THE ROLE OF RAMCHARITMANAS THE ROLE OF RAMCHARITMANAS IN SPREADING UNIVERSAL IN SPREADING UNIVERSAL

VALUES IN A MULTICULTURAL VALUES IN A MULTICULTURAL MAURITIAN SOCIETYMAURITIAN SOCIETY

PREETI KIRAN HEMRAZ-HURDOYALPREETI KIRAN HEMRAZ-HURDOYAL

OVERVIEWOVERVIEW What is Ramcharitmanas?What is Ramcharitmanas? Greatness of RamcharitmanasGreatness of Ramcharitmanas Cultural Aspect of RamcharitmanasCultural Aspect of Ramcharitmanas Purpose of Ethical Values in this contemporary age Purpose of Ethical Values in this contemporary age Its Role in eradicating evilsIts Role in eradicating evils Relevance of Ramcharitmanas to the Mauritian SocietyRelevance of Ramcharitmanas to the Mauritian Society Symbolism of Characters in RamcharitmanasSymbolism of Characters in Ramcharitmanas Contemporary Relevance of Ramcharitmanas and its ValuesContemporary Relevance of Ramcharitmanas and its Values Impact of ValuesImpact of Values Results of SurveyResults of Survey Main Teachings of RamcharitmanasMain Teachings of Ramcharitmanas ConclusionConclusion

What is Ramcharitmanas?What is Ramcharitmanas?

Most popular and timeless epic poemMost popular and timeless epic poem Sacred scripture: Depicts the Art of livingSacred scripture: Depicts the Art of living Written by the Medieval Indian Saint poet of Written by the Medieval Indian Saint poet of

1616thth Century, Century, GOSWAMI TULSIDASGOSWAMI TULSIDAS In Mauritius, commonly known as ‘Ramayan’In Mauritius, commonly known as ‘Ramayan’ Classical Masterpiece of world literature.Classical Masterpiece of world literature. A treasure of knowledge which has the power A treasure of knowledge which has the power

to educate peopleto educate people

Greatness of RamcharitmanasGreatness of Ramcharitmanas

A lamp of divine guidance for scholars and A lamp of divine guidance for scholars and common people.common people.

Aims at empowering the human dignityAims at empowering the human dignity Lays great emphasis on Dharma Lays great emphasis on Dharma

(Righteousness) and moral conduct.(Righteousness) and moral conduct. Spreads ethical values and combats social evilsSpreads ethical values and combats social evils Depicts the essence of human lifeDepicts the essence of human life

Cultural Aspect of RamcharitmanasCultural Aspect of Ramcharitmanas

Basis of culture: Morality, Spirituality and EthicsBasis of culture: Morality, Spirituality and Ethics Blend of cultures – human, demon, animals and Blend of cultures – human, demon, animals and

DemigodsDemigods Stresses on ‘Stresses on ‘Unity in DiversityUnity in Diversity’’ Vasudhaiva kutumbakamVasudhaiva kutumbakam : the whole world is one : the whole world is one

familyfamily Salient features of Indian CultureSalient features of Indian Culture Sixteen ‘Sanskaras’ in the life of an individual – from Sixteen ‘Sanskaras’ in the life of an individual – from

womb till tombwomb till tomb

Purpose of Ethical Values in this Purpose of Ethical Values in this Contemporary AgeContemporary Age

Morality : Foundation of our ExistenceMorality : Foundation of our Existence Heading towards Heading towards Moral BankruptcyMoral Bankruptcy

Downfall of mankindDownfall of mankind Human mind, language, behaviour, actions are corruptHuman mind, language, behaviour, actions are corrupt11..

‘‘Kalyug’ age : Evil dominates and righteousness has Kalyug’ age : Evil dominates and righteousness has to sufferto suffer22..

