Shambuka

Shambuka (Sanskrit śambūka) is, in Hindu mythology, a character in some versions of the Ramayana. According to that version, Shambuka, a shudra ascetic, was slain by Rama for attempting to perform penance in violation of dharma, the bad karma resulting from which caused the death of a Brahmin's son. It is believed that Shambuka was beheaded in a hill at Ramtek, near Nagpur in Maharashtra.[1]

Source of the story

The killing of Shambuka appears in the Valmiki Ramayana, Book 7, the 'Uttarakanda' [Final Chapter], sargas 73-76, in the Adhyatma Ramayana version of Ramayana.

Scholars such as Purushottama Candra Jaina,[2] and John Brockington[3] writes that this story "is of late origin".

Story

In Valmiki Ramayana, it is clearly mentioned :

Ramayan says that a bhramin's son died in a young age.That bhramin went and complained to ram.Ram thought that in a vedic ruled country every body has 100 year life. So some unvedic thing has happened.And he found out that sambuk doing some penance.

Lord Rama approached him and asked why are u doing penance ? He replied that he had commiteed the great "seven" sins (such as murder, robbery, raping ...) and he didnt want to be punsished by God for the sins he comitted. so in order to escape the punishment, hes doing penance to purify his sons.

According to vedic dharma, if a person committes "grave" sins, then he should either repent for it by pure heart before God or he should approach a guru for advise. Hes not permitted to do penance to purify the sins. this rule applies to all varnas.

So since as a God & a king, its duty of Lord Rama to punish him acoordingly. His appropriate punishment is death. So Rama killed him. (NOTE : the sambhu was given moksha just because he died in hands of God. isnt it merciful. suppose ih he wasnt killed by Rama, then he would have born again & lead a drastic life due to his karma. So Actually Rama saved him from that.

Moreover, both Ram & Krishna lilas are complex to understand. if we cant we should approach a guru for explanation. but most people don't do that & they cook their own views committing blasphemy against God.

<-- Also how do you justify Lord Ram asking Sita to jump into fire and purify herself? -->

Lord Rama wanted to show greatness of Goddess Sita to all three worlds. Only Goddess Sita have calibre to merge & emerge from Panch buthas since Goddess Sita is Creative Energy of Lord Rama.

Lord Narayana (Rama & Krishna ) always wanted his devotees to be praised & respected much rather than him. So he always commits many lilas making his devotees to be praised & respected than him. How Merciful Lord Narayana is.

By comitting above two lilas, Lord Rama had made Sita devi & Sambhuk to be praised/respected & allowing (ignorant)people even to make negative comments on him. Lord Rama is Nirguna & rama doesnt like meaningless respect/fame. Rama just needed his devotees to respected more than him. No other God do like this. I Salute the MERCY OF NARAYANA ( Rama )

NOTE : lord rama also wanted hanuman to be loved/respected more than him. so lord rama allowed hanuman to perform more heroic feats rather than himself. So We salute Greatness & Mercy of Lord Rama.

Criticism and apologetics

Hindu authors adopt other means to explain the reason behind Rama's killing of Shambuka. The Pushtimarg Vaishnavite tradition of Gujarat points out that the Ramayana refers to other Shudras, such as Shabari, who lived in the forest. Shambuka therefore deliberately violated dharma in order to get Rama's attention, and attained salvation when he was beheaded.[4] The celebrated Kannada poet Kuvempu, in his play Shudra Tapasvi shows Rama as having to both carry out his duty by punishing Shambuka, and simultaneously protect Shambuka, as a pious and devout sage, from persecution, and thereby turns the story into a critique of Brahminical attitudes and a defence of Rama.[5]

The apologetics[6] firstly argue that not all tapas is done for a pious purpose. Ravana, a Brahmin killed by Rama, had also performed penance but not for pious reasons. They argue that Shambuka was killed for conducting penance with a motive of attaining a celestial power with his material body, which is not an unselfish motive for which penance is meant to be performed. It is particularly forbidden (e.g. story of Trishanku) in Hindu mythology to aspire for entering heaven with a material body. The belief is that the material body, i.e. Annamaya Kosha, is mortal and is meant only for performing ones Karma on earth.

Notes

  1. ↑ Government of Maharashtra, Nasik District Gazeteer: History - Ancient Period (text credited to Mahamahopadhyaya Dr. V. V. Mirashi)
  2. ↑ P. 16 Labour in Ancient India By Purushottama Candra Jaina
  3. ↑ http://www.amazon.com/Rama-Steadfast-Ramayana-Penguin-Classics/dp/014044744X
  4. ↑ Motiramji Sastri, Ramayan (in Gujarati) (Ahmedabad, 1961).
  5. ↑ 'M. Raghava, "The king and the protector of the devout" The Hindu (October 26, 2004).
  6. ↑ http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2012/04/8-why-did-lord-rama-kill-the-shudra-shambuka-for-doing-the-pious-activity-of-tapasya/#respond

See also

External links

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