Somewhere in the middle of this speck of humanity coordinating its way through the dark entrance cave someone felt uncomfortable with an unexpected nudge from the person next to him, and an altercation began. Ehud did not understand every word being exchanged back and forth, but he could easily figure out that the verbal battle was heating up. Unpleasant epithets, abuses, unprintable words and curses were being shot at each other with anger-soaked bullets. Soon the thick crowd became warring battalions and a physical fight broke out. Occasionally the hurling bodies hit the dangling light bulb--which could easily break, exposing a wire and electrocuting the crowd. Caught in the middle of this was Ehud, wondering if he would come out of this
ancient cave intact and alive. Why such anger and hostility when everyone was on this trip to visit Sri Ram, the bearer of
peace and goodwill? As the battle was getting more and more out of hand, it occurred to Ehud that Sri Ram alone had a solution to this misery. He clenched his fists tightly and began
chanting at the top of his voice, 'Ram, Ram Sita-Ram, Ram, Ram, Sita-Ram.' Coincidentally, an unarmed, uniformed military man was standing right next to Ehud. He picked up on Ehud's message and blew a loud
whistle. 'A foreigner is saying ÔRam Ram.' You guys are fighting and abusing each other. Stop! Stop now! All of you say, ÔRam, Ram, Sita-Ram. Ram, Ram, Sita-Ram.'' He continued blowing his whistle, stopping to
Chant 'Ram, Ram, Sita-Ram.' The 'Ram, Ram, Sita-Ram' wove its
magic spell on the angry crowd. Soon the entire group broke out chanting, ' Ram, Ram, Sita-Ram.' As the rhythmic sound filled the stuffy, hot, dark tunnel, people rediscovered their innate sense of coordination. Single-file marching resumed peacefully to the holy spot at the end of the tunnel. Once out of this narrow cave and into the open area where the Ram-Sita-Lakshman temple is situated, the offenders and the victims could not be recognized. Everyone was chanting, 'Ram, Ram, Sita-Ram,' and walking slowly to the temple where Sri Ram, Sita Ma, and Sri Lakshman awaited to give
darshan. Mesmerized by this very direct and potent experience of the power of the Ram
japa in thwarting a battle and ensuring peace, Ehud took it to his heart that Ram
japa is a strong prophylactic and curative medicine for many ills that afflict human relationships. In our 'Hind-Jew' family as we call it, all our greetings to each other, and to our son Mahar, begin with 'Ram, Ram'--and why not, when the very reason for greeting and conversation is to promote peace and goodwill in our household?
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