Aranya Kanda - hidden upanishad insights

Following are some interpretations on Ramayana by Guruji SriBhashyam Appalacharya Swamy
1. Valmiki named Ramayanam as Polasthya vadha, seethayaah scharitam mahat, but not as Ramayana. The reason can be interpreted as follows:
   Poulasthya vadha is getting rid of rajo guna and sensual desires/ignorance of manas aka ravana. Seethayahscharitham mahath means mother sitha's great story. This is nothing but the story of jeevathma ( which belongs only to Paramathma ) attaing paramaathma by conquering ignorance. So this is the story of every human. So this highlights the prime goal of maanava janma. May be he wanted to highlight this great ideal.



Guruji explains nicely about the three gunas  as follows:

In a lake, we find mud, dust particles in the water and thus due to this, we can not see the floor (i.e., bottom surface of the lake). Here mud water is analogous to tamo guna. Even if we get rid of tamo guna, the rajo guna's influence (i.e., dust particles in water) never allow you to see the bottom surface of the lake. Only when the dust particles, and mud water gets eliminated (i.e., pure water : shuddha sattva guna), we see the clear bottom surface. Similarly only when our rajo and thamo gunas get eliminated, then only with the shudha sattvam, we can see/experience the divinity within us.

2. When mother Sita expresses her desire about Maaya mrugam to Rama, before leaving for that animal, Rama instructs her to be under the protection of Lakshmana. But she scolds him and sends him out ignoring Rama's instruction and this results in her abduction by Raavana. This is analogous to : Our jeevatma is always together with paramatma and experiences the bliss. However, we show interest in materialistic vishaya sukhas instead of showing interest in Paramatma. This is like: Mother sita was always with Sugunabhi Rama and experiencing the eternal bliss. However, when she saw the maya mrugam, she was interested more in that shining golden mayamrugam skin than Rama. This is the cause of separation from the lord Rama and she was under the clutches of manas aka Ravana... Similarly the main reason for our struggles in life is: we show interest in materialistic, ephemeral vishaya sukhas instead of showing interest in attaining Paramatma. Our Jeevatma 

is always together with paramatma, but we are under the shackles of Manas and indriyas due to our attachments

to vishaya sukhas.

Also one point: As soon as Sita got abducted by Ravana, she realized her mistake and always chanting RAma's name seeking his reunion. This is what we also need to conquer our senses and manas (i.e., mind). We should get that desire to seek Rama and nothing else. This is the only solution to attain Paramatma..

 Also another point is:  God instructed us to follow certain life style. If we do not obey his instructions like (like Sita ignoring bhagavad rakshana (i.e., protection ) in the form of lakshmana protecting her, she was abducted), we will also be under the bandhanam of Manasu and senses. If we ignore the God's instructions and commit sins, we will be under the bandhanam of Manasu and senses (this is similar mother Sita was immediately under the bandhanam of ravana as soon as she said NO to the bhagavad rakshana ).

3. Also if you see Lakshmana, he is daasa of Rama and if you observe its not just brotherly relationship. Whatever Laksmana does is for Rama's sake. He is always in Bhagavad Sannidhyam. This is called Paraartham.  Similarly Bharatha does all his duties like ruling kingdom, etc, but he always feels that he is ruling Rama's kingdom as per his instructions when he was in aranyam. This is Parathanthram (i.e, depending on Rama's will). He does not accompany Rama always, but wherever he is, he always does his duty thinking that it is rama's instruction to rule kingdom through his Paadukas. Similarly Shatrugna is always doing kainkaryam to bharatha. This is similar to one doing kainkaryam to parama bhaktha's of lord rama.
 
But if you see Rama's role, he shows the baahya dharma of humans, like how one should behave with every one.
 
Now you observe the following : Laksmana role's message to us: Do everything for the sake of God (i.e Paraartham), but nothing for our sake. This is similar to sanyasa or always to be with God (i.e., always in Bhagavad Sannidhyam). Where as  Bharatha's role is true karma yoga (Even though you are not always with God, do lead you life as per his instructions always thinking that I am working for him as per his instruction like an instrument his hands). This is karma yoga of bhagavadgita.

Shatrugna's role: Always do seva to bhagavad bhakthas. Always do sathjana saangathyam...
Rama's role: Baahya dharma of every human how one should behave with everyone, how to lead good life.

Mother Sita's role teaches how a woman should lead her life..Also she shows how we all should do sadhana ignoring indriya vyamohas to reach Paramaatma.

4. The roles of Rama, Lakshmana, Bharatha, Shatrugna can be interpreted as Dharma, Artha, Moksha and Kama. Artha and Kaama should never stay together since they can lead to chaos if they take unrighteous path. Hence Artha should be tied together with Dharma and Kaama should be tied with Moksha (i.e., all our kaamyams (desires) should be in such a way that they lead to moksham).
This is analogous to Lakshmana accompanying Rama and Shatrugna accompanying Bharatha always.