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Author's Note: Please visit - The 'Real' Ramayana/ Ram-Rajya - to read the other parts of this series, so as to be able to fully understand or grasp the contents of this one.
Why is Shri Ram known as: "Raghu", "Raghunandan", "Raghav" and "Raghupati"? What does "adivasi" and "vaanvasi" mean? Who is a "Chakravarti Raja"? Why is Sri Ram known as a "Chakravarti Raja"? What does a "Chakra" represent? Why is Shri Krishna depicted with the "Sudarshan Chakra" (or the golden disc)? Notes on: some great teachers; the duties (dharma) of a teacher; "Dramila"; Karna's 'chariot wheel' sinking to the ground; our education system; nation-building; the "kupamandup syndrome", etc.
Shri Ram was able to surmount great odds and accomplish various noble tasks - for the good of society and for the welfare of the people. He refused to accept the injustices prevailing in society - during his time - even though these were accepted as 'societal norms' (maryada). Instead, he dismantled these accepted societal norms (maryada) - for the greater good, and thereby established a just society (Ram Rajya). Hence, he is hailed as 'Maryada-Purushottam'. [Do read: Part-IX.]
As we know, Shri Ram belonged to the Suryavanshi Ikshvaku clan or the Kshatriya Sun-worshiping Ikshvaku clan, which is a part of the 'Puruvansh' (the Puru lineage). Raja Yayati's youngest son, Puru, is the progenitor of the Puru clan or the Bharatas (from which 'Bharat-Varsh' derives her name. Do read Part-XIII - to know the meaning of 'Bharat-varsha'.) Shri Ram is the most famous personality of this clan. However, the Ikshvaku clan is also known as: Raghuvaṃśa or Raghukula after Raghu - a valourous king of this clan, lineage or dynasty. Raghu was an ancestor of Shri Ram, and hence, Ram is also known as 'Raghav' or 'Raghunandan', meaning: belonging to the Raghus or hailing from the Raghuvaṃśa or Raghukula.['Suryavanshi' does not mean 'descending from the Sun'; that is a mistranslation - by aliens. 'Suryavanshi' means Sun-worshiping.]
Dasaratha (Ram's father) was an able ruler, and there have been other great kings like Bhagiratha and Sagara - who too were part of this great lineage. However, all of them worked for the welfare of their praja(people) - within the framework of the accepted societal norms(maryada) of their times. Hence, these great kings (Bhagiratha, Sagara, etc) were 'Maryada-Purush'. Bhagiratha, of course, was instrumental in getting the guptor hidden river Ganga (that flowed beneath the ground) to emerge out of the mountains, and thereafter bringing the waters of this river to the whole of this land. This way he solved the irrigation and drinking water needs of the people. [Do read: Part-XIII.]
However, unlike some of his illustrious ancestors who were 'Maryada-Purush', Shri Ram was and remains a 'Maryada-Purushottam'; someone that surmounted a variety of constraints put forth by an assortment of entities, rules and norms (of his times), and successfully performed various noble deeds - that were good for the people and for society. Ram (and Sita) did not accept the injustices of their time; they chose to undo them instead. And for this they were willing to face great odds and discomfort.
Frankly, Siya-Ram and Krishna (as well as Draupadi and Kunti) could have easily led a peaceful and comfortable life, given their positions. They could have accepted the prevailing conditions and compromised with the dominant entities and/or simply looked the other way. But they did nothing of the sort. Instead, they chose to do what they did. They chose the path they eventually traveled and the hard life they had to consequently lead; they chose to undo obnoxious social ills, and dismantle negative perceptions/mindsets; they chose to be 'patita-pavana' - the deliverer of the oppressed; they chose to use their time, energy, effort and means to protect the noble principles of the 'Sanaatan Dharma'; they chose to use their power for the greater good. And they made their choice despite being cognizant of the formidable odds, and despite being fully aware that the entrenched interests would invariably come after them. And yet, they chose to become "Neelkanth" - in order to bring about the necessary changes in perception/mindset/society. In the wise words of Gurudeb Robi Thakur: "... aami jeneshune bish korechi paan". Yes, in order to bring about positive change, one has to take the proverbial poison. Jeneshune (janbujhkar). [It is nota matter of choice, but inevitable and inescapable, since the situations aren't ideal + an assortment of entities will try their hardest - to put a spanner in the works.]
