Many Sacred Reasons Behind the Divine Avatar of Shri Ram
The Eternal Exploits of God
Divine Manifestation and the Timeless Saga of Lord Ram
To understand the significance of Lord Ram’s incarnation (Avatar), it’s essential to explore the foundational principles of Hinduism and its broader context. Within the expansive realm of Hindu cosmology, there exists the Absolute Supreme Lord, known as Lord Narayan, representing the ultimate manifestation of divine consciousness. According to Vedas, countless cosmos emerge continuously from the pores of this Supreme Being (Lord Narayan), each unfolding with its distinct worlds, galaxies, and life forms. Through the Lord’s divine energy (Maya), the universe perpetually manifests and evolves, showcasing the eternal cycle of creation, preservation, and dissolution.
In this cosmic order, each universe created by Lord Narayan is governed by its own trinity of Gods – Lord Brahma, the creator; Lord Vishnu, the preserver; and Lord Shiva, the destroyer.
The Supreme Lord descends to Earth in various incarnations, known as Avatars, to restore cosmic order, protect the righteous, and guide humanity.
24 Avatars of The Supreme Lord
The 24 avatars of Lord Narayana are Dashavatara (10 main Avatars), namely: Matsya (Fish), Kurm (Tortoise), Varah (Boar), Lord Narasimha (Half-man, half-lion), Vamana (Dwarf religious student), Sage Parashuram, Lord Ram, Lord Krishna, Lord Buddha, and Kalki (The future avatar). In addition to these, there are fourteen other incarnations, including Yajna (The ritual sacrifice), Hayagriv (Horse-headed), Dhanvantari (Physician of the demigods), Mohini (The enchantress), King Prithu, Sage Narad, Sage Kapil, Dattatreya (combined avatar of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiv), Sage Yajnavalkya, Lord Rishabh (The founder of Jainism), Prsnigarbh (Primordial form), Lord Venkateshwar, Lord Balaram (elder brother of Shri Krishna), and Hamsa (The swan).
These avatars, each with their unique attributes and purposes, serve to maintain cosmic order and protect the world. Each Avatar embodies divine qualities and fulfills specific purposes, serving as divine interventions in times of need and leading humanity towards righteousness and spiritual enlightenment.
The Timeless Manifestations of the Divine Avatar
When Avatars, manifestations of the divine, descend to Earth, they engage in divine playful acts known as Leela. These Leelas, whether they belong to Lord Ram, Lord Krishna, Lord Parashurama, or any other avatar, not only occur once but manifest repeatedly on Earth or in various regions of the universe. This is why there are numerous versions of the Ramayan found across the world.
Despite often appearing as ordinary acts that any mortal would do in a given situation, these acts hold a profound mission behind them. Through Leela, Avatars demonstrate their divine nature, teaching humanity important lessons and guiding them towards enlightenment. Whether it’s Lord Krishna’s playful antics as a child or Lord Rama’s extraordinary feats during his earthly journey, these Leelas serve as reminders of the infinite grace and compassion of the divine, inspiring devotees to deepen their connection with the divine and lead a life aligned with spiritual principles.
Throughout the ages, sages and poets have recounted the countless exploits of Avatars, their words crafting a vibrant tapestry of devotion and inspiration. At times, the inspiration to narrate these sacred stories arises even before the events transpire, as if the Gods, Sages, or poets serve as conduits for the Divine will, foreseeing the actions of the Supreme Lord.
This is exemplified in instances such as Lord Shiv visualizing Shri Ramcharitmanas within His heart. Alternatively, these exploits are often penned after their earthly enactment of the Avatar, as exemplified in the case of Tulsidas ji’s Ramcharitmanas.
Lord Ram’s Avatar
The avatar of Shri Ram holds a profound significance, representing the embodiment of divine grace and righteousness. Shri Ram descends to earth to fulfill a divine purpose – to vanquish the demon King Ravan and restore Dharma (righteousness), to the world. Shri Ram’s birth, divine acts, and eventual triumph over adversity serve as a timeless inspiration for seekers of truth and righteousness, resonating across generations and cultures with its universal message of love, courage, duty, and devotion.
Reasons for Shri Ram Avatar
In the episode on Reasons for Shri Ram’s Descent in the Baalkaand, Sage Yagyavalkya tells Muni Bhardwaj the reason why Lord Ram takes an avatar.
