Introduction by Joy Jones
Welcome
everyone, and thank you for attending this special conference on the
historical evidence of the Ramayana,
one of India's most famous epics. My name is Joy Jones, and
as many of you probably already know, I am the daughter of the scholar
and adventurer, Indiana Jones. I must have inherited my father's
exploratory genes because after I read the Ramayana
some years ago, I became determined to uncover historical documents and
relics that could verify the actual existence of the characters from
the story. Through careful research and excavations of the
ancient city of Ayodhya, I have come across some noteworthy remains
that have highlighted an
important theme within the epic.
"Better is one's own Dharma though imperfectly done, than the Dharma of another well-performed. Better is death in one's own Dharma. To pursue the Dharma of another carries great fear." This excerpt from the famed Bhagavad Gita illustrates the guiding principles behind the concept of Dharma. While Dharma can be interpreted to mean many different things, I have focused on the definition of duty and obligation, which permeates the Ramayana. The concept of duty maintains that each being has a specific role that it must realize within its current incarnation. This is not to say that we are only capable of a few things or that we should shy away from challenging acts, but rather that, as the quote suggests, the actions that matter most are those that aid in the fulfillment of our personal Dharma. Acts associated with Dharma should be prioritized above all else.
One of the more obvious examples of duty within the Ramayana is the character of Sita. As Rama's wife, her loyalties are to him, and she is willing to forego her own personal luxuries to follow him into exile. Later, when she is captured, Sita resists Ravana's attempts to transfer her loyalties. She opts for the discomforts of being a faithful wife and maintaining the family honor rather than allowing her immediate personal well-being and doubts to distract her from her purpose. Sita is ultimately punished despite her faithfulness, but there is a certain internal confidence in knowing she remained true to her Dharma, even if it is not fully appreciated in the worldly realm of the story.
King Dasaratha is another prime example of the role of Dharma within the Ramayana. His case differs somewhat from that of Sita, however, because King Dasaratha experiences a conflict between what he perceives to be two Dharmas. The king knows that his son, Rama, is a special being, which is why he decides to pass the throne to him. When Kaikeyi decides to cash in on her long-promised requests, however, King Dasaratha is placed in a dilemma where he must either stay true to his word (and wife) by sending Rama into exile or staying true to what he feels is the will of the gods. Ultimately, what seems like a conflict of Dharma turns out to be the fulfillment of both duties, but it is touching nonetheless to witness the king's struggle, as it is indicative of the confusion that can surround the search for one's Dharma.
The role of Dharma in secondary characters of the Ramayana also carries great significance, as is evidenced by Bharata. The conflict surrounding the succession of the throne in Ayodhya occurs while Bharata is away. He returns to find his brother exiled, his father distraught, and his mother considered an enemy among many. Bharata knows that it is not his duty to lead the kingdom - it is Rama's. While most would be honored to be named successor to the throne, Bharata is disgusted by the idea because he know it is Rama's duty - not his - to rule, and he feels it goes against Dharma on many levels. He finally agrees to rule while Rama is in exile, but only after he places Rama's sandals on the throne to ensure no one becomes confused about who is the true leader. By Bharata remaining loyal to his Dharma and not accepting the throne as his own, he plays an important role in the realization of Rama's Dharma as well.
Finally, the study of Dharma would be incomplete without examing the consequences of abandoning one's Dharma, as is illustrated by Drona from the Mahabharata. As a result of personal experiences that damage his ego, Drona becomes driven by vengeance and seeks to achieve revenge at any cost. He believes the best way to do this is to teach the Pandavas and Kauravas the art of war, so that they may assist him in his goals. Drona blatantly violates his Dharma, however, because he abandons his role in the priestly class to act as though he is of the warrior class. His life becomes a lie, and he eventually reaps the consequences of his actions when Karma finally comes into play.
One of the things that makes the topic of Dharma so important is that it is still very much a part of the Indian culture. While the caste system in India, for example, has technically been abolished, the cultural traditions surrounding it still survive to varying degrees. The communal nature of the culture (as with many traditional cultures) relies on each member performing a particular role in order to ensure the functioning of the overall group. This dynamic is especially interesting to Westerners, who tend to believe success and happiness arise more from challenges to the status quo and individual fulfillment than designated duties and personal sacrifice for group well-being.
By reading about characters like Sita and King Dasaratha, Baratha and Drona, one begins to develop a rudimentary understanding of Dharma, which is central to the Indian culture. When combined with the documents we have uncovered and will proceed to present to you, one also gains an appreciation for how long the concept of Dharma has been present in India. Thus emerges one of the beauties of exploring the literature and traditions of another culture: to understand someone, it is often important to know the sources from which they come.
