LORD RAMA and THE RAMAYANA

kardecian wrote:I just finished reading THE RAMAYANA by Valmiki.  The author of this translation was Purnaprajna Dasa.  I found the book.... interesting.  I had a tough time getting through it though.  To me it read like the Old Testament (which I've never been a big fan).  The customs in the Ramayana are not easy to understand; for instance, the act of suicide by throwing oneself into a sacrificial fire is beyond my comprehension.
The book is about the birth and disappearence of LORD RAMA, Who is said to be the SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD.  It's the story of His coming to destroy the demon King RAVANA. 
Rama's Kingdom lasted 11,0000 YEARS1
I've watched ANCIENT ALIENS on cable television, and agree with the series on something: the flying vehicles mentioned in THE RAMAYANA were probably actual vehicles. I'm sure that the ancient Indian civilization had an understanding of aircraft. Also, the description of the 'missiles' used in battle were impressive. These missiles could be shot at an enemy, and the enemy could counteract your missile by shooting it out of the sky, and the 'whole night sky would light up' from the explosion.
Another interesting thing about the RAMAYANA is this: it describes a bridge being built from India to Lanka.  The monkey-men, led by HANUMAN built this bridge.  If one looks at a space photo of India and Lanka, one can see that there truly was once a bridge (called ADAM'S BRIDGE) that bridged the two countries.  The bridge is now under water.
I don't believe everything mentioned in THE RAMAYANA actually happened. Was Lord Rama a real Person?  I'm sure He was.  Did a nation of monkey men exist back then? Who knows?  Perhaps!  Would I read the book again? No.


Interesting topic.   May I ask what the Monkey men are?    I presume this is taken from Indian history.   Which I don't know an awful lot about,I'm afraid.    Who was Lord Rama?

Joan

kardecian wrote:I just finished reading THE RAMAYANA by Valmiki.  The author of this translation was Purnaprajna Dasa.  I found the book.... interesting.  I had a tough time getting through it though.  To me it read like the Old Testament (which I've never been a big fan).  The customs in the Ramayana are not easy to understand; for instance, the act of suicide by throwing oneself into a sacrificial fire is beyond my comprehension.
The book is about the birth and disappearence of LORD RAMA, Who is said to be the SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD.  It's the story of His coming to destroy the demon King RAVANA. 
Rama's Kingdom lasted 11,0000 YEARS1
I've watched ANCIENT ALIENS on cable television, and agree with the series on something: the flying vehicles mentioned in THE RAMAYANA were probably actual vehicles. I'm sure that the ancient Indian civilization had an understanding of aircraft. Also, the description of the 'missiles' used in battle were impressive. These missiles could be shot at an enemy, and the enemy could counteract your missile by shooting it out of the sky, and the 'whole night sky would light up' from the explosion.
Another interesting thing about the RAMAYANA is this: it describes a bridge being built from India to Lanka.  The monkey-men, led by HANUMAN built this bridge.  If one looks at a space photo of India and Lanka, one can see that there truly was once a bridge (called ADAM'S BRIDGE) that bridged the two countries.  The bridge is now under water.
I don't believe everything mentioned in THE RAMAYANA actually happened. Was Lord Rama a real Person?  I'm sure He was.  Did a nation of monkey men exist back then? I do believe the book is referring to the savage men. Those who only knew how to kill and destroy. Who knows?  Perhaps!  Would I read the book again? No.