Even Chanakya. This great man could have remained in Takshasheela (then the greatest center of learning) and ignored the white Macedonian python. Or he could have genuflected before the debauched and tyrannical Dhana Nanda and his cronies... and thereby gained immense material benefits. But he did neither. Chanakya remained steadfast; his eyes firmly fixed on a higher goal, a goal much higher than himself, despite the many insults and personal trials - the proverbial 'agni-pareeksha'. Now, what was Chanakya's 'agni-pareeksha' all about, you ask? Immense: something that would have destroyed, broken or overwhelmed any ordinary mortal. Chanakya withstood extreme humiliation and imprisonment; saw his family ruined, and his father, Acharya Chanak (Canak), humiliated, imprisoned and hanged - the body left to rot. And as per some accounts, even his fiancée was forcibly taken away and turned into Dhana Nanda's mistress. [Some suggest: she was turned into Rakshasa's mistress. Rakshasa was Dhana Nanda's powerful minister and Chanakya's lifelong adversary.]
Yet, our academic colossi excel in calling him "thin", "skinny", "pockmarked-faced", "ugly looking", "misogynist" and whatnot...! And worse: as "Indian Machiavelli", although Chanakya's works predate Machiavelli's "The Prince" by about 1800 years, and have clearly influenced it...! We are truly independent, and not mind-controlled. QED. :)
Chanakya is also known as Chanakya Pandit and addressed as "Acharya". [Pandit = honorific/title for a learned person. Acharya = honorific for a teacher.] He was a student at the famed Takshasheela University, and later taught economics and political science there. Frankly, Chanakya may not have been a Brahmin by birth; and in case he was, he was very unlike those that mutilated our scriptures for petty personal gains. Chanakya may have been a Kayastha - born into a Kayastha family, like the great SwamiVivekananda; Kayasthas are Kshatriyas who shunned weapons and picked up the pen instead, many of them joined the administrative services. In Dvapar, they would have been known as: "Suta". [Do read: Part-XVI- to know more about "Suta".]
I say this ‘coz he did not advocate jap-tap, puja-path, unending rituals, and the like, to achieve one's goal or purpose in life or to build a nation. Instead, he has stressed on Karm Yog - action. Plus: the very fact that Chanakya made his arguments about statecraft, power and governance, withouta reference to divinity, makes him (in my eyes at least) a true political scientist, as well as the founder/father of political science (in the current yug/era). He stressed on "dharma," that elusive word, which lays down what is right, and indicates one's righteous duty despite the odds. "Dharma" is not to be confused as "religion", that too is a mistranslation by aliens and their spiritual progeny. "Dharma" = the right path or way of life; where the focus is on fighting adharm (negativities and profanity), thereby protecting the noble principles of our ancient heritage/the Sanaatan Dharma. Chanakya was also the pioneer economist of the world. [And to me, he is the Shri Krishna of the current era, 'coz he was an able spiritual disciple of that remarkable transcendental man.]
Some accounts indicate that Chanakya was a "Dramila". Now, "Dramila" means, "running away" or "escaping". It is possible that this word was used (by our ancients) to refer to the people who escaped the great deluge that swallowed up Dvarka (Dvaravati). Later, these displaced people settled down in various parts of the country. [However, it is also possible that with time, this word - Dramila - underwent certain changes, and gave rise to a new word, "Dravida".]
[There are multiple accounts of Chanakya's life, and given the passage of time and the many influences, it is difficult to reconstruct the events with 100% accuracy. However, we will try to do it as best as we can - in our later posts, wearing our worn-out Sherlock Holmes hat and invoking Feluda's famed 'mogojastro'. :)]
BTW, we mentioned that these great humans chose the paththey traveled or the life they led, right? But it is also the other way round. Even the path they traveled and the life they led... chose them. 'Coz a "jog" or a "sanjog" (connection) cannot happen unilaterally. [What our ancients knew as "yog" probably is derived from "jog" - to connect, to add: allowing them to gather immense knowledge and know-how from nature (Prakriti), creation (Shrishti), space (Vyoma) and the universe (Brhmaand). [Addition is known as "jog" in Bangla.] This immense and illumined knowledge in turn helped them build wondrous structures and achieve awesome medical and other technological wonders. This "Yog" is not to be mixed up with what passes for "yoga" these days, or have been masquerading as "yoga" for a while now.]
These great humans, in my humble opinion, have exemplified Gurudeb's timeless words:
|| Aamar je shhob dite hobe shhey to aami jani
Aamar joto bitto prabhu aamar joto bani
Shhob dite hobe ||
Yes, these great humans had to give up a lot - so as to bring about positive change. They gave up a trouble-free and comfortable life; they gave up their riches, faced turbulent times and lived in hardship. 'Coz they knew: je "shhob dite hobe" - that they have to give up their all.