"Better is one's own Dharma though imperfectly done, than the Dharma of another well-performed. Better is death in one's own Dharma. To pursue the Dharma of another carries great fear." This excerpt from the famed Bhagavad Gita illustrates the guiding principles behind the concept of Dharma. While Dharma can be interpreted to mean many different things, I have focused on the definition of duty and obligation, which permeates the Ramayana. The concept of duty maintains that each being has a specific role that it must realize within its current incarnation. This is not to say that we are only capable of a few things or that we should shy away from challenging acts, but rather that, as the quote suggests, the actions that matter most are those that aid in the fulfillment of our personal Dharma. Acts associated with Dharma should be prioritized above all else.
One of the more obvious examples of duty within the Ramayana is the character of Sita. As Rama's wife, her loyalties are to him, and she is willing to forego her own personal luxuries to follow him into exile. Later, when she is captured, Sita resists Ravana's attempts to transfer her loyalties. She opts for the discomforts of being a faithful wife and maintaining the family honor rather than allowing her immediate personal well-being and doubts to distract her from her purpose. Sita is ultimately punished despite her faithfulness, but there is a certain internal confidence in knowing she remained true to her Dharma, even if it is not fully appreciated in the worldly realm of the story.
King Dasaratha is another prime example of the role of Dharma within the Ramayana. His case differs somewhat from that of Sita, however, because King Dasaratha experiences a conflict between what he perceives to be two Dharmas. The king knows that his son, Rama, is a special being, which is why he decides to pass the throne to him. When Kaikeyi decides to cash in on her long-promised requests, however, King Dasaratha is placed in a dilemma where he must either stay true to his word (and wife) by sending Rama into exile or staying true to what he feels is the will of the gods. Ultimately, what seems like a conflict of Dharma turns out to be the fulfillment of both duties, but it is touching nonetheless to witness the king's struggle, as it is indicative of the confusion that can surround the search for one's Dharma.
The role of Dharma in secondary characters of the Ramayana also carries great significance, as is evidenced by Bharata. The conflict surrounding the succession of the throne in Ayodhya occurs while Bharata is away. He returns to find his brother exiled, his father distraught, and his mother considered an enemy among many. Bharata knows that it is not his duty to lead the kingdom - it is Rama's. While most would be honored to be named successor to the throne, Bharata is disgusted by the idea because he know it is Rama's duty - not his - to rule, and he feels it goes against Dharma on many levels. He finally agrees to rule while Rama is in exile, but only after he places Rama's sandals on the throne to ensure no one becomes confused about who is the true leader. By Bharata remaining loyal to his Dharma and not accepting the throne as his own, he plays an important role in the realization of Rama's Dharma as well.
Finally, the study of Dharma would be incomplete without examing the consequences of abandoning one's Dharma, as is illustrated by Drona from the Mahabharata. As a result of personal experiences that damage his ego, Drona becomes driven by vengeance and seeks to achieve revenge at any cost. He believes the best way to do this is to teach the Pandavas and Kauravas the art of war, so that they may assist him in his goals. Drona blatantly violates his Dharma, however, because he abandons his role in the priestly class to act as though he is of the warrior class. His life becomes a lie, and he eventually reaps the consequences of his actions when Karma finally comes into play.
One of the things that makes the topic of Dharma so important is that it is still very much a part of the Indian culture. While the caste system in India, for example, has technically been abolished, the cultural traditions surrounding it still survive to varying degrees. The communal nature of the culture (as with many traditional cultures) relies on each member performing a particular role in order to ensure the functioning of the overall group. This dynamic is especially interesting to Westerners, who tend to believe success and happiness arise more from challenges to the status quo and individual fulfillment than designated duties and personal sacrifice for group well-being.
By reading about characters like Sita and King Dasaratha, Baratha and Drona, one begins to develop a rudimentary understanding of Dharma, which is central to the Indian culture. When combined with the documents we have uncovered and will proceed to present to you, one also gains an appreciation for how long the concept of Dharma has been present in India. Thus emerges one of the beauties of exploring the literature and traditions of another culture: to understand someone, it is often important to know the sources from which they come.
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Buck,
William. Ramayana.
Berkeley:
University of California Press, Ltd., 1976.
Photo: Dharma
The Duty of Dharma Homepage
Sita's Devotion
Dasaratha's Dilemma
Bharata and Brotherhood
Drona's Dharma Karma
Photo: Dharma
The Duty of Dharma Homepage
Sita's Devotion
Dasaratha's Dilemma
Bharata and Brotherhood
Drona's Dharma Karma