A major portion of the scriptures speaks of worldly matters and maybe only a small portion of the spiritual quest. The truth of the Supreme Brahman being subtle, the voluminous scriptural material tries to lead the search from the known world to the higher spiritual level. It is said that even incessant effort and meditation on the nature of Absolute Truth can reveal only the tip of the iceberg.
Great seers and saints who have experienced this truth state that the starting point is to search for an answer to the query “Who am I.” Deeper thinking on this would reveal the truth that the “I” is not the perishable body. Then who is the “I” should be the persistent query.
The Bhagavata Purana states that the purpose of the Lord's incarnations is to reveal His identity to man so that he can make an effort to reach Him. In this regard, Lord Rama's life symbolises this search and there is no greater instruction on good character than the Ramayana , said Sri Sankararama Dikshitar in a lecture. These incarnations show God to us. Sage Vyasa classified the Vedas — compared to huge mountain ranges that seem impossible to scale — for easy comprehension. But when Valmiki authored the Ramayana through divine grace, the very Vedas were born as the epic and Dharma incarnated as Rama.
The greatness of this Itihasa is that it teaches not in the manner of a treatise on ethics but fuses the paths of Karma, Jnana and Bhakti, and is as valuable as a medicine to cure us from the disease of Samsara. The Supreme Brahman incarnate lives on earth as a human being and imparts the timeless values and morals of Sanatana Dharma by His own example.
All Jivatmas have to play different roles during their lifetime — be it of a daughter, son, mother, father, etc. — and have to face suffering and difficulties.
Rama's life shows how it is possible to lead a life of Dharma even when faced with utmost difficulties. We can learn to cope with the challenges and build our confidence.
Rama Nama is extolled as the Mantra to be meditated for salvation. Rama is the goal to be reached and He is also the means for us to attain it.
