duty by accepting the decree of the father’s command who was a king. Prince Rama was the eldest son and was to become king after his father retired. However, the stepmother wanted Bharata, her son to become king. Remembering that the king had promised her two wishes, she demanded that Rama be banished and Bharata be made the king.  As customary, the king had to keep his word and order for Rama to be exiled. Rama obeys claiming “I gladly obey father’s command,” (Valmiki, Ramayana 1.1, Shastri trans., p. 25).

 

What is Sita’s casteand dharmaa, according to the Laws of Manu?  Does she fulfill it in the Ramayana?  How? when? where?

 

According to Laws of Manu, Sita was an infant found in the field of the king Janak of Kshatriya varna,She is the daughter of the Mother of the Earth. She has no caste by birth, but a God by Karma. Sita fulfills her caste duty when she hears about Rama banishment and begs him to go together in the forest. She shows undying support of her husband when she states, Like a shadow of substance, so wife to husband. Is it not the wife’s dharma to be at her husband’s side?(Valmiki, Ramayana 1.1, Shastri trans., p. 28).

 

What stage of life do Rama and Sita enter at their exile? Is this appropriate for either of them, per the Laws of Manu?

 

The stage of life that Rama and Sita enter at their exile is Brahmacharya or the “student age.” This is the period of formal education where the student leaves home to stay with a guru and obtain spiritual and practical knowledge. According to the Laws of Manu, it is appropriate for them as they live a happy life in the forest. They destroy their rakshasas that disturb their meditation (Valmiki, Ramayana 1.1, Shastri trans., p. 30).

 

 

Hanuman, a monkey, is something of a Han Solo to Rama’s Luke Skywalker. Does Hanuman have dharma? Does he fulfill it?

 

Hanuman has dharma as he shows compassion, loyalty, and courage when he helps Rama to find Sita. Hanuman allows himself to be captured so that he can light a fire on Ravana’s kingdom to rescue Sita. He helps Rama to build a bridge over the ocean to save Rama’s wife (Valmiki, Ramayana 1.1, Shastri trans., p. 35).

 

Do any of these three figures in the Ramayana seem to build up their karma, in a way that will lead to Moksha anytime soon? How? Include a couple of examples

 

Out of the three figures, Sita seems to build her karma in a way that would lead to Moksha. Moksha means liberation, particularly the Samsara. She depicts the silent power of suffering and sacrifice. As a baby, Sita is found in the field of kingJanak, falls in love with Rama, becomes a devoted wife and even accompanies her husband to exile. Later on, she is abducted by a demon known as Ravana and is rescued after afierceh war. Before Rama accepts her as his queen, she has to prove her chastity before all men who fought for her rescue in the battlefield (Valmiki, Ramayana 1.1, Shastri trans., p. 57).

 

Works Cited

Vālmīki, Robert Goldman, Sheldon IPollockch, Rosalind Lefeber, and Sally J. S. Goldman. Ramāyaṇa: Boyhood = Bālakāṇḍa. , 2005. Print.

 

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