Experience Ramayan as a manifestation of your self

The biggest ever local production from September 30

Swami Atulananda –

From time immemorial, storytelling has arguably been man’s most valuable tool to stoke the dormant fires of his imagination, inspiring the great minds of the ages and ultimately, history itself.

Why are stories so effective at influencing us?

The greatest tales break all the human barriers.

The greatest tales, when brought to life by a master storyteller, can hold a restless child at rapt attention and give the grizzled veteran a knowing smile simultaneously.

The greatest tales tell the story of life itself.

Triumph of imagination

The Ramayan is seen by some as a triumph of human imagination and others as history (Itihaasa), but the realised minds revel in it as His story.

Whichever way it is seen, it is undoubtedly one of the most influential ancient epics of mankind – one that has provided the building blocks of Indian culture for thousands of years.

The story of Ram, the flag holder of virtue, duty and nobility takes the listener on a journey through the entire gamut of human emotion.

There is love, betrayal, tragedy, crime, friendship, deceit, war.

You name it, the Ramayan has it.

However, what takes this epic into the upper echelons of human achievement is its subtle life lessons to man.

The Ramayan is not a mere story. It is the path to human perfection, manifest as Ram.

Today they are immortalised as Gods, but in essence, each of the colourful cast in the story are symbols of the various states of mind that we all go through. The unfailingly noble Ram, dedicated Sita, the single-pointed focus of Lakshman, devoted Hanuman, arrogant and proud Ravan and weak-minded Kaikeyi among many others are the personification of our very own mindset at various stages in life, under all manner of motivations.

To understand the strengths and weaknesses of our own mind through the fates of these characters, and rise above them to attain the perfection of Ram is the journey of the inner Ramayan.

Youth Venture

This month, the youth of Chinmaya Mission New Zealand, formally named ‘Chinmaya Yuva Kendra’ (CHYK) take the epic to the stage in a unique, all English production on the scale rarely seen for Indian drama in New Zealand.

Featuring a cast and crew of over 60 local youth, the 150-minute performance showcases a mix of modern dialogue and dance to present the epic.

The script brings out the essence of the subtleties without the intensive vocabulary, and will appeal to the young and old alike.

Colourful costumes, stunning choreography incorporating many styles of dance and a powerful soundtrack make this a complete experience that cannot be missed.

The Mission

Founded in 1951 by the disciples of Swami Chinmayananda under his name, Chinmaya Mission is a spiritual movement that aims for inner growth at individual and collective levels.

Today, the Mission benefits millions worldwide by offering a wide array of Vedanta study forums for all ages, promoting Indian classical art forms, and operating numerous social service projects worldwide.

Chinmaya Nikunj, the Auckland ashram located in Mangere, has been operational for over seven years under the resident teacher, Swami Atulananda.

Plans are underway to expand the facilities by building a new activity centre for additional capacity.

Reliving the Legend

It is to fundraise for this noble endeavour that Ramayan – The Legend Relived was conceived. The Auckland CHYKs have successfully held various fundraising events over the years, from stage productions to garba and quiz nights with the purpose of expanding their activity base and attracting new youth to get inspired by the teachings of Vedanta.

These events are entirely organised by the youngsters and offered as their sincere dedication to the cause, but this year’s stage production is on a bigger scale than any other CHYK fundraiser in Auckland.

Several months in the making, this promises to be a truly special event, and all the funds raised go towards a highly noble cause.

If you are looking for a night of enlightening entertainment, then come with your family and friends – there are three shows to choose.

Marketing material for the event has been setting social media on fire!

Witness the timeless values and culture of ancient India brought to life.

We have heard the story, now relive the legend!

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