Sunday, March 22, 2015

Why Rama sent Sita to the forest?





…contd….


Next issue is why even after this “Agnipariksha’ Rama sends Sita away after hearing words of a drunkard?”


Here it is no where written that Rama doubts Sita. Similarly, his balance is not shaken by his words. But he’s shaken because as per “Raja Dharma” he has to let go off Sita especially when pregnant and he can’t imagine living without her. That pain of separation shakes him. His trust on her is not shaken.

 Sita being left in forest

As per Valmiki Ramayan, it was dhobi couple whose talk forces Rama to banish Sita. This dhobi couple were two rakshases who were his subjects and great followers of Ravana. Even villain is hero in someone’s eyes. That doesn’t make that villain right or good. I often hear people say “you know my Guru is so great, he has so many followers and has branches in so many countries”. If only number guaranteed greatness then so many fanatic groups would be “great people”. So many raids in ashrams wouldn’t be necessary and fruitful if they were really great. So, as ever I repeat please be careful in being part of any organization. Be open to follow their principles – they are usually universal – like serve all, love  all, do charity, do meditation etc but in following an organization be very careful.


Next coming to our dhobhi couple, they had hatred towards Rama and Sita and believed them to be the cause of death of Ravana – their dear Lord. They took upon themselves to avenge their lord’s death and make life unbrearable to Rama and Sita. And in that course of action, they enacted a skit when they see ‘spies of Rama’ near their hut where husband says “how dare you spend night outside and come home and expect me to accept you? I am not a fool like Rama who accepted Sita even after she was with Ravana whole year”.


This is conveyed to Rama and he sees this as displeasure in his subjects and as per his dharma it was his duty to remove the cause of displeasure from his subjects. Since, he couldn’t do anything to remove this displeasure he sacrificed Sita and left her in forest.


The entire act is not personal. If given a chance he wouldn’t want to be separated from his love Sita even for a day. But his Ideal and duty called him to live upto them and he had to sacrifice his personal desire and opinion to his Ideal and duty.


…contd…..

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