Why Sri Ram is a Human Role Model

Did you know our Sri Ram also cried, got angry , and felt hopeless?

Here’s the tea.

God takes Avatars to teach us lessons, and he came as Sri Ram on Earth to show us an example of how to uphold Dharma, righteousness, under all circumstances.

But when we say he’s the Marya da Purusottam, we mean he is the Ideal Man, which we must all strive to be … that doesn’t mean he didn’t face any challenges.

Anyone who actually reads the OG Valmiki Ramayana knows that -

Ram cried on his first night of Vanavasa. He collapsed after hearing of his father’s death. He became depressed, furious & even threatened to destroy the universe when Ravan took away Sita.

Ram also faced a lot of ethical & moral dilemmas, most controversially in the Agni Pariksha episode to test Sita’s purity, which he painfully enforced, taking into account his people’s opinions as the King of Ayodhya.

But he was always wise enough to seek the advice of his counsellors, sages & brother Lakshmana.

What makes Sri Ram great is not that he didn’t go through any mental & emotional challenges, but that DESPITE the struggle he remained true to his Dharma & duty.

Verses hint that Sri Ram was aware of his divinity all the while but he chose to lead a human life for our benefit & learning, as part of his leela, the divine play.

So on top of chanting his name, let’s actually read his story and try to become like him in our lives, dedicated to our Dharma in the face of chaos.