प्रति अवतार कथा प्रभु केरी। सुनु मुनि बरनी कबिन्हघनेरी॥
He says, “O’ Muni, the tales of Lord’s avatar have been sung by poets in many ways…”
The incarnation of the Lord is driven solely by His own will, emerging for the welfare of various entities such as the Demigods, Earth, Cows, Devotees, and Brahmins. This divine intervention is depicted vividly in various scriptures and epics. One prominent example is the Supreme Lord’s incarnation as the son of King Dashrath, Shri Ram in the epic Ramayan or Ramcharitmanas.
At the birth of Shri Ram, Mother Kaushalya offers a beautiful exaltation to Him, which concludes as follows:
बिप्र धेनु सुर संत हित लीन्ह मनुज अवतार।
निज इच्छा निर्मित तनु माया गुन गो पार॥
The Lord has taken a human avatar for the welfare of Brahmins, Cows, Demigods and Sages. He has created His body (divine form) by His own will, which is beyond illusionary energy (Maya), modes of nature (goodness, passion and ignorance) and material senses.
In the Sunder Kaand, in the episode where Queen Mandodari and Vibhishan give advice to Ravan, Vibhishan, (a devout follower of Lord Ram) pleads with Ravan to return Sita ji to Shri Ram. He warns Ravan that Shri Ram is above and beyond a mere mortal.
तात राम नहिं नर भूपाला। भुवनेस्वर कालहु कर काला॥
ब्रह्म अनामय अज भगवंता। ब्यापक अजित अनादि अनंता॥1॥
…Brother, Shri Ram is not just a human king; He is the Lord of the entire cosmos, who puts an end to death, itself. He is the Supreme Consciousness, devoid of material qualities, the unborn Almighty Lord who is omnipresent, invincible, without beginning or end, and infinite…
गो द्विज धेनु देव हितकारी। कृपा सिंधु मानुष तनुधारी॥
जन रंजन भंजन खल ब्राता। बेद धर्म रच्छक सुनु भ्राता॥
…He is the well-wisher of cows, Brahmins, and Demigods, an ocean of mercy who has assumed a human form. He brings joy to His devotees and vanquishes various groups of wretches. Listen, O’ Brother, He is the protector of Vedas and righteousness…
Shri Krishna Avatar
Lord Krishna’s avatar in the Mahabharata serves as another illustration. His divine manifestation aimed at establishing righteousness and justice, as well as protecting the cows and Brahmins. Lord Krishna’s teachings in the Bhagavad Gita emphasize the importance of upholding dharma and performing one’s duties selflessly.
The significance of these incarnations extends beyond mere protection; they serve as embodiments of divine grace and compassion, guiding humanity towards spiritual enlightenment and moral living. Thus, the concept of God’s incarnation for the welfare of various entities underscores the divine love and benevolence towards all creation.
Breaking the cycle of mundane existence
Furthermore, the merciful Lord aims to assist living entities in breaking the cycle of mundane existence by granting them liberation. However, true devotees of the Lord have a unique request. Instead of seeking liberation, they ask the Lord to grant them rebirth as devotees in whichever cosmic realms they are born, desiring to be with the Lord whenever He incarnates and takes an avatar.
Crucial role of Lord’s devotees
The devotees play a crucial role in the playful exploits of the Lord. Depending on God’s will, they assume various roles such as Lord’s parents, family members, friends, opponents, companions, animals, birds, and other animate and inanimate creations, whenever the Lord transcends to enact His divine acts on Earth. This bond between the devotee and the Lord exemplifies the depth of devotion and the eternal companionship sought by those who worship the divine with unwavering faith.
Who will be the actors in the divine play of the Lord?
While the Lord incarnates for the welfare of His devotees, the participants in His divine play are predetermined. Among these, the primary characters are:
- The antagonist or the evildoer
- The parents of the Lord
The aim of the selection is twofold: to uphold righteousness by defeating an evildoer and to honour a promise made to His devotees.
In the Ramcharitmanas, Shri Ram descends to Earth with the purpose of vanquishing the demon King Ravan and reinstating the principles of righteousness (Dharma). He is born into the royal household of King Dashrath and Mother Kaushalya, fulfilling a promise made to them in their past life (as King Manu and Shatrupa ji).
Concept of disparity of time (Kalp Bhed)
The concept of “Kalp Bhed” delves into the disparity of time experienced across various realms or cosmic cycles. Time is not uniform but rather fluctuates depending on the dimension or realm one inhabits. This notion is intimately connected with the cyclical nature of time in Hindu cosmology, where the universe undergoes successive cycles of creation, sustenance, and dissolution known as “Kalpas.” Within each Kalpa, time unfolds differently, and the experiences within these cycles can vary significantly across different planes of existence.
