40 - Sugriva - The one with a beautiful neck

Ram Ram, Namaste, Hare Krishna, Namaskaaram, Sai Ram, Bula, Salaam, Sat Shri Akaal !
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The name SUGRIVA in Ram Charit Manas refers to "The one with a beautiful neck". This much most of you know.

How does the "neck" fit into the picture of the Ramayan has been haunting many scholars for a long while.

The prefix "Su" in hindi means Shubh, Beautiful, good, etc. "Griva" means neck, galaa, kanth...probably in Sanskrit.

In Valmiki Ramayan Sugriva is sometimes replaced by Sukanth. 
Tab sukanth Hanuman bulaye, bole bachan madhur musakaye
Ram kaj aru mor nihora, pathavahun mein tum kahen sab ora ||
Sugriva calls Hanuman Ji and in a happy and joyous mood requests/commands him and other Bandar Bhaaloos to go to every part of the world to look for Mata Sita. (Kishkindha Kand)

Ram Ji represents, among many other things, Gyan (knowledge) or Gyani - which normally resides in the head.
Mata Sita represents, among many other things, Bhakti (dedication) & Shanti (peace) - which normally resides in the Hriday, heart.

A gyani without bhakti is restless. Shri Ram (gyani) is very disturbed and troubled in Dandak Ban -
He Khag Mrig He Madhukar Shreni, Tum Dekhi Sita Mrig Naini ? Asking animals and plants if they had seen the beautiful eyed Sita ! Even confuses Mata Sati !

Shri Ram (gyan - in the head) is looking for Sita Ma (Shanti - in the heart). For gyan from the head to travel to the heart, there is no other way than to go via the neck.

That is why Mata Shabri requests Ram Ji to find and befriend Sugriva, he will help you to meet Sita Ma.
पंपा सरहि जाहु रघुराई। तहँ होइहि सुग्रीव मिताई।

The neck is the only route possible from the head to the heart ! Of course, there is a very beautiful spiritual meaning behind this - most of you know that already, so we won't bore you with it.


This was part of a small discussion we had in our Satsangh group recently....hope you like some parts of it.

Please ignore my ignorance and build on whatever seems of any use to you.

Muskaraate Raho