During Rama Navami week between April 18-20, New Jersey devotees were blessed with a 3-day Satsang series with Sri Ramanujamji reminiscing Sabhari, Sugreeva and Vibheeshana each of whom were recipients of Rama’s grace in their own unique ways.
During Sabhari moksham on Day 1, Ramuji transported us to Matanga Maharishi’s ashram. When space, time and vyakthi align, even a normal soul is taken over by a Mahatma. This was how Sabahari who was an ordinary person was drawn by the divinity of her guru’s ashram and served her guru with love. Sabhari’s unconditional bakthi was highlighted through the incident of Sabhari not wanting any boon and her Guru giving her the Rama Nama as a blessing. Thereafter, Sabhari chanted Rama Nama and anticipated Rama’s arrival with full conviction that when Rama came, He was so moved by her seva to her Guru “kachit te guru sishrushA” and her devotion. With full happiness having offered Rama the choicest of her berries, with God as the witness, she reached Guru’s world. What can a Guru not bestow!
During Sugreeva Sakhyam on Day 2, Ramuji started with how Hanuman won Rama’s confidence when he said that Rama was to bestow goodness for Sugriva by expounding on Valmiki’s verse “nAtham prAptum icchati”. Even though Sugreeva acted like a king and forgot his duties occasionally, Rama saw the positive qualities of Sugreeva. Sri Ramuji brought out Rama’s soulabhyam by depicting the friendship pact struck by Hanuman between Rama and Sugreeva in the presence of fire. Sri Ramuji quoted Ramacharitamanas to show the contentment of vAli during his departure when Vali considered Rama’s presence during his last moments as the biggest boon he could get. Rama made Sugreeva the king of Kishkinda because he believed in Him, and he wanted to grace all the vAnarAs!
On the final day, Sri Vibheshana Azhwar was celebrated. Ramuji depicted Vibheeshana’s counselling of Ravana in public and private and referred to him as “nyaya vAdhi vibheeshanaha”. When Vibheeshana and his 4 ministers left Sri Lanka for Rameswaram, the five Pranas of Sri Lanka also left with them. Ramuji’s beautifully narrated how a penniless Vibeeshana was a srimAn in the eyes of Valmiki because he chose the satsang.Even if someone came to Rama as a friend and said “I’m yours”, “tava asmi iti cha yAchate”, Rama would take a vow to protect them. Rama will never deny refuge to anyone. The moment Sugreeva surrendered to Rama; he was bestowed with goodness. Sri Yogi Ram Suratkumar would say one has to merely chant the Rama nama and the Rama nAma would do the prayer for us.
For devotees who may not have listened to Sabhari, Sugreeva and Vibeeshana’s in depth as part of navAhams, this satsang series by Sri Ramuji exactly during Rama Navami week was a great fortune! We pray at the lotus feet of Sri Swamiji to bless devotees with more taste for rAma nAmam. Jai Sriram! Jai Gurunath!