[However: this should notbe construed as Ram subjecting Sita to "purification rituals" or "suspecting her fidelity/chastity" - ever. These obnoxious customs were socially accepted norms or "maryada" of that era, decreed by a certain class, against which Siya-Ram struggled. [Do read: Part-I.] But, thanks to numerous mistranslations, embellishments and contemporisations (which we have discussed in some detail - during the course of this series), this "suspecting of Sita's fidelity/chastity" bit and "subjecting her to purification rituals" bit has been supplanted much later. What do you think it helped bring about? Do put on your thinking caps. And while you are at it, do also spare a thought about the current version of the "Shiv-Sati" stories, wherein we are told that 'Sati immolated herself' in order to "uphold her husband's honour".
That our ancient texts have been indiscriminately mutilated is indisputable, but do pause and think as to what havoc all this have wrecked - on our society and on our collective psyche. Sanaatan Dharma has always been about balance - Ardhanarishvara. A female is not inferior to the male, nor is the husband deity-like.
So, what do you think was achieved by bringing in 'Sati’s self-immolation' and the now-familiar version of Sita's 'agni-pareeksha' - into our ancient texts (that also served as reference points)?
We will of course discuss the Shiv-Sati stories as well as the Shiv-Parvati stories - soon, in light of the "Devi Mahatmyam" and we will also try to gather the still available bits and pieces of scattered aspects - that will help us to reasonably piece it together.]
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Gurudeb also said: "Betosher moto shobhyo shikkhya shekheni jara,
hawa-r neshaye maati, bot-er moto khola mathe aajo royeche khada ..."
These greats - to borrow Gurudeb's thoughts, did not learn the shobhyo (civilized) shikkhya(lesson) of the betosh (cane) - to bend with the wind; instead: they chose to remain standing - with their head held high - like the bot (banyan tree).
Else: those negative "maryada" would have prevailed, and the Macedonian python would have made merry.
[Umm, btw, while a ruler halfway round the world (supposedly) renounced his throne - to marry his sweetheart, Shri Ram (we are told) "renounced" his beloved wife - to save his throne. Ha! :)]
But there is a need for some serious introspection, a need for soul searching - to understand what went wrong/where did we falter - in the last millennium or so (post the demise of the Gupta era), that the great Vedic civilization collapsed; that this great land saw the advent of horde after horde of barbaric Mlechchas; that this great land experienced a forced demise of a part of her culture and heritage; that this great land was plundered of her immense wealth - tangible, spiritual and intellectual. Paying mere lip service to our ancient culture and traditions, and reminiscing about our past glories will not do and is not enough. A glorious past is no guarantee for a shining future, unless we are prepared to jettison petty-mindedness in favour of a serious intent towards Karm Yog, in order to execute the common goal of freeing our beloved motherland (Bharatavarsha) of all the white-ant-like unwanted aspects that has seeped in - post the demise of the Gupta era. Only then, can she reinvigorate herself and emerge as a great nation once again.
Sadly, our R&D and original research (for the last 4-5 decades at least) has stagnated (to put it mildestly, that is.) Instead, we have opted to build a nation on assumed names, fake accents, and cheap labour. We have never made any attempt to scale up on the quality and type of work that has been and is being outsourced and accepted in the name of 'synergy', 'growth, 'development' and whatnot. Hence, it is a small wonder that we have never attempted to grasp the heart, the soul, and the future of a nation that is being built as the promised land of cheap labour.
Unfortunately: a weak spine cannot support a strong mind and vice versa.
And if this trend was to continue unabated, we will get thoroughly entangled in a very potent form of neo-colonization, from whose tentacles there will be no respite... and no way out.
We have managed to create a large pool of engineering, law, medical and management graduates, even post-graduates and PhDs - thanks to proliferating educational institutes. But what is the quality of either of them? And what is the type of work they are doing, if at all? What sort of India is being built, painted brightly and then termed "new India" and all that jazz? A mirage looks good and alluring from afar, but can a nation and people become so or thrive in such an environment?
The current education system is producing tons and tons of R2D2s, zombies who know everything but can create nothing. Even on the patent count, we lag behind the Chinese and yet, neither the Indians nor the Chinese can breathe life into anything that they can proudly claim to have visualized/conceptualized and brought to fruition. Sadly, we take China - a nation that is below pathetic in engineering and technology - as our role model. We steadfastly refuse to look within.
Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhat has been playing the Veenafor almost his entire life, but we recognized him (and his talent) only after he won the Grammy. Our colonial mentality has, sadly, not subsided. Many Indians, including youngsters (from the interiors and small towns), with little formal education and no exposure to elite institutes, have been regularly coming up with some or the other innovation/contraption/machine - that can be put to good use, yet we collectively ignore them and their creations. Our snobbishness knows no bounds; we will successfully give a complex to Pinocchio even. :)
We have an ocean of pseudo-engineers; great at theoretical understanding, but practically (?), well, the less said the better. Even automobile engineers (from elite institutes) rely on the neighbourhood/roadside "chokra boy"/mechanic - to fix his vehicle! No, its not because of their aversion to grease, but because s/he does not know how to fix it. Yes, they know exactly how it works, but lack practical knowledge (something which a school dropout mechanic possesses.) Electrical engineers call in "mistiris” to fix electric wirings; and these "mistiris" are people who have not passed high school themselves. What does it say about all the theoretical knowledge that these engineers (including those from elite institutes) have acquired? When will they apply it practically, to fix... and to create? When will they contribute to nation-building, instead of selling toothpaste, chocolates, shampoo, soap, soft drinks, and the like?
Putting quantity over quality is not acceptable. Yet, nobody speaks about doing anything to improve the abysmal condition of our primary and secondary education system and govt. aided schools... especially in the interiors. What is the condition of the teaching faculty? And what kind of students will such teachers and sub-standard institutes nurture?
Please watch this clip (on what is expected of teachers or the duties [dharma] of a teacher):
Sadly, such teachers are fast becoming an extinct species. The quest for power, commerce and politics has rapidly changed everything... for the worse. However, teachers don't operate in isolation, society and govt. has a tremendous responsibility for nurturing them, so that they can, in turn, nurture their students.
This great land has always been the seat of learning: the Takshasheela and the Nalanda Vishwavidyalayas bear silent testimony. However, even before these universities (seat of learning; Vishwavidyalayas) came up, ancient India has been a resplendent land - in every sense of the word.
Siya-Ram, Valmiki, Krishna, Gautam Buddh, Mahaveer, Chanakya, Veda Vyas, Kashyap, Bhrigu, Rishyashringa, Aryabhata, Varahamihira, Bhaskara I, Bhaskara II, Shushruta, Charaka, Brahmagupta, Baudhayana, Pingala, Panini, Khana, Gargi, Mayitri/Maritrayee, Tillotama, Lilovarti/Leelavati, Guru Nanak-dev, Vidyasagar, Ramakrishna, Vivekananda, Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, Jagadish Chandra Bose, Ashutosh Mukhopadhyay, Prafulla Chandra Ray, Meghnad Saha, Satyendra Nath Bose, Srinivasa Ramanujan, C.V. Raman, Sisir Kumar Mitra, et al have been teachers. [Frankly, the list is much longer.]
What folks halfway around the world claim to have 'discovered' was known to our own greats - scholars/teachers/scientists, many millenniumago. Unfortunately, while a lot of our knowledge and heritage were destroyed and ruined at the hands of various Mlechchas, a substantial part of it (including our ancient texts) was carried away (by the same Mlechchas) - over a period of time. And from these Mlechcha-lands, our ancient texts and knowledge reached other lands - halfway around the world. Certainly these "already civilized" people (inhabiting those lands) did not dump them somewhere or display them in some nondescript showcase, right? They have been mining them ever since, while relentlessly injecting fictitious invasion theories. Didn't Churchill accept that these theories buttressed their claims of "superiority" and in turn helped them lord over other lands?!
They have destroyed other civilizations/lands in the name of research and demo-crazy; while we have happily turned into a nation in thrall of regressive matinee idols and cricket heroes.
The proliferation of educational institutes with sub-standard facilities and faculty is our bane. In a few years we will have a predominance of unemployableengineering/medical/management grads; we will then have to importskilled labour from abroad. This way, not only our energy needs, but also our technical/technological/medical/management requirements/needs will be heavily dependent on aliens. They can and will have us by our jugular. We will never be able to extricate ourselves from that neo-colonization.
