Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Fr. C. Blucke states that: the popularity of the Valmiki Ramayana...is a monument to the idealism of India, its high esteem of moral values and its belief in the ultimate triumph of good over evil. Discuss the representations of good and evil as well as the conflicts between good and evil in the text. What is significant about Rama’s eventual triumph?

The battle between good and evil is epitomized in the tale of Rama and Ravana. Ravana is the immortal demon king who kidnaps and imprisons Sita, the lover of Rama. He is extremely powerful and has vanquished numerous foes until Rama comes along.
Rama is the embodiment of good, being an avatar of the god Vishnu. He is the champion of the people and represents good and benevolence. He takes his rightful place of power after stringing Shiva's bow, revealing his strength and allowing him to combat Ravana.
Rama is able to do what no one else had—defeat Ravana, and in so doing, he overcomes evil and reclaims his love, Sita. This moment is the pinnacle of the story and shows the tremendous triumph over seemingly indestructible evil.
India is a very devout culture that believes good and evil actions determine our fate every day and through eternity. The ability to triumph over evil is extremely important for them, because they believe that one must withstand and triumph over it to advance in each subsequent reincarnation. Their devotion to the gods—Vishnu, Shiva, and the myriad others—is an attempt to curry their favor and become more righteous by their actions. This event is celebrated because it represents the work Rama has done to overcome evil in the world.


Focusing on the eventual triumph of good over evil and the moral idealism that is embodied in Sita and Rama, the Ramayana represents not only one of the most classic stories of good and evil, but the national and moral identity of India.
Evil is represented by Ravana, a demon king who deceives and lures. Ravana kidnaps Sita by first disguising himself as a golden deer and luring Rama away from Sita. He then presents himself as a potential suitor to Sita and, after getting rejected, kidnaps Rama's love.
Opposite of Ravana, moral good is represented in Rama, the avatar of Vishnu and embodiment of virtue and good karma. To earn Sita's hand, he must string Shiva's bow, and he proceeds to break it. This example of strength cements Rama's "divine" identity.
Rama's triumph over Ravana with the help of the monkey king is significant because it does not come without difficulty. Rama wrongly suspects Sita of adultery with Ravana, forever staining his virtuous reputation. This exemplifies the Indian idea that maintaining good karma, virtue, and morality entails a constant struggle between the forces of good and evil.


The Ramayana is one of the most classic tales of good vs. evil and good's ultimate triumph, regardless of origin. This tale shows one of the biggest and most violent clashes between good and evil in any mythological story, and it embodies India's ideals.
India, being deeply religious, holds a belief that good will triumph over evil, and it is clearly displayed in the text. The overarching theme of Rama vs. Ravana shows that the persistence of good will prevail, even when outnumbered and facing off against an indestructible force (as Ravana had become by the time the battle plays out). There is a sense of fortuitousness, the idea that the Gods will come to the aid of those who are fighting for good. This general idea, woven throughout this story (and represented in many other ancient texts, such as the Odyssey), shows the prevailing belief that the Gods will protect those who do their will and will help to end the evil forces at work on Earth.


Valmiki’s version of the Ramayana is one of the most enduring Sanskrit texts of all time. Throughout the epic, Rama battles gods and mortals, endures exile, and strives to rescue his beloved wife Sita.
Rama, as an avatar of Vishnu, is a human form of deity; he embodies virtue. Ordered into exile by his royal father, while a half-brother serves as regent, Rama must prove himself before assuming the throne. One of his early glorious tasks is winning Sita’s hand in a contest set up by her father. His strength shows his value and his divinity. Once he enters exile, he wants to focus on his devotions, and establishes a hermitage so he can be near the holy man Agastya.
Evil, in contrast, is embodied in Ravana, the demon king who, among other misdeeds, kidnaps Sita. He deceives Rama by assuming the form of a deer. To get back his wife, Rama wages full-out war. He enlists the aid of the monkey people and their leader, Hanuman. Their combined forces lay siege to Ravana’s city-fortress and through many battles, finally win and rescue Sita.
Rama’s virtuous reputation is tainted, however, by jealousy. He wrongly suspects Sita of infidelity, and only through the Earth Mother’s intervention is her purity confirmed. The price, however, is his losing Sita when the Earth Mother reclaims her.
https://www.valmikiramayan.net/

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