The Ramayana characters mentioned by PM Modi in Ayodhya speech

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Lord Ram will “no longer reside in a tent” as the consecration ceremony of the grand temple in Ayodhya was done. He was addressing the attendees after the inauguration of the Ram Mandir in the temple town on Monday (22 January).

“There’s so much to say, but there’s a lump in my throat. After unprecedented patience, innumerable sacrifices and penance, our Lord Ram has arrived. I congratulate the country on this occasion,” Modi said.

He declared that 22 January was “not a date on a calendar, but the dawn of a new era”. The PM also made several references to characters from Valmiki’s Ramayana. Here’s a look at who he mentioned and what he said about them.

Shabari

Referring to Shabari, PM Modi said, “When we think of our tribal mother Shabri, an immeasurable faith awakens. Mother Shabri kept saying, ‘Ram will come’. This faith in every Indian will form the foundation of an able and grand India.”

Shabari is a tribal princess in Ramayana who left her home to seek spirituality. She met sage Matang and soon became his disciple, as per an NDTV report.

Before passing away in old age, the sage told her that Lord Ram would come to meet and bless her, the report added. Shabari’s yearslong wait was over when Lord Ram, Sita and Lakshman visited her during their exile from Ayodhya.

She brought fruits for Lord Ram but to ensure they were sweet, she tasted all of them. While Lakshman objected to this, Ram ate the fruits she gave him and blessed her.

Nishad Raj Guha

PM Modi also talked about the friendship between Lord Ram and Nishad Raj Guha. “This feeling of friendship between every Indian will form the foundation of a grand India. This is the expansion of consciousness from dev (God) to desh (country) and from Ram to Rashtra (nation)”.

Nishad Raj Guha, the king of the boatmen, became friends with Ram during his exile. When the prince of Ayodhya, along with his wife and brother, reached Nishad’s kingdom on the bank of Ganga, the king helped the three in crossing the river.

Some 5,000 people from the boatmen community have been calling for the construction of a temple of Nishad Raj Guha in Ayodhya’s Guptar Ghat. Recently, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has proposed building the shrine on the premises of Ram Temple, reported News18.

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Squirrel

Prime Minister also referred to the tale of the squirrel who contributed towards the building of the bridge across the sea for Ram and his army to reach Lanka.

“Those thinking, ‘I am very ordinary’ must think of the contribution of the squirrel. It will remove such hesitations and teach us that every effort, big or small, has its own strength. It is everyone’s efforts that will form the foundation for a grand India,” Modi was quoted as saying by NDTV.

Here’s how the tale goes. Lord Rama asked his army of monkeys to construct a bridge over the sea to reach Lanka. The monkeys started the work by taking heavy stones from the mountains and cutting them into shape.

One day, Ram observed a brown squirrel carrying pebbles in its mouth and dropping them into the ocean. As the rodent went to look for more pebbles, it came in the way of Lord Hanuman.

When he asked what the squirrel was doing, the little creature replied she was “helping Rama build the bridge”, according to author Nityananda Charan Das’ book Epic Tales of Wisdom. 

As the monkeys mocked the squirrel, Ram intervened and told them off. He said that while the big boulders brought by the monkeys were building the bridge, the pebbles were filling the small gaps.

After hearing this, the monkeys felt ashamed. “Always remember, however small, every task is equally important. Great work can never be completed by a few people alone. It needs the support of all, and however small, an effort should always be appreciated!” Ram told them, as per Das’ book.

Ram then thanked the little squirrel and patted its back with his three fingers. According to the Ramayana, this is how the squirrel got its three stripes.

Acknowledging the small animal’s role, the Lucknow division of Northern Railway is set to unveil a 15-foot tall Corten steel squirrel at the atrium centre space of Ayodhya Dham junction, reported Times of India (TOI).

Jatayu

Modi also mentioned the mythical bird Jatayu in his speech. “Lanka king Ravan was very knowledgeable, extremely powerful. But look at Jatayu’s dedication. He fought Ravan. He knew he would not be able to defeat Ravan, but he challenged him. It is this zenith of a sense of duty that will form the foundation of an able and grand India. Let us pledge that we will devote every moment of our life to nation-building,” he told the gathering, as per NDTV.

The PM also unveiled a statue of Jatayu on the Ram Janmabhoomi premises on Monday.

In Ramayana, Jatayu is believed to be a demigod in the form of a vulture, born to Aruna, the charioteer of the Sun God. He was an old friend of King Dasharath, Lord Ram’s father, noted India Today.

Jatayu fought the demon king Ravana when he kidnapped Sita and was taking her to his kingdom Lanka. However, Ravana used Chandrahasa to chop off one of the wings of Jatayu.

It is believed that the bird fell on a rock. When Ram found him, he was barely alive. Jatayu narrated the entire episode to him and, later, the Hindu deity gave salvation to the dying bird.

With inputs from agencies