Letter - 64 (Stories of Ramayana -12)

My Dearest Beta Shanu,
How are you Shanu beta? In yesterday’s e-mail the story of Rama meeting Hanumana teaches us virtues and best practices of inner peace and social architecture. Some of them are -
• One who enjoys the Association of Sages is Bhakta. And who is a sage? In whose presence one gets peace and happiness of mind and soul is a sage.
• Second Bhakti is to listen to the stories and glory of God with all humility and love.
• To worship the holy feet of one's Guru (Teacher) and to serve him as per one's ability is third bhakti.
• To have firm faith in the teachings of scriptures and Mantra, Japa, etc. is another form of worship.
• To control the sense organs, and to be able to stabilize the mind in the constant remembrance of the Lord is one form of Bhakti.
• To attempt to visualize the same God in everything and in all situations is the next form of Bhakti.
• To remain contented, non covetous and satisfied in whatever condition the lord has placed one in is the eighth type of devotion, and
• To lead a simple guileless life, not to injure or harm anyone, to have firm faith in the existence of God, and to be equal in pain and pleasure is the last form of Bhakti.
• One who attempts to acquire anyone of these virtues is a Bhakta - devotee of the Lord.
I hope that the receiver of these letters and who is narrating it to you imbibes, learns and explains these values to you in a child like story telling as I use to do. As I have mentioned in my several letters to the receiver, I hope and pray that he is narrating my letters to you, whether he is imbibing and learning well! Doesn’t looks like from his actions as they still don’t allow me and your grandparents to meet, on the contrary they are using our love for you for petty gains and score settling. May god uplift them and percolate some values and social sense and sensitivity into their heart and soul.
But don’t worry my vibrations will take these stories to you. One day God will definitely unite us, and it will be as pleasurable as it was when Rama and Hanuman met.
Another lesson from yesterday’s story is love of Lord Rama is infinite thus love has capability that it can love Shabri, Hanumana and Laxmana and ….., there is no need for jealousy. Jealousy is inner weakness and always harms the person who carries in his/her heart, and it also creates un-necessary social problems.
Continuing our journey of Ramayana, Dearest Shanu today’s story narrates that even if you are in the proximity of a bhakta Lord helps you as he helped Sugreeva just because he was in the proximity of supreme bhakta Hanuman.
Enjoy the today’s part of the series:
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Continued from the previous letter….
Soon Rama and Laxmana were invited to visit the camp where with the help of Sugreeva and other friends they were sure to find out some way to locate as to where Sita could have been taken away.

Sugreeva had run away from his kingdom in the fear of his elder brother Vali. Vali was very powerful and cruel king of Kishkindha. He had once defeated the mighty Ravana also. As it happened, once a demon Mayawi challenged Vali's supremacy. Vali accepted the challenge and fight broke out between the two. They entered one cave and continued their fight inside. Vali specifically told Sugreeva to remain stationed at the mouth of the cave and wait for him for fifteen days. "I will kill this demon and return", Vali told Sugreeva.

But even after more than fifteen days, nobody returned. one day blood was seen flowing from the cave and Sugreeva thought that Vali must have been killed, and it was likely that the demon would kill him too. So Sugreeva ran away to his kingdom and waited for Vali. But Vali did not return even after a few weeks. Therefore he declared himself to be the new king in place of Vali.

A few months passed thus. The injured Vali recovered from his wounds and regained his strength to return to his kingdom. He was trembling with rage when he found that his unfaithful brother has acceded to his throne. He suspected foul play and thrashed Sugreeva almost to death. Somehow Sugreeva escaped and ran for his life to take shelter on the heights of Risyamuk mountains.

Further Rama was told that Vali had also forcefully taken his (Sugreeva's) wife as the new queen. Sugreeva and Hanuman pleaded that Vali was unjust and cruel king and his rule was causing immense hardship and suffering to the people of Kishkindha. Hence, Rama must put an end to his life and make Sugreeva the king again.

Rama agreed as he had seen that although Sugreeva was a coward fellow he was not wicked. He had not occupied the throne intentionally or through scheme. He really believed that Vali was killed in fight. Therefore, Rama accepted him as his friend and promised to eliminate Vali. Accordingly, The party left for the capital city and Sugreeva, under the instructions of Rama, challenged his brother to come out and fight it out for the final decision as to who should rule Kishkindha. During the fight Rama put an end to the life of mighty Vali with a powerful arrow. Sugreeva thus was reinstated as the king. He promised Rama to help him in finding out the whereabouts of Sita. Accordingly plans were drawn and four groups were formed to reach out East, West, North and South territories.

Son of late Vali - Angad - had joined his uncle and Rama in this mission. He became a great devotee of Rama. Jambuwanta, a bear, also came to help them. Thus Rama, Laxmana, Hanuman, Sugreeva, Angad, and Jambuwanta headed south where chances of finding Sita were highest.
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How did you liked the story. Till my next letter and part of Ramayana, have fun and be happy always. Dearest Sanidhya, May God be with you and the ashirwad and blessings of your grand parents and my meditations and prayers provide you nested bliss for your soul and protection to your body. Papa, Dadaji, Dadiji and Chachu we all wish that you should be happy and healthy.
Have bliss, and may beta Sanidhya always laugh and enjoy the Lord’s love, Ha! Ha! Ha!
May Lord Shiva protect you and Lord Vishnu feed you and Lord Brahma educates you.
Om!
Your Papa,
Ravi