In conjunction with “Kalp Bhed,” the divine acts performed by the Lord, known as Leela, hold profound significance. While these acts may seem repetitive, occurring across multiple incarnations or Avatars, each iteration (or recurrence) involves subtle variations and nuances. The Lord, in his divine play, performs these Leelas repeatedly, but with a degree of creativity and adaptability, adjusting events according to the needs of the time and the specific context of his manifestation.
These variations in the Lord’s Leelas highlight the dynamic nature of divine intervention and the Lord’s ability to engage with devotees while addressing a particular mission each time. Each performance of the Leela carries its own spiritual lessons and significance, contributing to the eternal tapestry of cosmic drama and evolution.
In essence, the concept of “Kalp Bhed” underscores the relativity of time and the Lord’s timeless presence across multiple dimensions.
Difference in Storyline Based on Eras (Kalp Bhed) on the Narrative of Shri Ramcharitmanas
When we read Shri Ramcharitmanas, we realize that due to the concept of “Kalp Bhed,” the narrative keeps shifting between eras and tales of Shri Ram being told by Lord Shiv to Adi Shakti and Parvati ji, Kak Bhushundi ji to Garud ji, and Sage Yagyavalkya to Bhardwaj ji.
Thus, due to the occurrence of events in different eras, even in the Ramcharitmanas, there is mention of Sage Kashyap and Aditi ji, as well as King Manu and Shatrupa ji, who were born as King Dashrath and Kaushalya ji, respectively, to become the parents of Shri Ram. And there is mention of both Demon Jalandhar and King Pratapbhanu who were born as Ravan.
दानि सिरोमनि कृपानिधि नाथ कहउँ सतिभाउ।
चाहउँ तुम्हहि समान सुत प्रभु सन कवन दुराउ॥
King Manu says to the Lord, “O’ Crown jewel amongst donors, ocean of mercy, O’ Lord I will tell you truthfully, I want a son like you. There is nothing to hide from the Lord.”
देखि प्रीति सुनि बचन अमोले। एवमस्तु करुनानिधि बोले॥
आपु सरिस खोजौं कहँ जाई। नृप तव तनय होब मैं आई॥
Seeing his love and hearing his precious words, the mine of mercy Lord said, “So be it! But where can I go and find someone like me? I myself will come and become your son, O’ King.”
कस्यप अदिति महातप कीन्हा। तिन्ह कहुँ मैं पूरब बरदीन्हा॥
ते दसरथ कौसल्या रूपा। कोसलपुरीं प्रगट नर भूपा॥
Rishi Kashyap and his wife Aditi had done a tough penance and I had already given them a boon earlier. They have appeared in the Kaushal kingdom as the rulers of all men and women in the form of Dashrath and Kaushalya.
Setting the Stage for Shri Ram’s Exploits (Leela)
Some reasons for the incarnation of Shri Ram have been mentioned in Shri Ramcharitmanas, which are as follows:
- For the redemption of the curse of Shri Hari’s gatekeepers Jay and Vijay: In Lord Narayan’s divine realm (Vaikunth), there were two gatekeepers named Jay and Vijay who disrespected four young sages (Sanak, Sanandan, Sanatan, and Sanatkumar) and were cursed by them to be reborn as demons in three lifetimes. In their first life, they were Hiranyaksh and Hiranyakashyap, whom Lord Narayan defeated as Varah and Narasimh avatars in Satya era. In the Treta era, they were born as Ravan and Kumbhakarn, who were killed by Lord Ram. In the Dwapar era, they became Shishupal and Dantavakra, who were vanquished by Lord Krishna.
- Jalandhar taking birth as Ravan, for his demise and salvation: The celestial beings of Heaven, known as Demigods (Devtas), would engage in frequent conflicts with the demons (Asur), residing in the depths of the subterranean region, known as Patal. Among them, Jalandhar, a formidable warrior, ruled as the mighty king. His wife Vrinda was a pious woman, whose chastity provided more power to Jalandhar. Lord Vishnu had to employ a deceitful tactic to render him weak. In the end, the Devtas requested Lord Shiv to defeat and kill Jalandhar in battle. Lord Shiv tells Parvati ji that Jalandhar was reborn as Ravan.
- Narad ji’s curse on Lord Narayan: Sage Narad’s deep meditation had worried the King of the Demigods, Indra. To distract Narad ji, Cupid (Kaamdev) was sent, but he couldn’t disturb Narad ji. Fueled by pride, Narad ji narrated this incident to Lord Shiv, and even after being advised against it, he shared the whole story with Lord Narayan. Lord Narayan devised a plan to break Narad ji’s attachment by creating the illusionary King Shilanidhi and his daughter Vishwamohini. In order to marry her, Narad ji requested Lord Vishnu to grant him His beauty. However, for his ultimate welfare, the Lord transformed him into a monkey. As a result, Narad ji couldn’t marry Vishwamohini. Angry at being ridiculed by Lord Shiv’s attendants, Narad ji cursed both Lord Narayan and the two attendants. Accepting his curse out of respect for his devotee Narad ji, Lord Narayan took an incarnation (avatar) as a human to fulfill that curse.
- Due to the boon received by King Manu and Shatrupa ji: During the creation of the universe by Lord Brahma, King Manu was born as the first human. King Manu became the Lord of the human race. Due to the boon received by King Manu and his wife Queen Shatrupa, they performed severe penance to obtain a glimpse of the Supreme God. Their devotion pleased Lord Ram and Sita, who appeared before them, gave many blessings, and provided the basis for the human incarnation of Shri Ram.
How did these reasons pan out in different eras?
If we consider these four reasons, we come to know that three of these reasons offered a complete foundation for the incarnation of the Lord in the respective era (Aeon or Kalpas), but the fourth reason remained incomplete for some time, on the basis of which the incarnation of the Lord was delayed.
- In the first reason, the companions for the Leela (the divine play of the Lord) were predetermined. Jai and Vijay were to become the opponents Ravan and Kumbhakarn and Sage Kashyap and Aditi ji were to become the father and mother of the Lord.
- In the second reason, demon Jalandhar was to become Ravan and the Lord’s father was Sage Kashyap and Aditi ji again.
- In the third reason, the two attendants of Lord Shiv who mocked Sage Narad were to become the opponents Ravan and Kumbhakarn and the father and mother of the Lord were yet again Sage Kashyap and Aditi ji.
- However, in the fourth reason for the incarnation of the Lord, the father and mother were selected as Manu Maharaj and Shatrupa ji, but in this instance, it was not decided who would become Ravan. Apart from this, King Manu and Queen Shatrupa also had to undergo the karmic consequences of their harsh penance, for which they were sent to Heaven for immense enjoyment and pleasure for a very long time. As a result, the incarnation of Shri Ram was postponed, even though this was the main reason for the incarnation of the Lord Shri Ram.
Ultimately, in one era (Kalpa), when King Pratapbhanu got cursed by Brahmins to be born a demon, he was selected to play the role of evil-doer Ravan, to facilitate the birth of Shri Ram to King Manu and Shatrupa ji.
Only after this, the incarnation of the Absolute Supreme God, Lord Narayan took place, in which Manu ji and Shatrupa ji, who were born as King Dashrath and Mother Kaushalya, became the parents of Shri Ram.
This also demonstrates that the manifestation resulting from the blessing bestowed upon King Manu and Shatrupa, as well as the curse imposed upon King Pratap Bhanu, serve the same purpose, in the divine scheme of things.
Our humble submission on the divine purpose of Lord Shri Ram’s incarnation
We would like to conclude this post by stating that, inspired by the verses of Shri Ramcharitmanas, we have made a humble attempt to present before you the reasons and purposes of the divine incarnation of Lord Shri Ram. The glory of Shri Ram is infinite, immeasurable, without beginning or end, and attempting to fully understand or interpret his divine deeds is impossible.
It is believed that the next incarnation of God will be as Kalki at the end of the current Kali era (Yug).
सारद सेस महेस बिधि आगम निगम पुरान।
नेति नेति कहि जासु गुन करहिं निरंतर गान॥
Goddess Saraswati ji, Shesha ji, Shiv ji, Brahma ji, Scriptures, Vedas and the Puranas, are not able to fully describe Lord Shri Ram, and they simply utter “not this, not this”, and constantly sing His glories.
हरि अनंत हरि कथा अनंता। कहहिं सुनहिं बहुबिधि सब संता॥
रामचंद्र के चरित सुहाए। कलप कोटि लगि जाहिं न गाए॥
Lord Hari is infinite and His tales are innumerable. The saints tell and listen to them in many ways. The beautiful exploits (Leelas) of Lord Ram cannot be sung even in millions of eras (kalpas).