The Story of Rama in Performance and Its Modern Significance in India
The story of Rama and Sita can be considered the most valued, respected, and loved in India. In performance, this story is shown as heroic and inspiring, and the love for Rama is demonstrated. Indians praise his virtue, which is evident in how they have always followed his lead and tried to be just and tolerant.
According to Michael Wood, this ancient tale about Rama saving Sita and its association with the city of Ayodhya live deep in the minds of modern Indians. They celebrate the past of the city and promote the vast pilgrim industry, introducing the concepts of freedom and justice into every aspect of their lives (Nahar 00:07:13-00:07:24). At the same time, Rama and his city are also associated with the dreams of nationalists and fundamentalists, who aim to establish the supremacy of Hinduism.
Cultural Achievements of the Gupta Empire and Their Lasting Impact
In the documentary, the Gupta empire is described as a place where freedom, unity, happiness, and tolerance were promoted as the basic cultural features. Michael Wood says it was “a highly organized state with a very strong governing ethos,” rich and prosperous cities, and people who lived by righteousness and benevolence (Nahar 00:11:02-00:11:06).
Brilliant scientific, technological, and artistic achievements were made in the Gupta age. They include “gold coins of the kings, holding the golden bow of Rama,” a sculpture celebrating all religions, an iron pillar 35 feet tall, advances in literature and drama, and pioneering the use of zero (Nahar 00:12:13-00:12:57). It was natural for Gupta people to imagine the infinity of space and think about the art of sex and the psychology of human relationships. Therefore, all these features allowed the Gupta Empire to thrive culturally and become unique in world history.
Pilgrimage in Indian Culture: Symbolism, Impact, and Contemporary Reflections
At the end of the episode, Michael Wood describes the concept of pilgrimage and explains its sacred and valuable meaning for Indian identity. According to the video, modern people living in India are also the “bearers of an ancient civilization,” and “pilgrimage is another living legacy of the Middle Ages” (Nahar 00:49:13-00:53:58). During Karthigai, the festival of light, people going on a pilgrimage head for a small town called Thiruvannamalai to celebrate their cultural unity and identity by greeting the fire lit on the top of the mountain, which is a symbol of light cutting through the darkness.
Over the ages and nowadays, pilgrimage has given people hope, a sense of unity, and a connection with the past and future generations. Referring to my knowledge of other pilgrimages, there is a British Pilgrims’ Way to Canterbury. It is a historical route and an opportunity for people to enjoy the countryside and learn the history of England and the places they see.
It is hard to disagree that the great Cholan temple at Tanjore is an example of a symbolic and sacred space. As Eliade noticed, “one becomes aware of the sacred because it manifests itself, shows itself, as something wholly different from the profane” (Hasty). The temple is different from other buildings as it is marked by symbols devoted to Shiva, Raja Raja the Great, and the history of the Cholan civilization (00:23:40-00:24:50). Further, it is stated that every sacred place should represent “an imago mundi,” which refers to how the religious perspective sees the world (Hasty). In the temple, there are images of gods and historical events on the wall, and people value this place and visit it to honor Raja Raja and their gods.
Works Cited
“BBC The Story of India – Episode 4 – Ages of Gold.” YouTube, uploaded by Ronak Nahar. 2014. Web.
Hasty, Jennifer, et al. “Symbolic and Sacred Space.” Introduction to Anthropology, OpenStax, 2022.