SpiritVoices wrote:

kardecian wrote:I just finished reading THE RAMAYANA by Valmiki.  The author of this translation was Purnaprajna Dasa.  I found the book.... interesting.  I had a tough time getting through it though.  To me it read like the Old Testament (which I've never been a big fan).  The customs in the Ramayana are not easy to understand; for instance, the act of suicide by throwing oneself into a sacrificial fire is beyond my comprehension.
The book is about the birth and disappearence of LORD RAMA, Who is said to be the SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD.  It's the story of His coming to destroy the demon King RAVANA. 
Rama's Kingdom lasted 11,0000 YEARS1
I've watched ANCIENT ALIENS on cable television, and agree with the series on something: the flying vehicles mentioned in THE RAMAYANA were probably actual vehicles. I'm sure that the ancient Indian civilization had an understanding of aircraft. Also, the description of the 'missiles' used in battle were impressive. These missiles could be shot at an enemy, and the enemy could counteract your missile by shooting it out of the sky, and the 'whole night sky would light up' from the explosion.
Another interesting thing about the RAMAYANA is this: it describes a bridge being built from India to Lanka.  The monkey-men, led by HANUMAN built this bridge.  If one looks at a space photo of India and Lanka, one can see that there truly was once a bridge (called ADAM'S BRIDGE) that bridged the two countries.  The bridge is now under water.
I don't believe everything mentioned in THE RAMAYANA actually happened. Was Lord Rama a real Person?  I'm sure He was.  Did a nation of monkey men exist back then? Who knows?  Perhaps!  Would I read the book again? No.


Interesting topic.   May I ask what the Monkey men are?    I presume this is taken from Indian history.   Which I don't know an awful lot about,I'm afraid.    Who was Lord Rama?

Joan

CW wrote:Rama, is said to have taken birth on earth to annihilate the evil forces of the age. He is widely believed to be an actual historical figure - a "tribal hero of ancient India". Lord Rama is in human form.

I love and respect the teachings of Bhagavad Gita regarding the battle of good and evil.

Love to all...

kardecian wrote:I just finished reading THE RAMAYANA by Valmiki.  The author of this translation was Purnaprajna Dasa.  I found the book.... interesting.  I had a tough time getting through it though.  To me it read like the Old Testament (which I've never been a big fan).  The customs in the Ramayana are not easy to understand; for instance, the act of suicide by throwing oneself into a sacrificial fire is beyond my comprehension.
The book is about the birth and disappearence of LORD RAMA, Who is said to be the SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD.  It's the story of His coming to destroy the demon King RAVANA. 
Rama's Kingdom lasted 11,0000 YEARS1
I've watched ANCIENT ALIENS on cable television, and agree with the series on something: the flying vehicles mentioned in THE RAMAYANA were probably actual vehicles. I'm sure that the ancient Indian civilization had an understanding of aircraft. Also, the description of the 'missiles' used in battle were impressive. These missiles could be shot at an enemy, and the enemy could counteract your missile by shooting it out of the sky, and the 'whole night sky would light up' from the explosion.
Another interesting thing about the RAMAYANA is this: it describes a bridge being built from India to Lanka.  The monkey-men, led by HANUMAN built this bridge.  If one looks at a space photo of India and Lanka, one can see that there truly was once a bridge (called ADAM'S BRIDGE) that bridged the two countries.  The bridge is now under water.
I don't believe everything mentioned in THE RAMAYANA actually happened. Was Lord Rama a real Person?  I'm sure He was.  Did a nation of monkey men exist back then? Who knows?  Perhaps!  Would I read the book again? No.

  Throwing oneself into into the fire?   Didn't that happen with some of the Tibetan monks or simuliar a while back?    I seem to remember reading something like that.   Interesting account and book,by the sound of it,    Why wouldn't you read it again?   Though I have my favourite reading books.
Well thumbed and pages tatty from pages constantly turned over.
I know you,don't I?.....