More materialistic and individualistic approach More materialistic and individualistic approach towards life : Decline in humanity and moralitytowards life : Decline in humanity and morality

Communal riots, Violence, Terrorism Communal riots, Violence, Terrorism

Ref: 1: GandhiRef: 1: Gandhi 2: Bhagvad Gita2: Bhagvad Gita

Its Role in Eradicating EvilsIts Role in Eradicating Evils

The The Concept of IdealismConcept of Idealism Ram is portrayed as an ideal person who does his duties Ram is portrayed as an ideal person who does his duties

irrespective of circumstancesirrespective of circumstances..

Follow the Path of RighteousnessFollow the Path of Righteousness No violation of moral conductNo violation of moral conduct

The The Law of Karma (Action) : Universal Law of ActionLaw of Karma (Action) : Universal Law of Action As you sow, so, you will reap.As you sow, so, you will reap. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

The The Power of HumilityPower of Humility Ravan was very powerful but arrogance and unethical means Ravan was very powerful but arrogance and unethical means

became the cause of his death.became the cause of his death.

Relevance of Ramcharitmanas to the Relevance of Ramcharitmanas to the Mauritian SocietyMauritian Society

Mauritius is a multi-religious, multi-cultural, Mauritius is a multi-religious, multi-cultural, multi- lingual and multi-ethnic society.multi- lingual and multi-ethnic society.

The Epic depicts the ideal life of a The Epic depicts the ideal life of a multicultural society.multicultural society.

Provides solutions/remedies to societal Provides solutions/remedies to societal problems.problems.

Lays emphasis on social unity and universal Lays emphasis on social unity and universal progressprogress

Symbolism of Characters in Symbolism of Characters in RamcharitmanasRamcharitmanas

RAMRAM: Ideal man, the giver of bliss, the epitome of righteousness.: Ideal man, the giver of bliss, the epitome of righteousness.

SITASITA : Woman who gets carried away by worldly attraction (golden : Woman who gets carried away by worldly attraction (golden deer) and goes beyond the code of conduct (Lakshman Rekha).deer) and goes beyond the code of conduct (Lakshman Rekha).

VIBHISHANVIBHISHAN: A demon which does ethical actions. : A demon which does ethical actions. Action makes a man. Action makes a man. Action must go beyond caste, creed and religion. Action must go beyond caste, creed and religion.

HANUMANHANUMAN: Portrayed in the form of a Monkey: Portrayed in the form of a Monkey Monkeys are restless by nature but if they have a target in life then Monkeys are restless by nature but if they have a target in life then

they can equally make wonders as Hanuman did.they can equally make wonders as Hanuman did. He depicts the Human mindHe depicts the Human mind Hanuman stands for absolute renunciation.Hanuman stands for absolute renunciation.

DASHRUTHDASHRUTH: A man of word.: A man of word. Lost his life to keep his promiseLost his life to keep his promise

BHARAT and LAKSHMAN: SBHARAT and LAKSHMAN: Symbolises universal brotherhood, devotion and ymbolises universal brotherhood, devotion and sacrifice.sacrifice.

RAVANRAVAN: Symbolises arrogance and pride.: Symbolises arrogance and pride. Giver of painGiver of pain

SURPANAKHASURPANAKHA: Sister of Ravan: Sister of Ravan Embodiment of desire and lustEmbodiment of desire and lust

MARICHAMARICHA: Symbolises the worldly attraction.: Symbolises the worldly attraction.

The characters of Ramacharitmanas are symbolic and they have many implications.The characters of Ramacharitmanas are symbolic and they have many implications.

Symbolism of Characters in Symbolism of Characters in Ramcharitmanas (cont’d)Ramcharitmanas (cont’d)

Contemporary Relevance of Contemporary Relevance of RamcharitmanasRamcharitmanas

‘‘Universal’ Appeal of Ramcharitmanas and its Universal’ Appeal of Ramcharitmanas and its valuesvalues

Synthesis of different culturesSynthesis of different cultures Emphasis on respect, love, tolerance for all Emphasis on respect, love, tolerance for all

communitiescommunities Emphasis on globalisation and unityEmphasis on globalisation and unity Life of Rama revolves around elevating the Life of Rama revolves around elevating the

human mind and promoting righteousness.human mind and promoting righteousness.

