ChitraRamayanam05
Ramar takes Guhan the hunter as the fifth brother.
Published:24 Oct 2016 8 PMUpdated:24 Oct 2016 8 PM  Sakthi Vikatan
ChitraRamayanam05
Vikatan Correspondent
பி.ஸ்ரீ., ஓவியங்கள்: சித்ரலேகா 
P.Sri., Images by Chitraloka

Ramar's new life.

1. In civilization, the clothes have a place, Guhan remembers. For the city dwellers, silk clothes are a requirement. For sleep, what the prince needs is a chain-suspended bed with a soft mattress, without which how could a young prince sleep. For a comfortable stay, a must is a mansion. For moving around, a vehicle is a requirement. The prince needs proper attire. Though the food appeased hunger, there is still a need for deserts. For all these needs, the place to go is not the Hunters' Chēri. The hunters are in no endless need of modern amenities.

  

  Redbrick Civilization: Why?

2. The hunter's brain works fast. The royals are wearing tree barks. That being so, where is the difficulty for them to wear animal skins. If the skin is polished, it will become our place's silk cloth.

 

3. Such thoughts intruded on him, and he found the answers.

 

4. Since the hunters were wont to wearing animal skins, they could practice other modalities of life and living. They sleep in the hammock tied to the trees to be safe from wild animals.

 

5. Why mechanized transport for us. Are we lame?  Yes, Guhan likes clothes and jewels.

 

6. Guhan, looking at Raman, pleads with him to stay in his hut at least for a day and, better still, to stay for a long time.  As if Guhan wanted to keep Raman the uncrowned king of the hunters after the forest exile and as if Raman considered living the life of the hunters, Guhan spoke pleadingly. Will Raman agree to these proposals? What insanity? Guhan builds a dam against the great flood of his desire. But he says Raman can stay with him with no cares as long as he lives, and he can forget his young aunt and her devious schemes. It was like he modifies his original proposal for Raman's lifelong stay. Having come to know all the conveniences of hunter's life, Raman evinces no enthusiasm, giving no affirmative answer. Under these circumstances, Guhan pleads with Raman to stay at least for a day.   

             

  7. Guhan: Though you do not desire to live in our hut for many days, you must stay as our guest at least for one day. If you stay for one day, we will receive solace and salvation

             

  8.  Grace in the heart brims from inside and appears as the wave; likewise, the smile blossoms into white laughter.  Yes, as the glistening white teeth appear in response to Guhan's imploration, Raman discovers Guhan's tender heart imbued with a profusion of love, nestles in a hunter's rough habitus and gruff manners.

9. Raman comforts Guhan with a smile that he could stay for a few days delaying his departure (to Ayodhya). How much meaning is evident in Raman's white smile and grace overflow?  Only a fraction of that meaning is manifest in his words. 

 

10. The mandate was to return without delay after 14 years of exile. Keeping that promise will frustrate Raman's friend, Guhan.  Raman says he will delay his return by a few days. That saying and that smile by Raman reveal and highlight Guhan's love for Raman, his surprise, joy, sympathy, innocence, and stainless heart, besides Raman's pity and sorrow. Like this, many mixed emotions spillover.

11. Guhan fetches a longboat. Raman with Sita and Lakshmana gets on the boat and, looking at the Munis on the shore and begging for farewell, orders Guhan to ply the boat fast, which shows his close friendship with him.

 

12. Sooner than Raman gives his loving order to Guhan, they all witness the beauty of the boat tearing across the swelling waves. The Munis on the shore feel deserted.

             

  The four become five.

13. Lakshmanas's mother, at the outset of exile, told him to go with Raman not as a brother but as his servitor and be of service to Raman. That was her desire. Without prompting, persuasion or command, Guhan desires in the same vein to serve Raman.

 

14.   The mother's order was, Lakshmana should die before Raman: This was the mandate as applied to Lakshmana and not Guhan. The determination and desire take root in Guhan, 'Rama! I will die before you.'

 

15. Raman looking at self-sacrificing Guhan, says, 'You are my life.' Later Raman makes Lakshmana the brother of the hunter. We are in for a surprise: Raman says to Guhan, 'Sita is your Thōzhi (female friend).

Raman: 'My prospective Rājyam (kingdom) is yours.' His saying further enhances our surprise. By giving away his kingdom to the hunter, Raman claims his entitlement in Guhan's business of plying boats. There is no entitlement seeker or offeror like this currently; the present case is the home is divided right in the middle (between two brothers after the father's death).