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Ramayan relevant for all, offers code of conduct: President
President inaugurates Ramayan Conclave, lauds Uttar Pradesh government for taking the Ramayan to the common people through art and culture
Stating that Ayodhya is not Ayodhya without Lord Ram, President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday said, “Ayodhya exists where there is Ram. Lord Ram resides permanently in this city and, therefore, in the true sense this place is Ayodhya.”
Inaugurating a four-day Ramayan conclave in Ayodhya, he also lauded the Uttar Pradesh government for its efforts to take the Ramayan to the common people through art and culture.
Sharing his views on Ayodhya, the relevance and importance of Ramayan on the occasion, he asserted that the teachings of the Ramayan were relevant for all.
Addressing the gathering, the President explained the meaning of the word Ayodhya and said: “The literal meaning of Ayodhya is the one who is impossible to wage a war against.”
“Due to Raghuvanshi rulers like Raghu, Dileep, Aja, Dashrath and Ram, their capital could never be conquered. Therefore, the name of this city Ayodhya will always be relevant,” the President said.
Explaining the importance of the Ramayan, the President also said: “The Ramayan will always be relevant as it offers inherent values of life that are relevant for humanity. Ramayan also offers a model code of conduct that guides us in all aspects of life.”
Explaining other aspects of the Ramayan as well, the President said: “Ramayan also tells us what the behaviour of a child with his parents should be, brother with brother, husband with wife, teacher with his disciple, friend with a friend, ruler with the public and human being with nature. On all dimensions, code of conduct is available in the Ramayan.”
Referring to the word Ram in his name, the President said: “I feel that when my family members named me (Ram Nath Kovind), they were possibly having the feeling of respect and affection towards Ram Katha and Lord Ram, which is seen in the common public.”
Quoting a popular verse of the Ramcharitmanas, the President said: “The meaning of this line is that knowing the whole world as God, we should accept everyone with respect.”
“Let us all see Goddess Sita and Lord Ram in every person. Lord Ram is for everyone, and Lord Ram is in everyone. Let us all fulfil our obligations with warm thought,” said the President.
Lauding the Uttar Pradesh government, he said, “I applaud chief minister Yogi Adityanath and his team for the campaign to take the Ramayan to the common people through art and culture by organising the Ramayan Conclave.”
“To prove the significance of the Ramayan Conclave, it is necessary that the basic ideals of Ram Katha should be propagated everywhere, and everyone should adopt those ideals. I wish that just like all people in Ram Rajya were free from physical, divine and material sufferings, similarly all our countrymen would lead a happy life,” Kovind said.
On the occasion, the President also recalled Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals. The President said: “Gandhiji has given the name Ram Rajya for an ideal India. Mahatma Gandhi imbibed the ideals of Lord Ram in public life. In fact, the ‘Maryada-Purshottam’ form of Lord Ram described in the Ramayan is ideal for everyone.”
Sharing his views on the Ramayan, the President said: “The Ramayan is such a unique book which presents high ideals and limits of human life in front of the world through Ram Katha.”
“I am sure that this effort of the Uttar Pradesh government for promotion of the Ramayan will prove to be important in the interest of Indian culture and the entire humanity,” he said.
The President is on a four-day visit to Uttar Pradesh from August 26. He arrived in Ayodhya onboard the special presidential train on Sunday morning. He was received by governor Anandiben Patel and UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath on arrival.
