Lord Rama: The Shelter for the Saints

Book excerpt: "O Sita, those munis, who have taken to strict vows, living aggrieved in Dandaka-aranya have personally approached Me, who am a protector of the surrendered, and sought refuge." (Lord Rama speaking to Sita Devi, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya-kanda, 10.4) The sages residing in the Dandaka forest were being harassed daily by the ogres ranging the night, those demons intent on thwarting the peaceful religious activities of the rishis given to asceticism and penance. Understanding that their only chance at safety and peace lay in the hands of the divine prince of Ayodhya, Shri Rama, the sages kindly petitioned that most humble, gentle, chivalrous, and capable of warriors to help save them from the attacks of the vile Rakshasas, the ogres given to black magic and illusion. Rama, wholly willing to provide for the protection of those dependent upon the administrative class of men, was ready to come to the aid of the ascetics, but before He could proceed any further, His beautiful, kind, and caring wife, Sita Devi, had a few concerns of her own. Knowing full well the nature of the attacking ogres and the innocence and exalted status of the sages in the Dandaka forest, Sita was still concerned that her husband, who had taken a vow to always abide by dharma, might take to unnecessary violence borne of anger and rage directed at the enemy. Not wanting her dear husband to even show a hint of unrighteousness, Sita kindly put her concerns before Rama. Rama’s response to Sita’s kind inquiry is found in the famous Ramayana, an epic poem and classic text of the Vedic tradition. Rama, who is celebrated as a divine figure throughout the world, responded to Sita by firmly establishing His dedication to the welfare and protection of the saintly class of men. Lord Rama: The Shelter for the Saints consists of fifteen essays covering the different verses from the Ramayana that constituted Rama’s response to Sita. These descriptions cover a wide range of subjects, including spirituality, the divisions of work and spiritual institutions prescribed for man, the essence of human life, the temporary nature of life and death, the eternal wisdom of the Vedic teachings found in sacred texts like the Shrimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita, and much more.