== SHAMBUKA NOT SUDROKA ==
Namaskar,
There is one very important story from the Ramayana that is recounted in
our AM books, but due to human error it has been published incorrectly.
We should all take careful note, update our own personal editions, and
ensure that next time it is published correctly by contacting our AM
Publications Dept.
This story is of great significance to many, and non-margiis should not
think that we have the facts wrong - that will only lead them to doubt
other aspects of our AM teachings.
RAMA KILLS A SO-CALLED SHUDRA
Here is the key story from the mythological epic, the Ramayana, that was
wrongly printed in the "Suppression, Repression and Oppression" chapter
of Prout in a Nutshell Part 17.
In this below paragraph, Baba is giving the teaching that it was wrong
for Rama to kill a so-called shudra because he was performing worship.
And the name of that so-called shudra is "Shambuka", but those who noted
down Baba's discourse wrote "Sudroka". That is the critical error that
is made. And that is how it got wrongly printed.
Baba says, "In the mythological epic the Ramayana, Ram is the apostle of
capitalism and Aryan supremacy while Ravana represents the non-Aryans.
Ram is called “Marya'da' Pursus'ottama”. What is Marya'da' Purus'ottama?
When Parama Purus'a comes into the world His actions and behaviour will
be just like that of Parama Purus'a although He is in human form. This
is the meaning of Marya'da' Purus'ottama. However, Ram did not behave
like Parama Purus'a – he was not up to this standard. He killed Sudroka,
a non-Aryan, when he was performing worship, and he killed him out of a
sense of Aryan supremacy. At that time people believed that only Aryans
and not non-Aryans should perform worship, but this dogmatic view cannot
be supported." (PNS-17)
So there are three things going on:
1) Baba is proving that Rama is mythological and that Rama's actions
go against dharma. That is quite clear in the above paragraph.
2) Baba is taking a dharmic stand against casteism.
The above two points are correctly portrayed in the above quote.
It is this third point that is incorrect. And when any scholar,
historian, or interested party reads this following point, then
they may disregard all of Baba's teachings's therein.
3) Baba is stating that the name of the name of the shudra that
Rama killed is Shambuka, but this got wrongly printed as Sudroka.
So this is indeed a critical error because in this teaching Baba is
condemning the very caste system which the Ramayana advocates. Today,
there are many so-called harijans and members of the Dalit community who
regularly reference this story as proof that Rama and his teachings
about casteism are unjust.
Those students and scholars of the Ramayana will question that if the name
is wrong, then so many other points are probably wrong as well. In that
way they will be suspicious of Baba's dharmic teachings.
That is why this story is of such significance and that is why we should
have every aspect of the story correct. Unfortunately, the name of the
slain so-called shudra was wrongly printed, and that error will
naturally cast doubt on the authenticity of the rest of the story.
WHY IT WAS WRONGLY PRINTED
The next question is how or why it got wrongly printed. One potential
reason is that Baba gave this discourse in Kolkata on 13 November 1989.
And the Ramayana is not well studied in Bengal. So the Dadas noting down
Baba's discourse and / or the Dadas in the publication department were
not familiar with the name of so-called shudra. Nor did they go back and
ask Baba the exact name. Only they knew that the slain person was a
"shudra" and with that memory the name "Sudroka" was born.
The situation can be likened to if you met someone from France and
forgot their name and in trying to remember it you just started calling
them Frances.
Likewise those Dadas knew he was a shudra so they just printed his name
as Sudroka.
When the real name of that so-called shudra was Shambuka. And this
Shambuka character is well known in and around south India and
everywhere that the Ramayana is studied. Hence many scholars will be
quite skeptical of our version even though Baba is giving a dharmic
teaching.
SUCH A SIGNIFICANT STORY ~ MUST BE CORRECTED
Again, this is a significant story because many believe Rama to be the
incarnation of the Lord, yet in this account Baba is proving that Rama
is not the Lord but a figure of human imagination, and the proof is that
Rama's actions are not befitting that of Taraka Brahma or Marya'da'
Pursus'ottama. No God in human form would follow caste dogma and kill a
"shudra" simply because that so-called shudra was engaging in worship.
No just or noble person can do like that - least of all Parama Purusa.
Hence Baba is demonstrating that Rama is not Parama Purusa incarnate.
And all those fighting against caste dogma use this story as the
critical evidence that Rama's teachings on casteism are unjust and not
to be followed.
When our Marga upholds dharma and fights dogma in all spheres of life,
then this critical story must be printed properly, lest good people
become skeptical of all AM teachings.
The other side of the coin is that those in the Marga who are not
familiar with this story will verily think that the name "Shudroka" is
correct, in which case they may wrongly preach the story to others. And
learned people will think that we do not know we are talking about. They
will doubt us - and rightly so.
Finally, this wrong teaching about killing "shudras" in the Ramayana
undermines human unity. It totally goes against our movement of ek
manava samaj, or one human society.
Thus the proper name "Shambuka" must be updated in Prout in a Nutshell
Part 17 and all places where this discourse appears.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace all His teachings are pristine and pure and it is
our bounden duty to ensure our AM books perfectly reflect Baba's
divine gospel.
Baba says, "The scriptures containing spiritual injunctions
must be totally flawless." (NSS, Disc 14)
Namaskar,
Satiish
Note 1: HERE IS ONE REFERENCE
Here is one but reference of many on the web wherein they refer to
the slain "shudra" as Shambuka.
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Where We Are
Baba says, "Common domestic animals are individualistic by nature. They are
very self-centered. One animal does not usually come to the aid of another.
Domestic animals are neither sincere nor devoted to their masters. In fact,
they do not have the least sympathy for their masters' interests. Wherever
they are, they live only for themselves." (PNS-15, p.42)
Note 1: There are some who suffer from this dogma-- thinking that their
pets are quite dedicated to them. Hence these persons are not aware of the
fact. Because the truth is that wherever pets get their food they become
theirs. One can witness this in the practical life if one has eyes to see.
Note 2: This above Baba's teaching is related not only with domestic
animals but with all animals. Actually, what to say about animals,
unfortunately, these days under the negative influence of capitalism, human
beings have degenerated to the level of such animals in that they are
equally self-centered, living only for themselves, and not caring about
others. In (a) capitalist countries and (b) metropolitan cities around the
globe, such people are commonly available. They are so self-centered that
they never care about others-- not even their own off-spring. Such crude
and selfish people are worse than animals in human form. This entire scene
is the negative outcome of capitalism-- which itself converts humans into
beasts. Capitalist-minded people are the epitome of that; and they may even
be regarded as common citizens. Then selfish mentality is the root cause of
all the problems.
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