Tuesday, 30 January 2024

Can we treat 22-1-2024 as the beginning of Shri Rama Shaka (era) on the lines of Kali Shaka (era)/Vikram Shaka (era)/Shalivahana Shaka (era)?

 


 

Any new beginning in a country/area will be made, at the occurrence of a great incident or as a mark of victory over the enemies, and that new beginning will act as a reminder to successive generations of that country/area of that incident.

 

In India, we have Kali Yuga, Vikram Samvat, Shalivahana Shaka to remind us, the people of India, the occurrences of some incidents that took place in earlier periods.

 

The present period will be counted as the number of years that elapsed from the occurrence of a particular incident.

 

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Kali Yuga

 

Shri Krishna's death marked the end of Dvapara Yuga and the start of Kali Yuga, which is dated to 17/18 February 3102 BCE.  The year 2024 will be 5,125 in Kali Saka.

 

Vikram Samvat

According to popular tradition, King Vikramaditya of Ujjain established the Vikrama Samvat era after defeating the Śakas around 58–56 BCE.  The year 2024 will be 2081 as per Vikram Samvat.

Salivahana Shaka

This is based on the victory of the Satavahana ruler Gautamiputra Satakarni/the emperor Shalivahana, grandson of legendary emperor Vikramaditya over some Shaka kings.

The Shaka calendar began in 78 AD with the Shaka Era. The year 2024 will be 1946. 

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In the similar manner, the date 22nd January 2024 can be remembered, in my view, as the beginning of Shri Rama Shaka (श्री राम शक), ie., re-establishment of TRUTH (सत्य) and DHARMA(धर्म) in India in particular and the World in general.

This statement may give rise to a question – Whether TRUTH (सत्य) and DHARMA(धर्म) in India is not in existence, now?

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In my view, the importance of the DIVINE values, theTRUTH (सत्य) and the DHARMA(धर्म) started disappearing in India, the moment Dushasana dragged Draupadi by the hair, while menstruating, dressed in a single robe by her hair, while the King Dhritarashtra and majority of elders in Royal Assembly remained a mute spectators and further got accelerated with the Duryodhana’s refusal to give back the Kingdom of Pandavas. 

The King is the protector and role model for the ordinary people. 

When King Dhritarashtra allowed such a disgrace to happen to Draupadi, the Queen of Pandavas, in his own presence, what type of MORAL VALUES will the ordinary people learn and follow?

Shri Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita

 यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जन: | यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते ||

Whatever actions great persons perform, common people follow. Whatever standards they set, all the world pursues.

Thus, the consequential degradation of moral values in subsequent generations in this country is a known issue.

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A role model should be presented to the ordinary people for inculcating such DIVINE values in life.  Mere reading books or preaching about implementation of the TRUTH (सत्य) and the DHARMA(धर्म) in the daily life in spirit, ie., with trikarNa suddhi,  by the Rulers and the ordinary people will NOT ensure improvement of quality of living of ordinary people and ruling by Rulers.

Further, implementation of the TRUTH (सत्य) and the DHARMA(धर्म) in the daily life with trikarNa suddhi is the  sine qua non for pursuing the SPIRITUAL LIFE by the seekers.

A person, who lived his/her life by following TRUTH and DHARMA with trikarNa suddhi can only provide to ordinary people, a role model.

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So who else can install the inclination in ordinary people,  to inculcate the culture of , implementation of the TRUTH (सत्य) and the DHARMA(धर्म) in the daily life with trikarNa suddhi, other than the one, who actually implemented in his life, against all odds?

It is none other than Shri Rama.

Shri Rama was described by sage Valmiki as 

रामो विग्रहवान् धर्मः साधुः सत्य पराक्रमः |
राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य देवानाम् इव वासवः || -३७-१३

"Rama is the embodiment of righteousness, he is an equable person with truthfulness as his valour, and as with Indra to all gods he is the king of entire world.

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In my opinion, Shri Rama alongwith his wife Sita is not going to live physically in that mandir in Ayodhya that was consecrated on 22-1-2024.

It should be understood as the place of DIVINE qualities, ie., TRUTH and EMBODIMENT OF DHARMA, for which Shri Rama and Sita stood for and lived.

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The historic inauguration of the Shri Rama temple in Ayodhya, including the Pran Pratishtha ceremony took  place between 12:20 pm and 12:45 pm, ie., the mid day, on January 22, 2024.

It is being done at Abhijit Muhurata.  Generally, this muhurata appears when it is mid-day.

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 We have to remember that Shri Rama started his war expedition to Lanka, to bring back Sita exactly at this Muhurta, ie., when it was mid-day.

Take a look at the following sloka from Valmiki Ramayana:

अस्मिन् मुहूर्ते सुग्रीव प्रयाणम् अभिरोचये |

युक्तो मुहूर्तो विजयः प्राप्तो मध्यम् दिवा करः || --

"Be pleased to approve our march at this moment, a suitable moment for success. The sun reached the mid-day."

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Hence, the date 22nd January 2024 can be remembered, in my view, as the beginning of Shri Rama Shaka (श्री राम शक), ie., re-establishment of TRUTH (सत्य) and DHARMA(धर्म) in India in particular and the World in general.



However, here is a word of caution.

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It does not mean that if 22nd January 2024 is treated as the beginning of Shri Rama Shaka (श्री राम शक), the mindset of the people/Rulers will change overnight.

That muhurta will act as a triggering point from which changes will start taking place.

Does Ramayana say that due to Shri Rama starting on war expedition in an auspicious time, everything turned in his favour instantly?

A BIG NO.

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1. After reaching the ocean, Shri Rama was on fasting to appease the Ocean God, for understanding a way to cross the ocean.

2. After Indrajit arrested Shri Rama and Lakshmana in a enchanted circle of serpentine arrows, the latter remained helpless till the Garuda saved them.

3. Indrajit used brahmastra being invisible, and eliminated 66 crores of Vanaras in a single day.

4. When Lakshmana was hit by Indrajit's divine weapon, Shri Hanuman saved him by bringing Sanjeevani from Himalayas.

5. In order to eliminate Ravana, Shri Rama was forced to toil for a complete day.

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Similarly, re-establishment of TRUTH and DHARMA in this country will take some time.

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