Yes, we do need doctors, engineers, software engineers, management grads, et al; but everyone need not run after this mirage. 'Coz we also need scientists, teachers, artists, craftsmen, tailors, agriculturists, poets, mechanics, technicians, shopkeepers, and skilled and semi-skilled labour - in big numbers. All of them are required for this nation to run smoothly + generate employment. If everyone wants to (or tries to) become engineers, doctors and management grads, what will be the result/outcome? Hence, it is important that we collectively work towards restoring the balance.
'Coz if we do not achieve food security, we will always remain weak and vulnerable; no matter how many industries we may successfully build. We only need to look at the fate of the erstwhile Soviet Union - to imbibe this lesson. Therefore, we must preserve the ancient knowledge of this land (whatever remains of it, that is) - in various fields (whether agriculture, medicine, ecology, craft, handloom, cuisine, music or anything else.)
If the progeny of farmers, artisans, and craftsmen shun their vocation and, consequently, their immense knowledge and know-how, (passed down to them from previous generations) in favour of the proverbial rat-race - to become doctors, engineers, and the like - imagine what will be lost forever?! I mean: a handful of the ones that possess the right aptitude (varna: Part-XII) are welcome to do so, but what about the vast majority who do notpossess that aptitude? What will be the outcome? Will it help anyone? Imagine the imbalance? And imagine the amount of indigenous agri know-how that will be lost - forever? Isn't it prudent to preserve all of this priceless knowledge, and utilize it towards nation-building? What about Jai Kisaan? The same is applicable for the progeny of engineers and doctors too. If they have the right aptitude for the performing arts or research, they should be encouraged. However, all of this requires aright/conducive environment and that must be created. Lamenting "brain drain" will not do. The cause must be diagnosed and rectified.
So much has been ruined and lost - it boggles the mind. Nalanda was ruined and burned for three months. Takshasheela was razed and plundered as well. And though the Chambal Valley has now gained notoriety, in ancient times, this was a well-known seat of learning. Extensive ruins of Buddhist monasteries can be found at Paharpur and Mahasthangarh in the northern parts of present-day Bangladesh. Imagine the amount of knowledge, culture and heritage that has been ruined and lost forever - in one fell swoop?
Unfortunately, by the 6th Century AD, diverse unwanted aspects adulterated Shri Gautam Buddh's teachings, turning his message of peace into an excessively docile version. The misunderstandings and misinterpretations by later scholars probably played their part. Perhaps the renowned Buddhist teacher and Pandit - Dipankar Srigyan (Atiśa Dipankara, Shrijnana) - played a role. He had set out from a village called Bajrajogini (in Bikram Pur) near Dhaka to spread (perhaps what he understood/interpreted as) Shri Buddh's message - in the whole of Tibet.
Atisa was a revered figure in his homeland; hence the people there also imbibed his teachings. So, when the marauders came charging in, you can imagine what transpired.
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Unfortunately: the demise of several languages and ancient groups (clans), as well as the systematic conversion of indigenous people, the adivashis or vaanvashis(so-called 'tribal') - all over the world, to some or the other organized 'ism' - has had devastating effects vis-à-vis written and oral history, heritage, art, crafts, knowledge, ancient texts, languages, culture and folklore. We simply have no idea of what has been lost - forever.
Though, we, the Sanaatan Dharmis or Sanaatan-Hearts, do not quite understand this strange phenomenon called "conversion". I mean: how can someone "convert" without changing the mark of their ancestors - firmly embedded in their DNA? But then, strange things happen, like an idol of Ganesh "drinking milk" (aside: thanks to capillary action).
As for that strange phenomenon, also known as "conversion", here is a joke. Do read and spread the smile:
Each Friday night, after work, Bubbal Singh would fire up his outdoor grill and cook a tandoori chicken and some meat kebabs. But, all of Bubbal's neighbours were strict Catholics, and since it was Lent, they were forbidden from eating chicken and meat on a Friday.
The delicious aroma from the grilled meats was causing such a problem for the Catholic faithful that they finally talked to their Priest.
The Priest came to visit Bubbal, and suggested that he become a Catholic. After several classes and much study, Bubbal attended Mass, and as the priest sprinkled holy water over him, he said, ''You were born a Sikh, and raised a Sikh, but now, you are a Catholic."
Bubbal's neighbours were greatly relieved, until Friday night arrived, and the wonderful aroma of tandoori chicken and meat kebabs filled the neighbourhood... once again.
