The epic Ramayana is one of the first literatures of man-kind, which has been told and retold by many people. It is unique in the way that it has been carried over ages verbally. Over a period, it has transformed from literature to epic to a holy book.

Nevertheless, Ramayana is a story that does not preach morals or values. Instead, it allows people to be people and the readers derive their own morals. It actually creates a space for learning of certain values rather than teaching them. At times there are several exaggerations and twists, which make that 'divine' image of Ramayana.

In a modern context, Ramayana has become the tool of god-men and not seen as a literature that conveys value systems. Over a period, the divinity and magical elements of Ramayana has been stressed too much and it has been reduced to a mythological tale.

My attempt here is to retell the story of Ramayana in a manner that is understandable to younger generation and in a way they can relate to it logically in the modern times. In this pursuit, I might be deviating on details, but will keep the crux of the message same.

Actually this is what has happened to these epic stories, where authors have continuously adopted the message of Ramayana, as they see it, to their own times.

I am not sure if I will be able to do justice to the story. I am also not sure if I will have the time to complete it. I am also not sure of the support I will get. Still, I will start my 'Tapas' here..

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Chapter 1

The birds chirped.

Valmiki looked up. He could see different birds on the 'peepal' tree busy talking to each other. "How care free they are.." - he thought. He was waiting along the pathway that cuts through the thick forest.

He was waiting for people moving through this pathway. Life has become very difficult for him. When he was young, he felt excited at his job. But now, it has become boring and a burden. But he has to do it, as he has aging parents, wife and kids to take care.

Valmiki is simply following the profession of his father and community. He had no other experience in life. Ofcourse his profession is the most dangerous and hated profession in the region. There are people out there with a vengeance to kill him and the members of his community.

Thinking of his enemies, Valmiki couldn't control his smile. His enemies think that Valmiki is the reason for all their troubles. Reality is otherwise.

Valmiki lives in the edge of the forest. Apt to say that he and his community are camping in the edge of the forest, so that they can run deep inside the forest if they are chased by their enemies. If they find the going tough here, they will shift their camp to the edge of some other village, some other forest.

His enemies are the people of the village. Particularly, rich people of the village are his enemies. But, they are also his friends. Valmiki and his clan survives at every place because of the support they get from some members of the village near which they camp.

*****

Valmiki is a robber like other members of his community. 'Thief' or 'Robber' is what others call him. But for him and members of his community it is their profession. It is their destiny. Like the Jackals, which prey on the meat of the animals killed by tigers and lions, they live on the materials gathered by the members of the village. That is their duty and destiny.

Valmiki and his community members, at most of the times, sell back the materials robbed by them inside the village at throw-away prices. Thus they are actually transferring the ownership of the material from one to another and get paid for that.

If all the members of all the villages decide not to buy anything from Valmiki or his community, Valmiki can no longer rob. But human greed does not allow that.

As Valmiki was engraved in his thoughts, he could see dust going up in the horizon. That means somebody is approaching him on the pathway. Valmiki hid behind the peepal tree with his sword. Based on how wealthy and armed the caravan or person looks, he will swing into action.

*****
That was a lone carriage driven by bullocks. In fact there was only one man driving the cart. Whatever the cart has, this is the right time, valmiki decided. He jumped on the cart, brandishing his sword and in that action kicked down the man riding the cart.

As the man fell, Valmiki pounced on him. He held his sword to the man's neck and said "What is in the cart..?"

The man completely terrified said "Please.. Please.. I am going to my son-in-law's place. My daughter is newly married. There was a shortfall in the dowry presented to the groom from our end. Hence I am picking them up from my village and going there.."

"Well.. Leave them here and run for your life" - Valmiki said "I also need it.."

"No.." - the man cried "If I don't reach in time, my son-in-law will not accept my daughter. She has no other go, but to die. Please leave me. For the sake of my daughter, please leave this cart. You will get so many others.."

Valmiki laughed. "That I am leaving you without killing you itself is a big favor to you" - he said "Why should I care about your daughter ?"

The man fell at the feet of Valmiki. He touched it with his face and started crying there. "She is my only, lovely daughter. I want her to be happy in life. But for her I have no life.. If u rob this dowry, I will go empty handed. They will not accept it.. Please.. Please.. you may also have kids. If you rob it, my daugher will die and u will get that sin. If u leave it, she will live and we will all praise you in our heart "

The man's tears washed Valmiki's feet. Valmiki was unmoved "What is a sin..? Like you are doing it for your daughter, I am doing this for my daughter. Looking after my family is no sin. Even if it is I will share it with members of my family, so that my portion of sin becomes small. Don't u worry" - he said.

Saying it Valmiki kicked the man hard with his leg. He tossed him around and jumped on the cart. He rode the bullock cart towards the forest.

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"For me.. For me.." - everybody was shouting and trying to take an item for themselves. Valmiki had just unloaded the things from the cart. Dresses, vessels, jewels and grain-sacks were in abundance.

"Take it ..Take it.." - Valmiki took a cloth and draped it on his wife. "You look beautiful in this.. Like those high class women." - he laughed. Suddenly the curse of the man came to his mind.

"You know the man was coming alone. When I robbed him he begged me saying that I will be sinning if I rob. It seems his daughter might die, if these things do not reach her.." - valimiki said "You know what I said.. Don't you worry.. My wife and kids will share my sins.. So it will become small"..

"Why should I share your sin..?" - His wife asked. "It is your duty to feed us and clothe us. The way you do it is your problem. Perception of Sin depends on individuals. These people steal the milk of cow. They don't let the calf drink. Can there be any sin greater than stealing the mother's milk. It all depends on one's own views..?"

