Thursday, January 9, 2014

357. Shri Rama and His decision to Abandon Sita Devi in Forest ……

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/god-and-i/shri-rama-and-his-decision-to-abandon-sita-devi-in-forest



The Great Epic Ramayana written by Sage Valmiki is it self flawless and no one can show fingers at the events or incidents in that great epic. But there is a thought in the younger generation that there are some lapses in the epic this is completely because either they have not read the epic or have not understood the main essence of the epic that is to say to the world “Uphold Dharma.” I feel writing a blog to justify the great epic would be like flashing a torch light to look at sun, but I think I should put forth my view… so that individuals do not project their views on any epic or mythology or philosophy if they have no complete knowledge of it.

There are two incidents which are talked about more in Ramayana. It is unfortunate that even though there are many sweet incidences, we take up magnifying glasses to find a tiny incident which does not have that importance. The first is why did Shri Rama kill Vali from behind? This same question was asked by Vali himself to Shri Rama in his last few minutes. Shri Rama tells him that he as a warrior king could hunt. Vali is taken back he asks Shri Rama why should he hunt if he is not interested in consuming the flesh of a monkey. Shri Rama tells Vali it is the nature of animals to abduct the wife of other and as the land belonged to the Ikshvaku dynasty He, as the ruler had the Dharmic Right to come to the rescue of Sugreeva, whos wife Tara was abducted by Vali. 

The one more event talked a lot in entire Ramayana is that of Shri Rama abandoning Sita Devi based on the public opinion of her character. The war against Ravana to get back His beloved wife was over. The anxiety in the search for Sita Devi and the heaviness of war were all consigned to memory. His friends, His brothers, His mother, and step mothers were happy without any worries. The people of Ayodhya had got back their beloved King. The kingdom was flourishing with peace and prosperity; Shri Rama and Sita Devi were happy and contented. To add to all this happiness was the His marriage with Sita was bearing fruit. Sita Devi was pregnant and He was to be a father soon. In such a seemingly perfect situation, there was hidden a discontentment amongst the people of Ayodhya which was spilled out by an inebriated washer-man. It is widely believed that a single washer-man abusing his wife led to Shri Rama abandoning his wife. However, it is clear that the discontentment was widespread but came out from the mouth of a washer-man. Having sensed this discontent, Shri Rama decides to abandon his beloved wife.

First Shri Rama never doubted personally. Shri Rama knew Sita Devi She was his heartthrob. It was the people of Ayodhya began to talk on this subject. The washer-man had said, “Our king might accept a wife who had stayed in another man’s home but not me – On hearing a washer man question the purity of the Queen of Ayodhya, Shri Rama decides to send a pregnant Sita Devi to the forest. Shri Rama is the ideal king and for a modern reader this is heights of stupidity and absurdity. A modern person would want Shri Rama to stand by His wife and defend her and not to fall for the irresponsible nonsense of His foolish subjects. If Shri Rama had sent the washer man questioning the purity of Sita Devi to prison, he would be performing the duty of a husband. But will he be performing the duty of a King? Shri Rama could have beheaded the washer man on the spot. But will He be able behead all those people that questions the purity of Sita Devi. Shri Rama would have become a dictator! Would He be called the Ideal person even today if He had acted so????

Was Shri Rama happy without Sita Devi? No, in fact He suffered more than Sita Devi. He was lonely in the huge palace. He was always immersed in the thought of Sita Devi. He had to bear the voidness created by Sita Devi’s departure. He was filled with remorse - a husband who had to send His pregnant wife away. This is very nicely penned by Sage Valmiki, but Shri Rama did His Dharma; He upheld the accepted standards of IDEAL King-hood.

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