The neighbours called the Priest immediately, and, as he rushed into Bubbal's backyard, clutching a rosary and prepared to scold him, he stopped and watched in amazement. There stood Bubbal, clutching a small bottle of holy water which he carefully sprinkled over the grilling meat and chanted: "Oye, you waz born a chicken, and you waz born a lamb, you waz raised a chicken, and you waz raised a lamb, but now yara, you are a potato and a tomato!"
:)
Lets retrace our steps.
Given his glorious deeds (keerti), Shri Ram is also hailed as "Raghupati" - the bestamong the Raghus or the best among the Raghuvamshis. Hence, he is: "Raghupati Raghav".
[Raghu and Raghav = belonging to the Raghus or hailing from the Raghuvaṃśa or Raghukula.Pati = the best. "Raghav" also means: "swift" in Sanskrit; Shri Ram was not only quick to detect the wrong principles or "adharm", but equally swift in taking measures - so as to negate or dismantle them. He was discerning, a visionary, and altruistic in nature; remained calm and composed even in the face of great odds, without succumbing to negative thoughts.]
|| Aum Namah Raghukul-shiromani Kaushalya-nandan Dashrath-putra Shri Raam ||
{I bow to The Pride-and-Jewel of the Raghu clan, Born-of-Kaushalya, The Son-of Dashrath - Shri Ram}
[Aum is the sound of primal energy, the sound of the universe itself. Namah = a respectful bow; Raghu = belonging to the Raghus or hailing from the Raghuvaṃśa or Raghukula; Kul = clan; Shiromani: shir comes from sheer/seer = head, pride; mani = jewel; Nandan, putra = son.]
Ram's handling of certain situations turned Ayodhya, Kishkindhya, Jamvanta Nagari and Lanka into staunch allies, thereby ensuring peace. Ram, Lakshman, Sugreeva, Angad, Hanuman, Jambavan, Vibhishan, et al became personal friends, which further ensured that there was no loss of precious lives and property in unwanted skirmishes; this prevented unnecessary drainage of time, energy and resources - in fighting each other or being wary of each other. However, Ram did not try to 'assimilate', 'mainstream', 'help' or 'civilize' the Vanaras (the denizens of Kishkindhya, Jamvanta Nagari, etc.) He did not think his way of life was better than theirs, nor did he raze their hills, massacre their forests, or pollute their water-bodies.
Instead: all of them respected and accepted each other as friends and allies, and as people with a distinct culture and heritage; yet as "Arya" - or noble-natured, i.e. as people following a noble way of life. [Unfortunately, the Mlechchas ruined Kishkindhya.]
Incidentally: though the 'civilized' aliens still refer to the "forest-dwelling humans" as "savage, uncivilized tribal", our ancients referred to them as "adivasi". [Adi = first, before the others, or before the rest. Vasi = dwellers.]
Now, what could this mean? Why were they called "adivasi"?
This is because: these were the progeny of the first set of humans that evolved on earth - from various animal-like ancestors (and are the children of the forest, with a distinct pattern of life: culture, heritage, language, cuisine and so on.) Hence they are also known as "aanvasi" [Vaan = forest, vasi = dwellers.]
Since they predated the next set of humans that sprang from evolved humans (that arrived in ancient Kashmir; the "Sapta-Rishi") - they are known as "adivasi".
The people of the 2nd era (the Treta Yug) - that lived outsidethe forest and refused to accept the first set of humans as "full-fledged humans" - on account of their appearance, language and way of life - were essentially descendents of the "Sapta-Rishi" - and hence, the progeny of the second set of humans.
Siya-Ram and Lakshman set out to change thismindset/perception, in their quest to dismantle various social ills/adharm. Kaikeyi and Manthara aided them in their mission. [Part-VIand Part-VII.]
However: given the passage of time, a lot of intermingling of people, culture and blood has happened, and this has, in turn, given rise to whole new sets of humans, languages, culture, music, cuisine, et al.
All the groups of humans have a rich culture and heritage: art, craft, cuisine, attire, language, history, folklore, music, and so on. Are there any that don't seem to have much to show? What say you? And though we have been programmed to believe that life elsewhere is spider-like or octopus-like, this bit is soundly debunked by even a cursory reading of the Mahabharata. We all know that Karna was Kunti and Suryadev's son. But who was this Suryadev? He is not the Surya (Sun) that we see rising in the east and setting in the west - everyday.
So, who do you think was this "Suryadev"? [Do put on your thinking cap until we discuss this in greater detail.]
As to why Ram (i.e. Siya-Ram) is revered as "Bhagavan", do read: Part-XIV(there, we have discussed what "Bhagavan" really means.)
Shri R