Ramayana and Nature

The power of nature can be wrathful or relaxing. The devastation mother earth inflicts upon us can change the physical boundaries of a country or wipe out people by the thousands. As Hurricane Katrina passed over New Orleans and nearby cities, the aftermath left 90% of its residents displaced from their homes and over 1,000 people lossed their life. Whatever the actual reason for 80% of the city being flooded, mother nature was responsible for the catastrophe that occurred in New Orleans.

In comparison, the tsunami that hit Thailand illustrates the devasting effect nature can have. As the second largest earthquake ever recorded, the lost of over 200,000 lives sparked a world wide relief effoert to aid those suffering from the devastation. The wrath of natural forces like hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding, tornadoes, and tsunamis cannot be escaped, and their appearance cannot be avoided.

On the other hand, nature can be as soothing and protective as a mother hence the name "mother nature." I find myself being nothing but relaxed when I am surrounded by nature. At times I feel trapped when I'm in the confines of four walls. In the story of Swallow, she found herself "happier than she had ever been" when she was in the mountains (1017). "At home her mood used to be wistful content, [in the mountains] it overflowed" (1017). Nature has the power to put someone's happiness into overdrive and bring it to its highest level. Whenever I get a chance to visit the beach, my spirits are high and I am really happy. Once I arrive to beach and feel the sand between my toes, my happiness is undescribable and reaches it full potential.

Even when someone is exiled into the forest like in "As You Like It," nature allows you to "[find] tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones and good in every thing" (1079). In the story of the Ramayana and "As You Like It" the characters made the best of their exile situation by giving in to the nurturing powers of mother nature.