Joan

SpiritVoices wrote:t

kardecian wrote:I just finished reading THE RAMAYANA by Valmiki.  The author of this translation was Purnaprajna Dasa.  I found the book.... interesting.  I had a tough time getting through it though.  To me it read like the Old Testament (which I've never been a big fan).  The customs in the Ramayana are not easy to understand; for instance, the act of suicide by throwing oneself into a sacrificial fire is beyond my comprehension.
The book is about the birth and disappearence of LORD RAMA, Who is said to be the SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD.  It's the story of His coming to destroy the demon King RAVANA. 
Rama's Kingdom lasted 11,0000 YEARS1
I've watched ANCIENT ALIENS on cable television, and agree with the series on something: the flying vehicles mentioned in THE RAMAYANA were probably actual vehicles. I'm sure that the ancient Indian civilization had an understanding of aircraft. Also, the description of the 'missiles' used in battle were impressive. These missiles could be shot at an enemy, and the enemy could counteract your missile by shooting it out of the sky, and the 'whole night sky would light up' from the explosion.
Another interesting thing about the RAMAYANA is this: it describes a bridge being built from India to Lanka.  The monkey-men, led by HANUMAN built this bridge.  If one looks at a space photo of India and Lanka, one can see that there truly was once a bridge (called ADAM'S BRIDGE) that bridged the two countries.  The bridge is now under water.
I don't believe everything mentioned in THE RAMAYANA actually happened. Was Lord Rama a real Person?  I'm sure He was.  Did a nation of monkey men exist back then? Who knows?  Perhaps!  Would I read the book again? No.

  Throwing oneself into into the fire?   Didn't that happen with some of the Tibetan monks or simuliar a while back?    I seem to remember reading something like that.   Interesting account and book,by the sound of it,    Why wouldn't you read it again?   Though I have my favourite reading books.
Well thumbed and pages tatty from pages constantly turned over.
I know you,don't I?.....

Joan

Joan, The monkey men were a race of monkeys.  The hero of Ramayana was Hanuman, who was a monkey man.  Hanuman's father was the god of air.  It's interesting: in the Vedic Scriptures, such as Ramayana, the Krishna book, Mahabharata, etc. it's taught that God descends (appears) whenever religious principles are waning.  He comes to destroy the demons, and to protect His devotees.  When God descends, His eternal associates appear with Him (as devotees).  In the Ramayana, many of the heavenly citizens descended as monkeys, bears, etc.  It sounds wild, I know.  And it truly is wild. But it's all written to show religious principles, whether one believes it literally happened, or whether one believes it's all allegory.
I personally believe that Lord Ramachandra (Chandra is the god of the moon, and Rama is associated with the moon, thus He's named Rama-Chandra) truly did exist.  The monkey-men?  Yes, I think they existed too

CW wrote:

Joan, The monkey men were a race of monkeys.  The hero of Ramayana was Hanuman, who was a monkey man.  Hanuman's father was the god of air.  It's interesting: in the Vedic Scriptures, such as Ramayana, the Krishna book, Mahabharata, etc. it's taught that God descends (appears) whenever religious principles are waning.  He comes to destroy the demons, and to protect His devotees.  When God descends, His eternal associates appear with Him (as devotees).  In the Ramayana, many of the heavenly citizens descended as monkeys, bears, etc.  It sounds wild, I know.  And it truly is wild. But it's all written to show religious principles, whether one believes it literally happened, or whether one believes it's all allegory.
I personally believe that Lord Ramachandra (Chandra is the god of the moon, and Rama is associated with the moon, thus He's named Rama-Chandra) truly did exist.  The monkey-men?  Yes, I think they existed too

Thanks Kardecian, I can understand how a monkey can be a serious threat against men. They are strong, their teeth are like weapons and they carry some diseases that are potentially fatal to humans. However, because of certain words used within the Bhagavad Gita such as Arjuna, which translates to - men. I visioned this army of monkey men to be what was considered savage,unintelligent men not actual monkeys.  

Love to all...

CW wrote:Hay SV if you have never glanced at the Gita here is a link for you.

The Bhagavad Gita AS IT IS: http://www.bhagavad-gita.org/Gita/verse-01-01.html

It begins like a fairy tale but each chapter reveals a deeper look of how being in control of ones self, combined with the power of spiritual principals, if practiced will change and empower your life. 

Love to all....