We all know that Lord Rama was a just ruler. His rule was praised by all as “Rama Rajya.” Here is an interesting story to illustrate his Justice.
Once, two food grains, rice and ragi met each other. As they were speaking there arose an argument between the two. Rice is consumed by affluent people, and ragi is consumed by the poor people. Hence rice boasted that rice is superior to ragi. But, ragi’s contention was that it is more nutritious than rice, hence it is superior to rice. They both went before Lord Rama to argue their case and establish their superiority. After hearing both, Lord Rama ordered them to be put in prison for six months. At the end of the period, he ordered both the food grains to be brought before Him. Rice was rotten by that time, while the hardy ragi survived. Rama blessed ragi, and from that day onwards ragi is known as RAMADHANYAM.
Saint KANAKADASA uses the above metaphor in his RAMADHANYA CHARITRE. Rice represents the socially powerful people, and, ragi represents the working people. He emphasized social equality through his poetical works.
Mruganayanee's Blog 