Samskara Ramayana with Transliteration (Verses from the Manas to be Recited On Special Occasions)

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

About the Book `Samskara Ramayana' is a compilation and edition of some important selected portions from Ramcaraitmanasa to suit various occasions and thus to sanctify our lives. The human lifespan has been considered under seven headings, namely, birth and birthday, start of schooling, marriage, entering a new house, any happy even and, distressful situation, and death.

We selected appropriate portions from Ramcaraitmanasa to be recited from all seven kandas (chapters) to suit these occasions. For each occasion, several episodes/portions or verses have been included so that the reader can make his own selection. It will provide an opportunity to understand various episodes in depth; they have been presented according to the serial order of kandas (chapters) and dohas.

Some episodes or portions have been included in more than one section because they are so meaningful, beautiful and full of values that their repeated recitation may help transform our lives. It is hoped that the recitation of these verses take place not only for formal prayers on various occasions but also to disseminate the living and eternal values of Ramayana to each and everyone.

There is also a brief commentary on the significance and importance of each section in general and the portions that have come under them specifically.

About the Author Dr. Vinod Bala Arun holds an M.A. in three subjects: Psychology, Hindi and Sanskrit. She did her Ph.D. on 'The ethical values of Ramayana and Ramcaraitmanasa and their impact on Hindu society of Mauritius'. She has been Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sanskrit, Indian Philosophy and Hindu Theology at Mahatma Gandhi Institute. Dr. Arun has also been the first Secretary-General of the World Hindi Secretariat, set up by the Governments of Mauritius and India. After retirement she is serving Ramayana Centre as Vice-President on a voluntary basis. Her social, cultural and philosophical activities are varied. She gives discourses and lectures on social, cultural and philosophical topics. She has been broadcasting radio programmes since 1994 on Indian philosophy and literature. She also presented a series of programmes on TV based on Indian philosophy. She has authored several books and has received prestigious awards for her contribution in the field of literature.

Introduction It is a well-known fact that during the British Raj the colonial government brought indentured labour from various parts of India, especially from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh to work in sugarcane fields. They were sent mainly to Fiji, Guayana, Surname, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago and Mauritius. These helpless labourers carried Ramcaraitmanasa, better known as Tulsi Ramayana, with them as their companion. In their moments of distress, misery, difficulties and dilemma they obtained solace and mental strength by chanting this scripture.

This tradition of Ramayana chanting is still alive and very popular in Mauritius. In each village there are Ramayana mandalis which are involved in doing Ramayana satsang from house to house. The impact of Ramayana is so deep on the lives of people here that the Parliament of Mauritius passed the Ramayana Centre Act, whose main objective is to propagate and promote Ramayana worldwide.

The Ramayana of Tulasidas is the most intimate friend of Hindu society of Mauritius in situations of happiness or sadness. Ramayana satsangs are organized especially when someone passes away, starting from the day of the demise till the final rituals take place on the 12th-13th day. The family members and close friends participate. For the past thirty years, I have been conducting Ramayana satsanga on such occasions.

I am fully convinced that the Ramcaraitmanasa is an inspiring treatise. While teaching family and social values, it also leads to social upliftment. Bhagavana Rama is the God of conduct and saviour of devotees. Through Manasa we learn to live our mundane life happily and peacefully and obtain a guarantee to have a similar life in the other world.

Preface Since its inception, Ramayana Centre is adding new dimensions I...3to the propagation of Ramayana under the guidance of Pt. R. Arun. It initiated and popularized the celebration of Tulsi Jayanti, Valmiki Jayanti and Rama Vivaha at national level every year. Rama Navami celebration too has received national recognition, giving honour to and enhancing the promotion of Ramayana.

But we are well aware that our responsibility is not only to popularize these celebrations; it is also to make the values of Ramayana easily accessible to everybody and to connect each festivity and sacrament of life with Ramayana so that the ideals, values and messages of Ramayana could reach laypersons as well as scholarly people in a smooth and easy way. And thus the idea of publishing `Samskara Ramayana '. Pt Arun, the President of Ramayana Centre and Ramayana Guru of Mauritius feels strongly that on the occasion of each prominent sacrament of a Hindu's life, the verses of Ramayana should be recited with full devotion in order to make life happy and blissful. He always emphasizes this in his discourses and satsangs.

I feel myself fortunate that Pt Arun gave me the responsibility of preparing Samskara Ramayana ', a task which I have tried to accomplish under his guidance.

The literal meaning of samskara is perfect, refining, polishing. To make an ordinary imperfect or deformed thing good by some special techniques is its samskara. To attain the highest perfection, the ordinary human life can be made better by some religious practices.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages