Why did Lord Ram ban laughter in Ayodhya?
The credit of a Sanskrit poem called 'Anand Ramayana' also goes to Valmiki. His stories depict the beauty of Ram Rajya. A Sanskrit poem called Ananda Ramayana was written in the 15th century.
The Ramayana written by Valmiki is also called 'Sok Ramayana'. This is because it primarily echoes the tone of loneliness and isolation.
Today I am sharing here a story that why Lord Shri Ram banned laughing in Ayodhya:-
The story is set many years after the establishment of Khushal Ram Rajya.
A dog came crying to Lord Shri Ram. The dog licked the food from the priest's plate. The angry priest killed the dog.
And then Lord Shri Ram blamed the priest and asked the dog, 'What punishment do you want for the priest?' The dog said, 'Make the priest the head priest of the temple.' But people found it strange.
Then the dog explained, 'In my previous life I was also the head priest of a temple. As the high priest, power and authority is in your hands because everyone believes in you.
But then you will gradually become corrupt and then reborn as a dog. I want this priest to get the same status as me. And so he wants to become the chief priest and become corrupt.
Hearing this, a courtier sitting in the palace started laughing loudly, hearing the laughter of one of his courtiers, Lord Shri Ram remembered Ravana's laughter in the war.
Whenever Lord Rama cut off Ravana's head with an arrow during the war, his severed head would rise up in the sky and fall into Ramcharan with a sigh of relief. Seeing this, Lord Shri Ram felt that Ravana was making fun of him.
But Ravana was laughing because his wise head was freed from his ignorant greedy body because of Shri Ram.
But Lord Shri Ram never understood this and so he misinterpreted the laughter of his courtiers and banned laughter in the whole of Ayodhya. Laughers were imprisoned.
This had dire consequences, people stopped performing rituals, celebrating festivals and watching drama or dance. They stopped playing sports and seeing each other. And the rituals were not performed. Seeing all this, the gods complained to Brahma.
Brahma went to Ayodhya and there he took the form of a fennel tree. When a kathia reached near this tree, Brahma started laughing. Seeing the tree laughing, Kathiaro also started laughing out loud.
Hearing his laughter, his family, his friends, the whole of Ayodhya, soldiers, ministers, members of the royal family and even Ram himself started laughing. But Rama was so hurt by this incident that he inquired about it. Knowing about the smiling tree, he ordered it to be cut down.
But whoever went near the tree, the tree would throw stones at him. When this was told to Rama, he himself decided to cut the tree. Frightened by this, Brahma asked Valmiki for help.
Then Maharishi Valmiki explained to Rama, 'Ram, my purpose of writing the Anand Ramayana was to bring smiles and laughter on people's faces, because it is a sign of people's happiness. Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, is also attracted by seeing happiness.
So I request you to lift the ban on laughter. Why do you think people are laughing at you? You are God, understand that people laugh because you have set them free. Do not doubt your divinity.'
Lord Shri Ram obeyed Valmiki and lifted the ban on laughter. Happiness and prosperity again returned to Ayodhya.
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