Acharya Prashant addresses the notion that "no matter how we are, the Ramayana should remain the same" as a significant delusion. He explains that it is psychologically and historically impossible for the revered figures one worships to remain unchanged while the worshipper themselves changes. You will not let them remain the same. As a person's consciousness evolves, so does their image of the divine. To illustrate this, he gives the example of a violent tribe, whose gods would naturally be violent. If this tribe were to become non-violent and more conscious, they would inevitably change their gods' forms to reflect their new values. This demonstrates the direct relationship between a society's state and its deities. The speaker points out that just as we are, so we make our Lord. He provides historical evidence, mentioning that there are nearly 300 different versions of the Ramayana across India and Southeast Asia. This diversity exists because the people and their cultures are different. He highlights key differences between Valmiki's Ramayana and Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas, such as the number of King Dasharatha's queens, the absence of a Swayamvara in Valmiki's version, and the depiction of Hanuman as a human in Valmiki's text versus a monkey in Tulsidas's. The popular image of Hanuman today is a more recent creation by Tulsidas. The speaker connects this to the current cultural decline, stating that the degradation seen in modern adaptations like the film "Adipurush" is a reflection of society's own fallen state. The entire society is the culprit, not just the filmmakers, who are simply catering to the tastes of the current generation. Acharya Prashant concludes by explaining the essence of Ram according to the saints. He quotes Kabir Saheb and Sant Ravidas to explain that the true Ram is the one who resides in all, the formless essence. Kabir speaks of four Rams, with the fourth being the ultimate essence to be contemplated. Tulsidas also describes Ram as the one who walks without feet and hears without ears. The speaker emphasizes that the real solution is to know this true, essential Ram. This self-knowledge is the only way to solve all personal and societal problems. Debating about films is futile without purifying the heart and seeking the real Ram.
