Both Rama and Parasurama willingly obeyed their fathers’ command, but with different approach and understanding of the issues.

On the command of Jamadagni Parasurama spontaneously slayed His mother without questioning. Rama would not have done that. He would have thought about the relevance and purpose of nobility. The pitru vakparipalana was implemented by both, without thinking about self, but with different principle.

Parasurama being a forest dweller did not much think about the morality being questioned. Rama also implicitly obeyed Dasaratha’s order of exile into forest, happily because he knew only this could destroy Ravana’s ahankara.

Beyond protection of Dharma, the emotional bonding to humanity is valued. Rama being married, the complexity of human responsibilities towards his mother, his brother’s wife, extended family members and the Rajya had to be taken care of.

Kathapravachana as a daily routine became the only media by which our ithihaasas were carried to the next generation.

These stories conveyed values as messages. In this smarana the noble characters like Rama, Lakshmana, Hanuman, Sita would be personified in such a way that listeners imbibe their qualities creating an emotional bonding with the characters. So there is a gradual transformation from a simple ignorant being to an enlightened soul.

Bow represents focus on the target with total concentration. We are aware of how Arjuna alone among all of Drona’s students could hit the target. It was only because of focus and concentration. When Rama was challenged to string Vishnu Dhanush, Rama was successful in doing that. This made Parasurama realise Ramas’s divinity and the responsibility. Rama was also controlled in his action and choose the right place to target the Astra once the bow was strung.

An astra can shoot a target irrespective of its distance or size. The potential energy contained in an Astra is converted into its kinetic energy and drives it towards its predetermined target.

Jayant, the son of Indra, played mischief with Sita Mata while Rama was resting on her lap. Rama was enraged and made an Astra targeting Jayant with a piece of Dharbha.

Jayant was totally terrified ran for his life. He pleaded for mercy in vain to Indra, Brahma and Shiva but was directed to Rama.

This explains that an Astra could not be redirected nor taken back.

Vali was akin to the animal class as he forcibly took away his brother Sugriva’s wife. This act is against the Dharmic norms of eka patni and a punishable act. Rama as a protector of Dharma was right in his action.

Rama was a King and their game was hunting. So shooting an animal from hidden place is not considered adharmic. Since vali had a boon that he would gain half the strength of the Opponent he faces, Rama had to avoid fighting him face to face.

Kodhanda refers to a bow made of nine parts, Navanga. Bows can be made of 3, 5 or 7 parts. Kodhanda made of 9 parts is superior to all of these. It is a Sarvasreshta Dhanush. It is not a proper name but refers to its design. It is not Vishnu’s original bow.

Saranga is the original bow of Vishnu. Rishika receives it from sage Brgu and gives it to Jamadagni. Parasurama receives it from Jamdagni.

Parasurama, after completing his mission of cutting of the oppressive power of kshatriya retires to become a teacher. He handed over all his divinity and avatara lakshanas to Rama after his encounter with Rama. The bow he hands over to Rama is Saranga.

The magnificent Vishnu temple in Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu is named as Sarangapani temple.

Pinaca the original bow of Shiva was given to Janaka by his ancestor Devavrata. Janaka had a premonition that only Vishnu could string it. Therefore he makes it a challenge and offers Sita’s hand for the victor.

Rama not only strings it but also breaks it causing a very loud terrifying sound. It was used in the Tripurantaka episode.

The importance of this in Ramayana is very significant as it becomes the instrument to recognise Vishnu who only could marry Sita the Mahalakshmi.

Ramavatara is the journey of a very normal person filled with human sufferings and problems. Inspite of being born to Dasarath, he had to face separation from all dear ones. He was separated from his wife, lost his father and spent his life in the forest.

The joy in his life was very less. Nevertheless, he did not act against Dharma. He never allowed emotion to overtake what is a Dharmic responsibility.

Though he was never overcome by emotion, he maintained a strong emotional connect, with his family. His friends like Guha or Hanumanji or Vibhishana came under Ramas anugraha. He had devotion and gratitude towards Jatayu. He was compassionate towards Ravana when he came unarmed.

Thus, while living a life filled with human emotions and sufferings, he never let emotion come in the way of Dharmic responsibility that he carried.

Vasishta besides being the Kulaguru of Raghu dynasty, encompassed spirituality. Yoga Vasishta is a philosophical conversation between Rama and Vasista. Rama asks a series of deep questions about the purpose of life, real happiness and much more complicated queries. Vasishta answers, which were not statements but they led Rama into finding the truth by himself. Thus even though Rama was a normal human being by birth, he developed strong vairagya to detach himself from worldly pleasures.