One specific cultural reference in Ramayana that helps the reader better understand the significance of Lord Rama's actions would be the way that beliefs in Ayodhya are described.
One of the most compelling elements of the Ramayanais how much Lord Rama embraces his dharma, or sense of duty. Readers can have a difficult time understanding how firmly embedded this is in his psyche. However, in describing the way in which Lord Rama's father, King...
One specific cultural reference in Ramayana that helps the reader better understand the significance of Lord Rama's actions would be the way that beliefs in Ayodhya are described.
One of the most compelling elements of the Ramayana is how much Lord Rama embraces his dharma, or sense of duty. Readers can have a difficult time understanding how firmly embedded this is in his psyche. However, in describing the way in which Lord Rama's father, King Dasaratha, has ruled over Ayodhya, there are cultural references about the Ayodhyan belief system:
Like Manu first of kings, he reigned.
And worthily his state maintained,
For firm and just and ever true
Love, duty, gain he kept in view . . .
When Valmiki references the way dharma, or duty, is a part of the culture in Ayodhya, the reader can fully grasp why Lord Rama is so insistent on following its path. Members of the presiding Raghu clan viewed their rule as descending from Manu himself. This is why Dasaratha and his son, Lord Rama, are bound by their promises. Such a cultural reference depicts the role that honor and dharma played in royal decisions.
Cultural references to Ayodhya help to explain how different it is from the way that Ravana rules in Lanka. The culture of Ayodhya is one where "Each man contented sought no more, / Nor longed with envy for the store / By richer friends possessed." This helps to explain how different Lord Rama is from Ravana. Ravana covets what others have, and takes what belongs to others. This envy is not a part of life in Ayodhya. Further Ayodhyan cultural references illuminate this divide:
And none was faithless or forsworn,
A braggart or unkind.
None lived upon another's wealth,
None pined with dread or broken health,
Or dark disease of mind.
High-souled were all. The slanderous word,
The boastful lie, were never heard.
These cultural references help the reader to understand how Lord Rama and Ravana stand diametrically opposed to one another. The culture of Ayodhya plays a very large role in helping to explain the actions of King Dasaratha and his son, Lord Rama.
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