OVERVIEW

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• THE ROLE OF RAMCHARITMANAS IN SPREADING UNIVERSAL
  VALUES IN A MULTICULTURAL MAURITIAN SOCIETY
• PREETI KIRAN HEMRAZ-HURDOYAL

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OVERVIEW

• What is Ramcharitmanas?
• Greatness of Ramcharitmanas
• Cultural Aspect of Ramcharitmanas
• Purpose of Ethical Values in this contemporary
  age
• Its Role in eradicating evils
• Relevance of Ramcharitmanas to the Mauritian
  Society
• Symbolism of Characters in Ramcharitmanas
• Contemporary Relevance of Ramcharitmanas and its
  Values
• Impact of Values
• Results of Survey
• Main Teachings of Ramcharitmanas
• Conclusion

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What is Ramcharitmanas?

• Most popular and timeless epic poem
• Sacred scripture Depicts the Art of living
• Written by the Medieval Indian Saint poet of 16th
  Century, GOSWAMI TULSIDAS
• In Mauritius, commonly known as Ramayan
• Classical Masterpiece of world literature.
• A treasure of knowledge which has the power to
  educate people

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Greatness of Ramcharitmanas

• A lamp of divine guidance for scholars and common
  people.
• Aims at empowering the human dignity
• Lays great emphasis on Dharma (Righteousness) and
  moral conduct.
• Spreads ethical values and combats social evils
• Depicts the essence of human life

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Cultural Aspect of Ramcharitmanas

• Basis of culture Morality, Spirituality and
  Ethics
• Blend of cultures human, demon, animals and
  Demigods
• Stresses on Unity in Diversity
• Vasudhaiva kutumbakam the whole world is one
  family
• Salient features of Indian Culture
• Sixteen Sanskaras in the life of an individual
  from womb till tomb

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Purpose of Ethical Values in this Contemporary Age

• Morality Foundation of our Existence
• Heading towards Moral Bankruptcy
• Downfall of mankind
• Human mind, language, behaviour, actions are
  corrupt1.
• Kalyug age Evil dominates and righteousness
  has to suffer2.
• More materialistic and individualistic approach
  towards life Decline in humanity and morality
• Communal riots, Violence, Terrorism
• Ref 1 Gandhi
• 2 Bhagvad Gita

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Its Role in Eradicating Evils

• The Concept of Idealism
• Ram is portrayed as an ideal person who does his
  duties irrespective of circumstances.
• Follow the Path of Righteousness
• No violation of moral conduct
• The Law of Karma (Action) Universal Law of
  Action
• As you sow, so, you will reap.
• Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
• The Power of Humility
• Ravan was very powerful but arrogance and
  unethical means became the cause of his death.

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Relevance of Ramcharitmanas to the Mauritian
Society

• Mauritius is a multi-religious, multi-cultural,
  multi- lingual and multi-ethnic society.
• The Epic depicts the ideal life of a
  multicultural society.
• Provides solutions/remedies to societal problems.
• Lays emphasis on social unity and universal
  progress

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Symbolism of Characters in Ramcharitmanas

• RAM Ideal man, the giver of bliss, the epitome
  of righteousness.
• SITA Woman who gets carried away by worldly
  attraction (golden deer) and goes beyond the code
  of conduct (Lakshman Rekha).
• VIBHISHAN A demon which does ethical actions.
• Action makes a man.
• Action must go beyond caste, creed and religion.
• HANUMAN Portrayed in the form of a Monkey
• Monkeys are restless by nature but if they have a
  target in life then they can equally make wonders
  as Hanuman did.
• He depicts the Human mind
• Hanuman stands for absolute renunciation.

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Symbolism of Characters in Ramcharitmanas
(contd)

• DASHRUTH A man of word.
• Lost his life to keep his promise
• BHARAT and LAKSHMAN Symbolises universal
  brotherhood, devotion and sacrifice.
• RAVAN Symbolises arrogance and pride.
• Giver of pain
• SURPANAKHA Sister of Ravan
• Embodiment of desire and lust
• MARICHA Symbolises the worldly attraction.
• The characters of Ramacharitmanas are symbolic
  and they have many implications.

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Contemporary Relevance of Ramcharitmanas

• Universal Appeal of Ramcharitmanas and its
  values
• Synthesis of different cultures
• Emphasis on respect, love, tolerance for all
  communities
• Emphasis on globalisation and unity
• Life of Rama revolves around elevating the human
  mind and promoting righteousness.

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Contemporary Relevance of Ramcharitmanas (contd)

• The solution to problems of modern time
• Family problems
• Socio-cultural problems
• Political front the concept of Ram Rajya
• Economic Problems
• Environmental Problems
• Destroys the myth that Ramcharitmanas is the
  treasure of the Hindu Society only.
• Its contribution to the evolution of a peaceful
  society.
• Depicts the journey from Nar ( human) to
  Narayan (embodiment of divine qualities)

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Impact of Values

• Purify the mind and remove all impurities
• Make the society a better place to live
• Enable a person to achieve his real goal in life
• Cut across all cultures and help in establishing
  one culture Humanity
• Shapes the personality of human being

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Results of Survey

• Objectives of survey
• Popularity and Universal appeal of the epic
• Impact on (1) Individual (2) Family (3) Society
  (4) Politics
• Its contribution in spreading moral and ethical
  values
• Its contribution in bringing unity in Mauritian
  Society

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Results of survey (contd)

• Popularity of Ramcharitmanas

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Results of survey (contd)

• Universal Appeal of Ramcharitmanas

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Results of survey (contd)

• Its contribution in bringing unity in Mauritian
  Society

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Results of survey (contd)

• Its contribution in spreading moral and ethical
  values

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Main Teachings of Ramcharitmanas

• Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam Globalisation
• Concept of Ram Rajya the reign of righteousness
• Morality Essence of Human life
• Character is man made which can be improved
• Unity in Diversity
• Universal Brotherhood and peace
• Tolerance
• Righteous Behaviour
• Strict adherence towards duty
• Control of senses leads to a balanced state of
  mind

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CONCLUSION

• In fact, the Ramayan and the Mahabharata are
  the two encyclopedias of Ancient Aryan life and
  wisdom, portraying the ideal civilisation, which
  humanity has yet to aspire after.
• - Swami Vivekananda

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• THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION