As the world ushered in the new year 2024, India is engaged in a splendid landmark project in the completion of the construction of the magnificent Ram Mandir for the institutionalisation of the ethos of Indian value system that for ages has upheld the comprehensive idea of an integrally plural country. In fact, Shri Narendra Modi ji’s cultural assimilationist quest for strengthening societal bonds will now find expression through the messages of Lord Ram and his overarching stand for humane and strong cultural norms. The grand temple of Lord Ram at Ayodhya may have immense significance for the Hindus and this ought to be, but we should look beyond and applaud the temple as a monument which seeks to bring to focus the civilisational journey of Mother India in which there have never been instances of acute ruptures or breakdowns in our emotional and cultural bondings. The temple is a reminder that India has its distinct indigenous culture, which is a rich textured source of its inherent power and strength, and that a mindless emulation of westernisation is but to be strongly rejected. Indian civilisation is a vivacious one refusing to age as it is ignited with the everlasting and glorious radiance of the comprehensiveness of the idea of Vasudev Kutumbakam. Such an intense and overpowering disposition has found its absolute revelation in the Ram temple.
The newly constructed Ram Janmabhoomi temple and its sanctification no doubt is and would be a splendid religious event. It calls for a national celebration as Lord Ram is the personification for all that India symbolises, and stands for. Ramayana and so is Mahabharata are our national epics and the core of Indian value system. As such we should take pride of owning Lord Ram and crediting Him for laying down the nucleus of our social value system for which India is credited and applauded worldwide. The life of Lord Ram has never been an ordinary one. He has proved to be a role model both as a son, as a father, as a husband and most significantly as a king. Such has been the virility of His character that Lord Ram and His distinctive spiritual traits continue to remain valid for all ages. Lord Ram and his life eulogizes the values of selflessness, devotion to ones parents, courage, justice, truth and righteousness. His significance is not merely confined to only being a much revered Hindu deity. There might be some element of apprehensiveness among some groups or people in the explicit enunciation of Lord Ram. This is very unfortunate as they have failed to comprehend that Lord Ram is and continuous to hold eternal sway over our lives for His moral assertions and practical manifestation of the purity of human nature and the concomitant purity of human reason. It is for no reason that His name is invoked not only for the purposes of courtesy but also in times of death.
The entire value system of Lord Ram revolves around the philosophy of Humanism which would serve as a gospel of strength enabling the present day society in particular to navigate through the high pressure storms of dishonesty and insensibilities. Much more infact endless can be meaningfully and profoundly said about this spiritual and national entity called Lord Ram. As the personification of an ideal person ‘Purushottam’ Lord Ram has been regarded as the most powerful and unparalleled upholder of Dharma. The origin of the word Dharma can be traced to its Sanskrit root ‘dhr’ which stands for holding together, something that binds and holds society together. Thus the teachings and life examples of Lord Ram can act as a strong social adhesive and help to thwart the frailties of human nature.
One can safely argue that no time did a great spiritual personality play a more powerful and defining role in shaping the contours of our civilization and culture than the Treta Yug, a Yug which saw the magnificent and fortunate emergence of a great spiritual personality in Lord Ram who set forth a new divine age which over a period of diverse ages lost its sheen, vibrancy and prowess for diverse reasons. He was an ideal king and an ideal householder who was devoted towards protecting and promoting the highest culture of humanity and hence enlightening the lives of people and paving the way for the emergence of a culturally and spiritually rich society, the remnants of which are part and parcel of our social lives. Now is the time when we as the torch bearers of this great legacy should take a pledge to revive the era of righteousness, hope, perseverance and unity. The present government’s commitment to build and dedicate to the nation the Ram Mandir reflects its strong dedication to safeguard and preserve the country’s rich cultural heritage and legacy. Yes, the successful and peaceful construction of the of the grand Mandir in fact is a symbol of celebration for the nation which may have witnessed pressures and societal crisis but none of which proved to be so overpowering as to put our identity at risk. The Ram Mandir project would infact instil a high voltage sense of confidence amongst our population and would strengthen the process of cultural and spiritual assimilation of our country. This substantiates the invincibility and irresistibility of Lord Ram. Such a sentiment has found resonance in Farooq Abdullah’s recent statement that Lord Ram belongs to all and not only to the Hindus.
