Ramayana Masam

The month of 'Karkidakam' as per Malayalam calendar ( July 15th to August 15th) is called 'Ramayana masam''(Ramayana month).

As per traditions, Ramayana is read during this month every day in the evening when the lamp is lit. The Karkidakam month is the last month in the Malayalam calendar. The monsoon is at its peak in this month; and during olden days majority of the people in Kerala depended on agriculture. Due to heavy rain, the Karkidakam month is referred as ‘panja masam’ or the month of scarcity for people were dependant on agricultural income and the was months away. There were no grain in the house and no money to boot.

With the paddy fields flooded, there used to be no work and the economy used to come to a stand still. People used to solely depend on what grains they had stored during the previous harvest season. There used be such heavy rains that it was even hard to go outside the house or village and earn a living. As per Malayalam Panchangam, new ventures and auspicious functions are not held during this month.

There is no religious reason for not holding auspicious functions as is made out to be. It is just that functions need money and cash flow was the lowest during this month. Also, the incessant rains makes it impossible to have functions held in thatched temporary halls. Those days there were no marriage halls or other auditioriums.

The reason why Ramayana was read has its roots in a philosophy. 'Dhramachyuthi' happens when people dont have money. When people starve or are short of cash, they tend to think of evil ways to get food and money. Ramayana exhorts one to uphold the right and lead the path of Dharma. Raman's story is full of doing the right thing. He renounced the crown to uphold his fathers words, fought Ravana fair and square to win back his captive wife, he left Sita in the forest when people started casting aspersions on her character, for he believed that the King should lead by example and was above suspicion. Ramayana tells us how to lead a dharmic life, never wavering from the path of right. It was felt that people reading Ramayana will never succumb to the temptations of evil.

Times have changed. Society has moved away from an agrarian economy. The reading of Ramayana in the houses in Kerala is a rarity these days. Instead of houses, the Ramayanam is now read in temples and in programs conducted by organizations, if at all.

The temptation to succumb to wrong ways is now throughout the year. When such tempation arises, let us take Ramayana and read it.