August 17, 2010
Health Sciences Campus, Kochi
In Kerala, the 12th and final month in the Malayalam calendar is known as the Karkidaka Masam. Otherwise referred to as the Ramayana Masam, this year the month began on July 17.
Cultural Education teams at both Amrita’s campuses in Amritapuri and Kochi organized various events to mark the month-long celebrations.
At the Health Sciences campus in Kochi, a quiz competition was organized, based on the Ramayana. “Nearly five hundred students and faculty members attended; Sri Hariharan was the quiz master,” informed Sri. Ramesh Sadasiva, in-charge of Cultural Education at the campus.
Aswin and Nimisha of the BDS 2010 Batch representing the Amrita School of Dentistry placed first. Their colleagues from the MBBS 2008 Batch, Sudheesh and Sethulakshmi, of the Amrita School of Medicine came in second.
Consolation prizes were also awarded. Vyshakh and Athul from the Amrita School of Pharmacy and Sharath, Nithin, Soorya Mohan and Chitra N. Babu from Nursing qualified for these prizes.
The final round was preceded by preliminary rounds in each college; winners in these preliminary rounds had made it to the finals. “We saw a tremendous response from students in all colleges,” Sri. Ramesh stated.
All students received prizes from Swami Poornamritanada Puri, who was invited to bless the occasion. Swamiji spoke about the inner significance of the great epic ‘Ramayana’.
“Ramayana is the story of Lord Rama who is the personification of Dharma,” Swamiji stated. “Lord Rama was born in the Surya Vamsha. Surya, the sun, removes darkness and gives the light of wisdom. Thus Lord Rama takes birth in the minds of those who have transcended the darkness of ignorance.”
“Moreover Lord Rama was born to King Dasharatha. Dasharatha represents one who has total control over the ten chariots, i.e. the five sense organs and the five organs of action. Thus the Lord is born in the minds of those who have total control over their minds and bodies.”
“Seetha represents the mind. Seetha was separated from Rama when she became attracted to the golden deer. The mind, when attached to God is safe, strong and powerful. But when it runs after materialistic desires, it gets separated from the Lord.”
“Similarly Bali represents our desires. Desires cannot be overcome by a direct fight. Half our power is lost if we try to directly fight with Bali. So Lord Rama attacked Bali from behind. Our desires can be controlled only indirectly.”
“Swamiji’s was a beautiful speech that threw much light on the inner significance of the Ramayana,” said Sri. Ramesh.
