Whether Shri Rama was mentioned in the Rig Veda and if not why Shri Rama was adored?

 

Background:

Rāmāyaṇa mentions Rāma, the son of King Dasarath of Ikshavuku dynasty.

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Rig Veda does mention Rāma in Rig Veda 10.93.14, though it was not explicitly mentioned whether this Rāma was the Rāma of Rāmāyaṇa.

प्र तद्दुःशीमे पृथवाने वेने प्र रामे वोचमसुरे मघवत्सु । ये युक्त्वाय पञ्च शतास्मयु पथा विश्राव्येषाम् ॥
pra tad duḥśīme pṛthavāne vene pra rāme vocam asure maghavatsu | ye yuktvāya pañca śatāsmayu pathā viśrāvy eṣām ||

English translation:

I proclaim this in front of Duḥśīma, Pr̥thavāna, Vena, in front of Rāma the wealthy, in front of the patrons who, having yoked five hundred, (sent) them along the path, destined for us, (so that) their (priestly gift) has become widely famed.

Further, Rig Veda Rig Veda 10.60.4 mentions Ikṣvāku. In this issue also, it is not clear whether this Ikṣvāku was the ancestor of Rāma, the son of King Dasarath of Ikshavuku dynasty.

यस्येक्ष्वाकुरुप व्रते रेवान्मराय्येधते । दिवीव पञ्च कृष्टयः ॥
yasyekṣvākur upa vrate revān marāyy edhate | divīva pañca kṛṣṭayaḥ ||

English translation:

Under whose commandment Ikṣvāku, the wealthy possessor of grain-stores, is radiant like (the sun) in heaven, (as are) the five peoples.

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Hence, we cannot with certainty say whether Rāma, the son of King Dasarath of Ikshavuku dynasty was mentioned in the Rig Veda or not.

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Let me answer the question part - 

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Yes, Ramayana can be considered as the application part of Rig Veda.

Rig Veda is all about spiritual concepts, a broad outline of the following do’s and don’ts for spiritual practitioners.

Do’s

·        Follow the the path of TRUTH - ऋतस्य पन्थां - ṛtasya panthāṃ

·        Discharge your responsibilities - Dharma

·        inculcate the habit of non-possessiveness

·        inculcate the habit of non-stealing

Don’ts

·        If you follow the path of UNTRUTH, Varuna will punish you

·        Do not steal

·        Do not possess more than required

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Ramayana can be considered as the application part of what was said in Rig Veda.

Rig Veda 8.16.8 mentions Indra, the formless ENERGY or BRAHMAN, as the ONE, who is to be praised, who is to be offered, who is the embodiment of TRUTH, powerful.

स स्तोम्यः स हव्यः सत्यः सत्वा तुविकूर्मिः । एकश्चित्सन्नभिभूतिः ॥
sa stomyaḥ sa havyaḥ satyaḥ satvā tuvikūrmiḥ | ekaś cit sann abhibhūtiḥ ||

English translation:

“He is to be praised, he is to be invoked, he is true, powerful the doer of many deeds; he, being single, is the overcomer (of his foes).”

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Ramayana says Shri Rama implemented in his life, what Rig Veda directed to do so.

The following shloka briefly and clearly mentions the above fact.

रामो विग्रहवान् धर्मः साधुः सत्य पराक्रमः |
राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य देवानाम् इव वासवः || ३-३७-१३

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

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Hence, Shri Rama is to be adored and praised.

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Hence, Shri Rama is to be adored and praised.