"Still.. you won't share my guilt..?" - Valmiki asked "I consider what I am doing as a sin. That guilt kills me. But I console myself saying that I am doing it for others. So you also have the responsibility to pacify my guilt. Is it not..?"

"No.. your sin is in your mind. If you think robbery is sin, don't do that. Don't make us as the excuse to justify your actions." - Valmiki's wife said. "I won't console you for your guilt. And that includes your kids, parents, uncles and aunts. You have to justify your actions based on yourself. You cannot blame your actions on others.".

For Valmiki, who has been working all along for the sake of his parents, wife, kids and community, this was a shock. That his wife is laying the responsibility of his actions on him and not bothered about the guilt that Valmiki is suffering is a revelation. She is not even willing to say soothing words to pacify his mind.

He sat alone in a reflective mood. When he came to senses, he looked around. Every one had left the place with their share of the loot. "If I am not here, will they be able to survive..?" - he thought. "What if I stop my working..?"

"Why not..? May be they will feel the loss for sometime. In due course, his sons will start doing what he is doing now. They may not have any guilt. They may be happy." - his thoughts ran.

After a deep introspection, Valmiki decided to leave his family and community in search of peace. Till now he had taken everything from the society for the usage of his family. He had suffered a deep sense of guilt for it. Now is the time to reverse it.

He wanted to take everything from his family and give it to the society. His most precious contribution to his family and community was his time. Now he wanted to gift that time to the society and work for uplifting the society.

He had heard about Rishis living inside deep forests, doing several activities, finding out new things, to help the society improve. He started walking towards their direction. That is the only place he can stay away safe from the society and contribute as well.

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Several days Valmiki wandered in the forest. He went in all directions his legs would take him. He was surviving only on fruits, honey and leaves. He could not even stoke the fire to cook anything.

After several months, Valmiki ran into a group of Rishi's in the forest on the banks of the Sarayu river. The Rishis thought Valmiki also as a Rishi in search of something. Valmiki asked them permission to join them in their work.

These Rishis of the forest were doing work in the interest of the community. Some of them were working on classifying and cataloging plants, trees and herbs that could be used as medicines. Some of them were working on animals and birds, documenting their communication methods, working out if humans could use them to their advantage. Some of them were working on making new powerful and stronger weapons to protect themselves from animals and enemies. Some of them were working in musical instruments and notes. There were different people with different areas of research.

But none of the Rishis took in Valmiki. Valmiki has never recited anything. He did not have strong memory that could be used to recite and store information of their work in his mind. They thought he might not be of use to them in their work.

Finally Valmiki met a Rishi, who claimed to be a descendant of Sage Narad. This Narad Rishi was working on the subject of music. He claimed that one of his ancestors, who is also known as Narad, designed and developed the first string instrument in the world. Sage Narad was an expert in musical sounds and was working on classifying the musical notes and giving structure to them.

When Valmiki asked for permission to join him in his work, Sage Narad said "Valmiki, though I would like to help you, I think you won't be suitable to my musical work directly. But I can give you a challenging assignment to do, which you have to do on your own without any help. I have been working on musical notes and sounds. But I perceive if I am able to associate verses with musical sounds it would appeal to both emotion and logic of human beings and enhance the pleasure of listening"

Valmiki was more than eager to do anything. But he did not understand what Narad was talking about.

Narad continued "You want to remove your guilt of looting from the society by giving back knowledge to the society. I understand that's why you want to join the Rishis. I can tell you the story of Ram, the son of Dasarath of Ayodhya. I wanted to weave his story in verses such that people can sing it along with music. Such an attempt, if it is successful will be immortalized across ages. I am busy in researching music itself. I want somebody to do it. "

Valmiki was overwhelmed with excitement. He asked "Narad, who is this Ram..? Why is his story important to be immortalized like this..?"

Narad said "Story of Ram makes anyone who hears it to learn about several important qualities a person should have. This form of writing a story in verses is a new attempt. It will open up many such attempts and society will be able to preserve the culture that provides continuity in spite of continuous changes in the society".

Valmiki was afraid, that he could not do it. He asked Narad "O sage.. I am neither learned nor intellectual. Writing it in verses may not be possible. What should I do..?"

Narad said "You have to do Tapas. Tapas means hardwork that is completely focussed. You do a tapas on language. Learn from me in my spare time, the language we speak. Grasp the vocabulary and richness of the language. If you work hard work with focus, you can learn it one or two years"

Valmiki was extremely thrilled. Yet he had his own doubts. He asked Sage Narad "O learned one, do you think I will be able to concentrate and learn at this age..?"

Narad said "If you have interest you can. I will teach you how to meditate. Meditation improves our concentration, focus and strengthens our resolve to accomplish"

Valmiki was convinced at this. He said "Yes Narad. Please teach me meditation and I will start my tapas on language today itself".

Narad taught meditation to Valmiki. He said " In meditation u have to recite a mantra or set of words continuously. Initially it will be very difficult to concentrate and recite the mantra. Over a period you will be able to focus your mind on the mantra you are chanting. See this tree. It is of the Mara type, a commonly available type of tree. You can take this tree as your mantra. Chant and meditate on the mantra 'Mara'.".

And Narad taught valmiki the procedures of breathing while meditating and other techniques for improving concentration. Also Valmiki learnt the nuances of his language from Narad. Narad also told Valmiki the story of Ram in detail.

Very soon, Valmiki had become an expert in verses and set out to start his work on the story of Ram , "The Ramayan".

~To be continued..

The Revelation of Ram