Shri Rama - adherent to TRUTH or SATYA - ऋतम्

 

The rishis of Rig veda eulogised savitR, a male form of energy, as the primal cause for everything in the Universe.

 Rig Veda 4.54.4.

 न प्रमिये सवितुर्दैव्यस्य तद्यथा विश्वं भुवनं धारयिष्यति ।

यत्पृथिव्या वरिमन्ना स्वङ्गुरिर्वर्ष्मन्दिवः सुवति सत्यमस्य तत् ॥

English translation:

 The (commandment) of the divine Savitar is not to be violated, so that he will support all the living world.

Whatever he of the beautiful fingers impels on the expanse of earth or in the height of heaven, that of his comes true.

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If we consider the adoration of savitR in physical sense, then offering water libations or Arghya (अर्घ्य) daily at 2 twilight periods, recitation of sAvitri mantra will give a picture.

 

In Ramayana, Shri Rama, and Lakshmana, at the instance of Sage Vishvamitra, were described to have offered water libations or Arghya (अर्घ्य) at twilight period and recitated sAvitri mantra.

 कौसल्या सुप्रजा राम पूर्वा संध्या प्रवर्तते |

उत्तिष्ठ नरशार्दूल कर्तव्यं दैवमाह्निकम् || १-२३-२

 "Fortunate is Kausalya to beget you as her son Rama... get up oh, tigerly-man, eastern aurora is emerging, daytime tasks towards gods are to be performed."

 तस्यर्षेः परमोदारं वचः श्रुत्वा नरोत्तमौ |

स्नात्वा कृतोदकौ वीरौ जेपतुः परमं जपम् || १-२३-३

 On hearing the benign words of the sage those valorous and best ones among men got up, bathed, and on offering water oblation they meditated upon the supreme hymn, namely Savitri.

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However, if we consider adoration of savitR in the form of MEDITATION, then we will be doing away with the ritual of offering water libations daily at 2 twilight periods, recitation of sAvitri mantra, as meditation does involve probing within ONESELF.

 Rig Veda 4.54.6 establishes the idea of meditating upon savitR, daily 3 times.

ये ते त्रिरहन्त्सवितः सवासो दिवेदिवे सौभगमासुवन्ति ।

इन्द्रो द्यावापृथिवी सिन्धुरद्भिरादित्यैर्नो अदितिः शर्म यंसत् ॥

English translation:

“May Indra, heaven and earth, Sindhu with the waters, and Aditi with the Ādityas, bestow happiness upon us, who, meditate upon Savitā, pour out the auspicious Soma, day by day, thrice a day.”

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 Meditation indicates thinking about /reciting of an image/idea/a mantra. What would be the outcome of MEDITATION?

 Rishis say that the outcome of savitR would be attainment of SELF REALISATION (immortality – अमृत) and experiencing an everlasting BLISS.  The ONE, who attains SELF REALISATION becomes IMMORTAL and thus a GOD by himself.

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 Rig vedic rishis mentioned esoterically the attainment of SELF REALISATION, through the blessing of savitR, as immortality of gods.

 Rig Veda 4.54.2

 देवेभ्यो हि प्रथमं यज्ञियेभ्योऽमृतत्वं सुवसि भागमुत्तमम् ।

आदिद्दामानं सवितर्व्यूर्णुषेऽनूचीना जीविता मानुषेभ्यः ॥

English translation:

For you first impel immortality to the gods worthy of the sacrifice as their highest share; just after that, o Savitar, you reveal your gift: lives following in succession for the sons of Manu.

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 In Rig veda, the word soma is used for the drink, the plant, and its deity. Drinking soma produces immortality (Amrita, Rigveda 8.48.3). Indra and Agni are portrayed as consuming soma in copious quantities. Indra drank large amounts of soma while fighting the serpent demon vritra.

 The Rig veda describes the preparation of soma by means of extracting the juice from a plant, the identity of which is now unknown and debated among scholars. 

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Shri Aurobindo mentioned that the Rig vedic rishis mentioned soma esoterically, the experiencing an everlasting BLISS as drinking of Soma rasa, but not drinking of a juice extracted from a plant.

The Rig vedic rishis also mentioned Soma as all purifying one -  pavamānaḥ somaḥ, and called it the daughter of Sun.  If attainment of SELF REALISATION is adoration of Surya/savitR, then experiencing everlasting BLISS is drinking of soma.

 As everlasting BLISS resulted from attaining of SELF REALISATION, similarly, soma is emanating from Surya/savitR.  Thus, soma is the daughter of Surya/savitR.

 Rig Veda 9.1.6

 पुनाति ते परिस्रुतं सोमं सूर्यस्य दुहिता । वारेण शश्वता तना ॥

English translation:

The Daughter of the Sun purifies your circling soma with the fleece-filter in unfailing measure.

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Now, a crucial question may crop up.  Whether everyone, who adores savitR, will reach him and experience the BLISS of his daughter, soma?  

In other words, does every spiritual aspirant experience the SELF REALISATION and consequent BLISS?

The answer perhaps, is by and large, a big NO, except those, who adhere to the TRUTH or SATYA.

The rishis of RIG VEDA clearly mentioned that Soma can be experienced by only those who pursue the TRUTH.

 Rig Veda 9.3.3

 एष देवो विपन्युभिः पवमान ऋतायुभिः ।  हरिर्वाजाय मृज्यते ॥

 This god, the tawny one, purifying himself, is groomed for the prize by the admiring (poets), who pursue the truth.

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ऋतायुभिः - observing Rtam (ऋतम्) or TRUTH

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It is perhaps for this reason, Sage Valmiki repeatedly proclaimed the importance of adherence to TRUTH or SATYA, through Shri Rama.

Shri Rama was described as adherent of TRUTH.

 धर्मज्ञः सत्यसन्धश्च शीलवाननसूयकः |

क्षान्तः सान्त्वयिता श्लक्ष्ह्णः कृतज्ञो विजितेन्द्रियः || २-२-३१

 "Rama knows all righteousness. He is true to his word and has good character. He has no envy. He has patience. He consoles those who are in troubles. He speaks good words. He has gratitude. He keeps senses under control."

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Now, another question may arise, as to what is the result of adherence to Satya (truth)?

The answer lies in Rig Veda, from where all types of spiritual ideas emanated!

The answer is the follower of Satya (Truth) realises the ULTIMATE KNOWLEDGE or TRUTH of life.

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Rig Veda 4.50.3

बृहस्पते या परमा परावदत आ त ऋतस्पृशो नि षेदुः ।

तुभ्यं खाता अवता अद्रिदुग्धा मध्वः श्चोतन्त्यभितो विरप्शम् ॥

bṛhaspate yā paramā parāvad ata ā ta ṛtaspṛśo ni ṣeduḥ | tubhyaṃ khātā avatā adridugdhā madhvaḥ ścotanty abhito virapśam ||

 English translation:

O Brihaspati!, that which is the highest supreme of existence, thither from this world they attain and take their seat, who touch the Truth. For thee are dug the wells of honey which drain this hill and their sweetnesses stream out on every side and break into overflowing.