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Oppiliappan List Archive: Message 00038 Oct 2007

 
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Dear sri vaishNava perunthagaiyeer,

 

We saw 5 points given by sree naaradha, who taught [?] raamaayaNam to vaalmeeki - on raama - that 'Evam vidham naram' and the points from sreemadh bhagavadh geethaa about the type of food which goes as 'sathvis, rajasic, and thamasic'.

 

While naardha was talking about that 'Evam vidham naram' viz. on raama, in first sargam of sreemadh raamaayaNam, the 'sankshEpa raamaayaNam' as the sargam is called, sage naaradha talks about sabari - in 1-1-56 [translation only is given as in the website   --

 

Quote--

 

"When that dexterous Raama eliminated and cremated demon Kabandha heavenwards, [and when that Kabandha is vanishing heavenward] he started to tell thus, 'oh, Raghava, proceed to the ascetic lady of right-conduct and an expert in rightness, namely Sabari... [and vanished...'] thus... [1-1-56, 57a]

 

"He that great-resplendent and enemy-eliminator Raama, the son of dha saratha, arrived close at Sabari, and Sabari venerated him, thoroughly... [1-1-57b, 58a]

 

Comment: By mentioning the name of Dasharatha it is indicated that the hospitality given by this ascetic lady Shabari is more satisfactory to Raama, than that which was accorded by his own father dhasaratha. Govindaraaja.

Unquote --

 

But when vaalmeeki started his work on the raamaayaNam and when he gives a gist of what he is covering – in the third sargam - see how he touches the above portion -  

 

1-3-22

s abaree dharsanam cha eva = Sabari, the hermitic lady, seeing her, also, thus;

phala muula a sanam tathaa = fruits, tubers, eating, thus;

pralaapam cha Eva = bemoaning, also, thus [of Rama];

pampaayam hanumat dar sanam = at Pampa Lake, Hanumaan, sighted at.

 

Meaning: Raama's seeing Sabari, a hermetic lady and eating fruits and tubers given by her in utmost adoration; Raama's bemoaning for Seethaa; his sighting Hanumaan at Lake Pampa. [1-3-22]

 

Point: Please note the importance given to that 'phala moola aSanam' – the food she gave to raama. Why so much importance on this 'aSanam'? That too what naaradha has not said in first sargam – or - is it perhaps what vaalmeeki has not incorporated in first sargam as narrated by naardha? – or is it that brahma once he gave that blessing – all that will known to you – and you make that kaavyam – vaalmeeki has incorporated that?

 

Any how, since it is "On the food habits of raama in the forest" – that gets its importance for us here and hence inserted here. [more details later of that sabari meeting].

 

Another point: Further as the commentator govindaraja said 'it is more satisfactory to raama than given by his father' – it strikes me as –

-          is it the food what sabari gave

-          or the hospitality she extended to raama

-          or is it both ?

-          or is it the circumstance? For raama is suffering separation of seethaa, in the forest and in searching her raama is tired, at that time sabari gave food phala moola aSanam

The answer will be -perhaps both - that vegetarian food and given with hospitality. Perhaps as the king and father, dhasaratha gave a rich royal nonveg food to his son – with an idea to give a strong 'build' to his son - for he has to be a good warrior also as per his ruling class - the kshathriya class. Whereas sabari in her old age waiting only to meet raama and then take off from this world – so sabari is better than dhasaratha as per govindaraja.

 

As a sideline – not connected with topic on hand - see here – why seethaa was shining like moon with a beautiful dhEha kaanthi -when hanumaan saw her --

 

1-3-18.

dhar sanam sarabhangasya = seeing [visiting,] Sage Sarabhanga;

sutheekshNEna samaagamam = with Sage SuteekshNa, meeting;

anasooya samaakhyaa cha =Anasooya, the hermitic lady, smooth, speaking, also;

anga = body;

raaga = applying cream;

cha = also;

arpaNam =giving.

 

Meaning: Raama's visit to Sage Sarabhanga and SuteekshNa; their visiting hermitic lady Anasooya, and her smooth speaking with Seethaa and also her giving a body cream to Seethaa...[by applying which cream Seethaa will not wither away in the rough weather of woods. These details are incorporated with great care.] [1-3-18]

 

Perhaps anasooya giving a cream to seethaa is a small incident – but vaalmeeki took great care to incorporate that – similar is the phala moola a sanam from sabari – incorporated with great care here to show character delineation. 

 

Now you understand why this point was taken here. let us continue in next post.

Dhasan

Vasudevan m.g.



--
Vasudevan MG __._,_.___

Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan
http://www.sadagopan.org




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