Contemporary Relevance of Contemporary Relevance of Ramcharitmanas (cont’d)Ramcharitmanas (cont’d)

The solution to problems of modern time:The solution to problems of modern time: Family problemsFamily problems Socio-cultural problemsSocio-cultural problems Political front – the concept of Ram RajyaPolitical front – the concept of Ram Rajya Economic ProblemsEconomic Problems Environmental ProblemsEnvironmental Problems

Destroys the myth that Ramcharitmanas is the treasure of the Destroys the myth that Ramcharitmanas is the treasure of the Hindu Society only.Hindu Society only.

Its contribution to the evolution of a peaceful society.Its contribution to the evolution of a peaceful society. Depicts the journey from ‘Depicts the journey from ‘NarNar’ ( human) to ‘’ ( human) to ‘NarayanNarayan’ ’

(embodiment of divine qualities)(embodiment of divine qualities)

Impact of ValuesImpact of Values

Purify the mind and remove all impuritiesPurify the mind and remove all impurities Make the society a better place to liveMake the society a better place to live Enable a person to achieve his real goal in lifeEnable a person to achieve his real goal in life Cut across all cultures and help in establishing Cut across all cultures and help in establishing

one culture: Humanityone culture: Humanity Shapes the personality of human beingShapes the personality of human being

Results of SurveyResults of Survey

Objectives of surveyObjectives of survey: : Popularity and Universal appeal of the epicPopularity and Universal appeal of the epic Impact on : (1) Individual (2) Family (3) Society Impact on : (1) Individual (2) Family (3) Society

(4) Politics(4) Politics Its contribution in spreading moral and ethical Its contribution in spreading moral and ethical

valuesvalues Its contribution in bringing unity in Mauritian Its contribution in bringing unity in Mauritian

SocietySociety

Results of survey (cont’d)Results of survey (cont’d)

Popularity of RamcharitmanasPopularity of Ramcharitmanas

0% 20% 40% 60%

VeryFamiliar

ModeratelyFamiliar

ScarcelyFamiliar

Not Familiar

Series1

Results of survey (cont’d)Results of survey (cont’d)

Universal Appeal of RamcharitmanasUniversal Appeal of Ramcharitmanas

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Yes No No Idea

Series1

Results of survey (cont’d)Results of survey (cont’d)

Its contribution in bringing unity in Mauritian Its contribution in bringing unity in Mauritian SocietySociety

Yes

No

No Idea

Results of survey (cont’d)Results of survey (cont’d)

Its contribution in spreading moral and ethical Its contribution in spreading moral and ethical valuesvalues

Yes74%

No10%

No Idea16%

Main Teachings of RamcharitmanasMain Teachings of Ramcharitmanas

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – GlobalisationVasudhaiva Kutumbakam – Globalisation Concept of Ram Rajya – the reign of righteousnessConcept of Ram Rajya – the reign of righteousness Morality: Essence of Human lifeMorality: Essence of Human life Character is man made which can be improvedCharacter is man made which can be improved Unity in DiversityUnity in Diversity Universal Brotherhood and peaceUniversal Brotherhood and peace ToleranceTolerance Righteous BehaviourRighteous Behaviour Strict adherence towards dutyStrict adherence towards duty Control of senses leads to a balanced state of mindControl of senses leads to a balanced state of mind

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

“ “ In fact, the Ramayan and the Mahabharata are In fact, the Ramayan and the Mahabharata are the two encyclopedias of Ancient Aryan life the two encyclopedias of Ancient Aryan life

and wisdom, portraying the ideal civilisation, and wisdom, portraying the ideal civilisation, which humanity has yet to aspire after.”which humanity has yet to aspire after.”

- Swami Vivekananda- Swami Vivekananda

THANK YOU FORTHANK YOU FOR YOUR YOUR ATTENTIONATTENTION