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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
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control over his children who were obedient to the parents. Son had priviledged position in the household as being the promoter of the family, daughters too were not unwelcome, though the question of their marriage did cause worry to their parents. Both boys and the girls were properly educated in the sacred lore, smrities, puranas and political science. Women also received some sort of military training. We find Kaikeyi accompanied by husband Dasaratha to the battlefield and rendered help to him. Women of aristocracy and royal families lived in the inner apartment and young girls too were kept in seclusion in the Rāmāyaṇa age. They were not free to make love nor could young couples meet before marriage. Polygamy was prevalent among the high classes but wives were required to be chaste and true to one husband only. Man of higher caste could marry women of lower caste but not vice-versa. This is evidenced by the caste of Santa and parents of Sravana Kumāra.
Inspite of all the virtues and vices, the epic had a great ethical value. The leading idea of our social thinkers, legislators and sages was the government of human interest and desire by the social and ethical law, the Dharma, so that it might be made a preparation for spiritual existence.
Acharya Shri Kalassagarsuri Gyanmandir
The Valmikiya Rāmāyaṇa
The ethics of the Rāmāyaṇa are of the highest order and may be studied with profit by the people of all climes and ages. It holds forth to the world a perfect model of humanity in Rama and his brothers, whose lives were as exemplary in filial and fraternal affections as in love for the people they ruled over, whose sense of duty and love of trath outweighed all considerations of personal comforts or safety. They wavered not to court death, rather to break a plighted word even for the most cogent of excuses. Where is to be seen a king more subject loving than Rama's brother most affectionate than Bharata who spurned at sovereignty, when thrust upon him, or more devoted than Laksmana who cheerfully shared Ramas misfortunes in all the trials of life? Sugriva was the typical friend and the far-famed Hanuman was the staunchest and the most devout follower ever known in history or in romance. Even Ravana, the main figure on the dark side of the epic, we have a true and dignified warrior who inspite of his demerits possessed virtues and traits of character not unworthy of his great adversary, the hero of the Rāmāyaṇa. The name of Rama and Sitä are still by words for the model king and the model wife, the most important factors in the social and domestic life of the nation, throughout the length and breadth of this country. The importance of the Ramayana lies in character of Rama, the chief hero which has
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