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3-4-Raamaayan and Gaayatree Mantra

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Raamaayan and Gaayatree Mantra

The twenty-four are the letters in Gaayatree hymn. Raamaayan's scheming is based on Gaayatree hymn.

There is a controversy about the number of verses and cantos. If Uttar Raamaayan, otherwise called Abhudaya Kaand , is ascribed to Vaalmeeki, the cantos are seven and chapters are about 649 and verses are about 24,253. But some verses and chapters are deleted for standardization of Raamaayan as per this verse and they contain now 560 chapters and 24,000 verses only. Some argue that when it is said that 24, 000 verses are there, it does not actually a mathematical assertion, like the calculation of Mahaa Yug and Manvantar, and as one would give a reply to his age as 30 years, or 60 years, but not as 29 years, 6 months, seven days or so... In furthering that standardization affair, some said that even this canto, Baal Kaand is not authored by Vaalmeeki Jee. It is not clear as of now when the Pandit can decide as to which is standard and which is not.

The transcendental aspect of Raamaayan and its content is explained in 18 terms by ancient commentator Govindaraja.
(1) Raam's Absoluteness - Paramaatm Tattwa ;
(2) Ideation to know Him - Upaaya ;
(3) Dedication in Him - Kainkarya ;
(4) Human aspect - Purushaakaar ;
(5) Diviner - Adhikaar ;
(6) Resolve in God - Adhikaar Paaratantrya ;
(7) God's resolve in Dedicate - Bhaagvat Paaratantrya ;
(8) Knowledge of five Meanings - Arth Panchak Gyaan ;
(9) Self-denial - Akinchanatwam ;
(10) Teacher selecting - Aachaarya Varanam ;
(11) Climax - Autkanthat (Utkanthaa) ;
(12) Behavior - Pravartan ;
(13) Residence - Vaas Sthaan ;
(14) Two Naaraayan hymns - Naaraayan Mantra Dwaya ;
(15) Gaayatree - Gaayatree hymn;
(16) Negating negative-thinking - Dur-Vichaar Parihaar ;
(17) Negating love for living - Sansaar Jihaas ;
(18) 64 Divinely Arts - Chatushashti Kalaamayatwa.

Of them we take up only the 15th one - Gaayatree.

The identification of Gaayatree with Raamaayan scheme is explained in many ways. By tat savitri the features and attributes of the Absolute as per narrations in Baal Kaand. Varenya by the narration of Absolute's attributes in Ayodhyaa and Kishkindhaa Kaand, and adherents like Lakshman, Bharat, Sugreev take shelter in Him here only. Bhargo is identified as per the description of resplendence of The Divine as envisaged by the sages and hermits in Aranya Kaand. Devasya and in Dheemahi where that Dev the Divine is explained by Hanumaan, not only to Seetaa but to all in Sundar Kaand, and Dheemahi is as explained in Uttar Kaanda, which centers around Moksh salvation.

 

 

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Created by Sushma Gupta on 5/27/03
Contact:  sushmajee@yahoo.com
Updated on 04/13/13