Lord Ram is the resplendent centre of all the ideals that we Indians cherish. Just like invincible power radiates through the sun and seeks to provide a prolific life support system for the entire natural system, similar is the power of the truth of which Lord Ram is the true and the absolute embodiment. When political institutions, the existence of which are inherent in a civilized social arrangement, draws their sustenance from such a source of society it will invariably echo the same resplendence. In such a desirable state of affairs political rulers would rise above temporal enticements of power and promotion of self-interest and whole heartedly devote themselves for setting up of a prosperous, righteous and morally uplifted state of society in which noble men disinterested in political power would become the steadfast torchbearers of our society. Such a fashioning of our social and political ambience would be feasible only when the spiritual values of relinquishment would guide the conduct of political rulers. The social and governing principles of Lord Ram’s life which are timeless guidelines for an optimistic and an all out rejuvenating state of living are to be put into through practice. The reverberation of such a blend of mind is found in the work practices of our Prime Minister who has been an ardent upholder of high moral standards in both his public and private life.
It is very clear that Lord Ram and his morally undiminished life is a perfect illustration of an ideal state of life equipped with an immense presence of moral values which in fact can prove to be enriching for our lives. As such a denial of entry of such values in our public and private lives would not only impoverish our lives but would also deny the state and society such substantive resources which otherwise would have embellished individual and collective lives. The teachings of Lord Ram having the ultimate religious consequences for the Hindus is not debateable but more significantly it should be regarded as the most intrinsic component of our culture and civilization which has always taken pride in the generic interpretation, generic usage and similar application of the principles of justice truth and righteousness. Infact a serious appraisal of the principles which find embodiment in the character and rule of Lord Ram would lead us to conclude that their execution would help us to move in the direction of the accomplishment of Ram Rajya, which would be adequately catholic in thought and sympathetic in feelings to bring about a synthesis of all communities and groups. Such a blend of thought finds adequate reflection in the work practices and principles of the Modi led government. The stoic personality of Ram too has much to offer for us. He has demonstrated that the realisation of the highest moral values calls for making sacrifices and adherence to the dictates and desires of one’s procreators. It goes beyond doubt that Lord Ram was an epitome of mysticism who was in a state of direct communion with the sacred, this can be safely said as only such a great soul could give humanity the powerful pure and transcendental principles of devotion truth and justice.
Lord Ram the apostle of Dharma forwards messages for all ages and for every individual, in every capacity of life and through out their lives. Such an overpowering personality whose every word is a source of enlightenment for humanity belongs to all irrespective of religious, caste, creed, and other considerations. The perception of Dharma may vary in our society and clashes of Dharma at the societal level and at an individual level is bound to occur but as Lord Ram says such differences should and would result in the victory of the Truth. Infact Lord Ram’s entire life could be said to be consumed in search for this Truth which has a higher, superior and a spiritual connotation. Well equipped with the trenchant power of Truth He has proved to the world that love and not hatred should be the bedrock of all relationships which the present generation should strongly uphold. Love to have any purport implies otherness. Harmonious actions can be made possible and feasible only in affiliations based on affection resulting in joy and ecstasy and enabling a perfect personal and social life to become a possibility and a reality. Such attributes are divine in nature, rare to find in the present age as it can only reside in the person of a perfect being as that of Lord Ram. It is true that the contemporary world and society can only conceive of such a divine and spiritual entity like that of Lord Ram only by means of His attributes. He cannot be felt and experienced in abstraction. Lord Ram’s life is positive and affirmative, a perfect example of an extraordinary and divine being committed to breaking the barriers of power, lust, and dishonesty with such emphatic endowments as truth, patience, and virtuousness.
It is significant to comprehend that the creative and majestic potential inherent in the universe finds reflection in every individual, but its fullest manifestation is found in the Perfect Man, Lord Ram in whom all the perfect qualities of the macrocosm are innate. Such a Perfect Man can be regarded as the cause of the universe signaling the revelation that God yearns to be known and it is through Lord Ram, the ultimate epitome of Dharma and hence of perfection that we can know the Almighty. We should hence love Him by putting His values in actual practice and be loved by Him in turn. The world has been created for humanity and it is thus our moral responsibility to protect and preserve its inherent purity and goodness. This can only materialize when we imbibe within each one of us the moral values and traits which characterize Lord Ram. This may sound to be a far cry, but the institutionalization of the Ram Mandir is a reminder that all of us should take a pledge to rebuild a new society, a golden society where brotherhood love, harmony and piety would precede and overpower narrow considerations.
