3 kurals belows:
அகர முதல எழுத்தெல்லாம் ஆதி
பகவன் முதற்றே உலகு.
கற்றதனால் ஆய பயனென்கொல் வாலறிவன்
நற்றாள் தொழாஅர் எனின்.
மலர்மிசை ஏகினான் மாணடி சேர்ந்தார்
நிலமிசை நீடுவாழ் வார்.
indha moonu kural podhum. namma 3rd kural madhiri vazhundhu kaatanum….
apdi irundhal, edhanlum baadhika pada vendhiyadhu illai
இருள்சேர் இருவினையும் சேரா இறைவன்
பொருள்சேர் புகழ்புரிந்தார் மாட்டு.
The Lord assumed many forms, known as avataras, to establish Dharma in this world. While there are many avataras, only ten are well known. Even among these the Rama avatara is the most significant, said Gomatam Madhavachariar. It is an avatara in which He gave us a sloka about surrender- a charama sloka. But that alone does not make the avatara the most significant. After all He also gave charama slokas in the Varaha and Krishna avataras. But in no other avatara, did His consort play so significant a part, as in the Rama avatara.
Moreover, the importance of Saranagati is brought out so well in this avatara, that the Ramayana is referred to as the Saranagati Sastra. Saranagati is the essence of Visishtadvaita, and it is the Ramayana, more than any other body of literature that enunciates the Saranagati concept with so many examples.
Since it is not possible to read the whole of the Ramayana on a daily basis, it is suggested that at least the Sundara Kandam may be read everyday, for it contains the essence of the Ramayana. Similarly, in the case of the Mahabharata, it is the Gita that is considered the essence. So, it is enough if one reads the Gita.
For those who cannot read the whole of the Gita everyday, it is suggested that they recite the Vishnu Sahasranamam, which is the essence of the Gita. But there may still be people for whom even this may be a difficult task. So, what should they do? They should recite the name of Rama, for after all Lord Siva himself tells Parvati of the significance of the name of Rama.
So, the Gita is the essence of the Mahabharata, the Vishnu Sahasranamam is the essence of the Gita, and the name of Rama is the essence of the Vishnu Sahasranamam. From this it follows that the essence of the Mahabharata too is the name of Rama! This shows the greatness of the Rama avatara among all avataras of the Lord.
Rama is a forgiving hero, one who is ready to embrace us, and give us succour, if we seek His pardon. Wasn’t Kakasuran let off with a mild punishment although his crime was heinous? He had hurt Sita, but his life was spared, when he realised the power of Rama, and fell at His feet, craving pardon.
Source: The Hindu Dated Apr 16, 2009