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Re: [SriRangaSri] shodasa ayuda

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swamy swarna • March 2, 2002 


Hari Om. thanks for the clarification. whether is is a
Bana or an Astra, Rama's weapons are endowed with
great intelligence and compassion, derived by His
touch, it seems. His intention was always to reform
and not to destroy. So whether it is Maricha, who
could run away from His Bana or Kakasura who could
keep running ahead of Rama's Astra, the message seems
to be this: God is very merciful. He wants us to
behave properly. He, out of His compassion gives us a
long rope but finally pulls us to Him. 

      Continuing Kakasura's story, when he finally
comes and seeks refuge at His feet and when mother
Sita too requests Sri Rama to forgive her errant,
rogue son, He does forgive, but takes away Kakasura's
Vakra Drishti in the form of one eye. And left a story
with powerful morals for generations to come.

       While on the subject of offering an eye, two
more puranic stories come to mind. That of Sri Bhrigu
Maharshi and Bhakta Kannappa. Again the lessons are
profound.

Let us thank our great ancestors, who have left us
this vast treasure.

Hari Om.

Swamy SV

--- Hari Krishnan  wrote:
> 
> It should be classified as an astra.  Unlike an
> arrow, any astra is invoked by its mantra.  Whenever
> an astra is used, one can observe the mention of the
> phrases like 'uttering the mantra, chanting the
> mantra' etc.  For example, this is a portion of text
> from Valmiki Ramayana, showing Indrajit invoking
> Brahmastra.
> 
> "Indrajit, who was an adept in the use of mystic
> missiles, invoked the missile presided over by
> Brahma (the creator) and charged the bow as well as
> his chariot and all with the invocatory spell on the
> field of battle." (Yuddha Kanda, Canto LXXIII, Sloka
> 19)
> 
> Sita recollects the Jayanta incident in Sundara
> Kanda, Kamba Ramayana.
> 
> "Eka vaaLi av indiran semmal mEl
> pOka Evi adhu kaN podiththa naaL"
> 
> Rama charged the blade of grass with a mantra and
> let it follow Jayanta.  Since it was charged with
> mantra, it should be classified as an astra.  The
> mantra charges the astra with power.  There is a
> description of Acharya Dhrona in Mahabharata, taking
> a ball that fell into a well with a series of blades
> of grass charged by mantra that stuck one upon
> another on ends, on the ball, so that it could be
> pulled out.  The mantra even controls, directs and
> regulates a powerful astra.  Though Brahmastra is a
> dreaded weapon, it is seen that Lakshmana controls
> the extent of its effect with chanting of mantras,
> when countering the Brahmastra of Indrajit.  'Just
> stop it and destory it and do no more,' he commands.
> 
> An arrow is nothing more than a steel tipped weapon.
>  May be sharp; may not be sharp; may be thinner than
> needles; may be very long - (up to 9 feet, as
> mentioned in 'Indica' that describes the battle
> between Alexander and Porus.  It says that the
> arrows used by the soldiers of Porus were 9' long
> and could smash any armour.  If the *soldiers* of
> Porus used such arrows, imagine the size of arrows
> that were used by Rama and Lakshmana!)  We have a
> detailed description of various kinds of arrows as
> well as astras in the Ramayana.  The Mahabaratha
> gives an even more detailed account in this respect.
> 
> We see pictures depicting Rama carrying his bow that
> measures up to his height.  In actuality, there were
> different kinds of bows - the hunter's bow, shorter
> than the height of a person, the soldier's bow -
> four arms' length was the standard according to
> Ramayana, that is, double the height of the soldier
> - and there were the massive bows, used by kings. 
> Just imagine the size!  Mahabharata mentions that
> the bow of Arjuna measured the size of a palmyrah
> tree! Bows of Rama, Arjuna and others like them were
> divine and were extra large. That was why they
> needed the elevation of chariots to enable them to
> make the best use of the bows. Rama's bow was
> dreaded even by the asuras.  It was such a massive
> bow.
> 
> That would hijack the thread to some other
> direction. Thanks for the patience. :-)
> 
> Sincerely,
> Hari Krishnan 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: swamy swarna 
>   To: Hari Krishnan ; Bhakti-List@Yahoogroups. Com 
>   Cc: Venkateswara Swamy Swarna 
>   Sent: Saturday, March 02, 2002 6:08 AM
>   Subject: Re: [SriRangaSri] shodasa ayuda
> 
> 
>   hari om. thanks for the elaboration. can u clarify
>   whether the blade of grass used by Sri Rama will
> be
>   classified as Bana (Arrow) or as Astra? thanks.
> 
>   Swamy SV
> 
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been
> removed]
> 
> 
> 
>
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           - SrImate rAmAnujAya namaH -
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