Ratnakar lived many centuries ago. There is some doubt as to exactly when; but we are sure he existed because he left behind a most respected literary text consisting of 24,000 verses. He is also credited with producing the first verse (shlok) ever created in the Sanskrit language. For this reason he is also referred to as "Adi kavi"- the first poet or the poet of poets! I am of course referring to Maharishi Balmiki! The writer of the Ramayana! Not only is he revered by every single sect of adherents of the Hindu faith; there are sects named after him as well, where his stature is God like.
It was always not so, at least in the beginning. Just like Buddha started life as Sidharth, a simple ignorant prince; Balmiki started his life as Ratnakar, a merciless highway robber. As it is generally believed. Again there are competing narratives about his social status. Some say he was born a Brahmin but most believe him to be from a seriously disadvantaged strata of the society. Details are obscured by antiquity but that's not very important. The fact that even a robber can turn his life around given the right impetuous and right encouragement is.
As the story goes, Ratnakar one day came upon permanently itinerant sage Narada in the jungle and proceeded to rob him. While in the act he got impressed by Narada's complete devotion to God. Ratnakar decided to give up his life of sin. Sage Narada taught him to meditate on the name "Ram" and Ratnakar kept at it for years, forgetting every thing else. To the extent that ants covered his entire body with an anthill. Eventually sage Narada freed him from the anthill and declared him to be a ‘Brahmrishi’; a most learned sage. Maharishi Balmiki was thus born .It is firmly believed that God Ram was pleased enough to admitt sage Balmiki in his holy presence.
Like all ancient stories most of it can not be proved. You belive in it or you do not. Even if it is just a story weaved around a poet writing an epic; it is a good story. It is a great story and it is believeable because it can happen. Events like this happen a lot of times. Yes, even in today's age and time! Luckily they can be proved!
If you are incredulous, consider this: A child is born to a barber in a small town. As he grows into teens and early adulthood he is drafted to work in the shop alongside his father to supplement family income. Starting out from that cripplingly disadvantageous position just a couple of weeks ago this boy manages to catapult himself to become a popular singer of national fame ; much like Ratnakar did to become a poet of poets . Rings a bell?
I am talking about Amit Kumar of Amritsar- the finalist from Indian Idol 6. Just six months ago as he was shaving a customer with a radio blaring in the backgroud he could not have imagined that he will capture a nation's heart and so soon. It was beyond his wildest dreams. But it happened. It is likely that sage Narad is still roaming somewhere in the universe. He just does not make a stop over on earth in person. He seems to have outsourced his job of motivating to the Radio ! It taught Amit to hum and induced him to pursue singing.
As for God Ram, we can not see him with our physical eyes. Probably we do not deserve his holy presence yet. That does not mean he is not working for us. Every one of us has a 'God Quotient 'and Ram resides in all of us. In the case of Amit Kumar, many individuals participated in completing God's work - starting from Amit's father. Many kudos to him that despite hardships , challenges and against his better judgment, he allowed his son to take time off from work and spend precious resources on learning some rudimentary music. Of course God's hand can be seen in the actions of the people who selected Amit for the competition. Thanks is due to people who judged him fairly, professionally and without prejudice. And people encouraged and coached him at every step. Reportedly millions of ordinarily people like you and me voted for him and I believe it is none other than their 'Godness' that induced them to do the right thing. Guests on the show gifted Amit a bike; another one gifted him a guitar. This is not only because he was needy, but because he deserved it. Amit did not win the title but he won a lot of hearts. He is a success story and it is fascinating how an ordinary apprentice barber from an obscure hair cutting saloon became 'Oye Amit" as one judge put it; or 'sajan' as another put it. I see the hand of God in all this.
So there is a lesson for those of us who are ready to kill or be killed in support or in opposition of reservations. Yeah ,I know they will not get it, they tear each others clothes even in parliament ! I personally have no doubt about that story of Ratnakar the robber who became a revered poet-sage. Amit’s story proves that It can happen to anyone - us too. We just have to find our own sage Narad to rob.
It was always not so, at least in the beginning. Just like Buddha started life as Sidharth, a simple ignorant prince; Balmiki started his life as Ratnakar, a merciless highway robber. As it is generally believed. Again there are competing narratives about his social status. Some say he was born a Brahmin but most believe him to be from a seriously disadvantaged strata of the society. Details are obscured by antiquity but that's not very important. The fact that even a robber can turn his life around given the right impetuous and right encouragement is.
As the story goes, Ratnakar one day came upon permanently itinerant sage Narada in the jungle and proceeded to rob him. While in the act he got impressed by Narada's complete devotion to God. Ratnakar decided to give up his life of sin. Sage Narada taught him to meditate on the name "Ram" and Ratnakar kept at it for years, forgetting every thing else. To the extent that ants covered his entire body with an anthill. Eventually sage Narada freed him from the anthill and declared him to be a ‘Brahmrishi’; a most learned sage. Maharishi Balmiki was thus born .It is firmly believed that God Ram was pleased enough to admitt sage Balmiki in his holy presence.
Like all ancient stories most of it can not be proved. You belive in it or you do not. Even if it is just a story weaved around a poet writing an epic; it is a good story. It is a great story and it is believeable because it can happen. Events like this happen a lot of times. Yes, even in today's age and time! Luckily they can be proved!
If you are incredulous, consider this: A child is born to a barber in a small town. As he grows into teens and early adulthood he is drafted to work in the shop alongside his father to supplement family income. Starting out from that cripplingly disadvantageous position just a couple of weeks ago this boy manages to catapult himself to become a popular singer of national fame ; much like Ratnakar did to become a poet of poets . Rings a bell?
I am talking about Amit Kumar of Amritsar- the finalist from Indian Idol 6. Just six months ago as he was shaving a customer with a radio blaring in the backgroud he could not have imagined that he will capture a nation's heart and so soon. It was beyond his wildest dreams. But it happened. It is likely that sage Narad is still roaming somewhere in the universe. He just does not make a stop over on earth in person. He seems to have outsourced his job of motivating to the Radio ! It taught Amit to hum and induced him to pursue singing.
As for God Ram, we can not see him with our physical eyes. Probably we do not deserve his holy presence yet. That does not mean he is not working for us. Every one of us has a 'God Quotient 'and Ram resides in all of us. In the case of Amit Kumar, many individuals participated in completing God's work - starting from Amit's father. Many kudos to him that despite hardships , challenges and against his better judgment, he allowed his son to take time off from work and spend precious resources on learning some rudimentary music. Of course God's hand can be seen in the actions of the people who selected Amit for the competition. Thanks is due to people who judged him fairly, professionally and without prejudice. And people encouraged and coached him at every step. Reportedly millions of ordinarily people like you and me voted for him and I believe it is none other than their 'Godness' that induced them to do the right thing. Guests on the show gifted Amit a bike; another one gifted him a guitar. This is not only because he was needy, but because he deserved it. Amit did not win the title but he won a lot of hearts. He is a success story and it is fascinating how an ordinary apprentice barber from an obscure hair cutting saloon became 'Oye Amit" as one judge put it; or 'sajan' as another put it. I see the hand of God in all this.
So there is a lesson for those of us who are ready to kill or be killed in support or in opposition of reservations. Yeah ,I know they will not get it, they tear each others clothes even in parliament ! I personally have no doubt about that story of Ratnakar the robber who became a revered poet-sage. Amit’s story proves that It can happen to anyone - us too. We just have to find our own sage Narad to rob.
