UTTHARA RAMAYANA- I

It was really a pleasure and a feeling of overwhelming to receive so many e-mails from my Sisters and Brothers revealing their love and affection towards me, and eagerness to know about the Utthara Kanda. I do not know how many of you would have read Swami's "Ram Katha Rasavahini" translated in English by the great Kasthuri.

Swami (who else can better explain and account for the happenings in Ramayana) gives a twist to what has been said in Valmiki's Utthara Kanda about Sita's exile to forest.

Also the beautiful explanations from the "DOER" will make our hearts lighter once we understood the illusions behind the entire tragic happenings in the Utthara Kanda. Nevertheless we are human beings first, and it will be extremely difficult to remain unaffected, when we read about the unending sorrows of Sita Devi as a woman, despite what all Swami may say.

I have read so many times the "Sundara Kanda" and Utthara Kanda" and every time I had failed to control my tears. With this briefing let me start presenting this Utthara Ramayana with my pranams at the Lotus Feet of Bhagawan. People are welcome to, point out any mistakes, misunderstanding or seek clarifications.

Sri Rama, after the death of Ravana, handed over the Kingdom of Lanka to Vibeeshana ( actually Sri Rama had already performed the coronation rituals even before the start of the war with Ravana and others and made Vibeeshana , the King of Lanka and vowed to restore him the Lanka Kingdom ).

The turn for reunion of Him with Sita was anxiously awaited by one and all. Lakshmana brought Sita from the "Asoka Van" where she was kept a prisoner by Ravana. However to the surprise of all, Rama told Sita Devi to do " Agni Pravesam" in front of all to prove that she was pure. As I had already said in my prelude, Sita entered the Agni in front of all and came out unscathed "as pure as ever". The God of Fire (Agni Bhagawan) himself handed over Sita Devi to Rama.

Many people point out that why Rama ,being the Avathar and having known about the purity of Sita, should have done this "unpleasant" act. There are explanations to this. One is, Rama, though an Avathar, was in human form and no wonder, behaved in the same fashion as any human would have done. Further, he was going to Ayodhya to take charge of its rule from Bharatha. He did not want his subjects to pass any remark what- so- ever against him or his act. In those days a King always valued his subjects and their opinions much more than his own kith and kin.

Having accomplished what he wanted to do, Rama returned with Sita and the rest of the retinue to Ayodhya. Let us not go into other details. Suffice it to say that he took charge of Ayodhya from Bharatha. All of us must be aware how Bharatha was actually keeping the "Padukas" of Rama in the Throne and he himself sat below this throne and administered the klingdom, all the time thinking of "Rama ". Even today the debate continues, who was more devoted to Rama, Bharatha or Lakshmana? It is an unending debate.

So all ended well. Rama started ruling his "Rama Rajya". All the people were happy. Everything was going on well. Years rolled by. One evening a messenger came to deliver a message to Rama.

In the olden days, the kings used to send their messengers (mostly in disguise) to different parts of their country with a view to find out what people felt and said about the king and his rule etc. Sometimes the King himself went along with his trusted minister, in disguise. ( This need not be construed equivalent to the modern spying). So this messenger had returned from his duty to report something to his master . However, he was unable to open his mouth despite continuous prodding by Rama. He was trembling and was virtually weeping. But duty bound he was , he had to reveal what he had heard. In a village he had overheard a washer-man abusing his wife, who returned to him after leaving him for some time. "Look woman! What do you take me for? I am not a fool like Rama who took back Sita after she had lived in the custody of Ravana for so long.......etc etc."

Can there be adequate description of the "mental agony" Rama must have undergone? Today we have in our midst the Avathar, who explains that it was all part of the Divine Plan and that whatever distress that Rama displayed outside was just a part of the enactment. What about the days prior to the arrival and announcement of our present Avathar. How people of those days who read about this account, must have felt? Well! Destiny was and is always "cruel" and had /has always been immune to human afflictions and feelings.

So the agony and dilemma started for Rama. So much he loved his wife. "Has the time come to forsake Sita? What shall be the solution to the problem? How to silence public opinion?"

Thus ruminating, Rama spent the whole night without sleep and contemplating how to deal with the situation. The Agni Pravesam performed by Sita as per his plan, did not, after all, prove final and conclusive and had not produced the desired and complete effects.

I will now narrate here the twist given by Swami in His " Ram Katha Rasavahini" in contrast to Valmiki's Uthara Ramayana (Or Utthara Kanda). I will quote the exact words of Swami as translated by Kasthuri.

"Towards midnight he (Rama) sat up on his bed and thought within himself. 'It is now one full Yuga, since I started ruling this land. I have to continue for a few years more.' Then sunk in a sad reverie, that Ocean of Compassion thought, 'Alas! I have to forsake Sita. I have to uphold the Vedic Path.'. He went near Sita and spoke 'Janaki! You have not asked any boon from me so far. Yet, I shall grant you a boon. Go to your holy Home.' That very moment Sita fell at the Feet of Rama and went to Vaikunta (Heaven ) in her subtle body. No being, anywhere, nothing, was aware of this fact. Sita in her gross physical frame only was standing before Rama on Earth."

This is different from the version of Valmiki who has shown Rama, here as an ordinary human king, subject to human afflictions and passions who was following strictly the rules laid in Vedic scriptures. Tulsidas and Kambar have left out the unpleasant task of narrating the tragic parts of Utthara Kanda. And the Lord now in our midst reveals something hitherto unknown. It should help us to understand that all the tragedies hereafter coming up in the Utthara Kanda are all enactments of Divine drama!. Accordingly Rama continues to play his role. Here is the exact words of Partheeswarar:

"Rama asked the Earth-Sitha (Maya Sitha) .'Pray for a boon' and Sita replied, 'Lord! I have a desire to spend some happy days in the hermitage of Munis (ascetics)'. Rama said, 'Be it so' and told her ' Start on your journey tomorrow morning'. She collected and packed many articles of clothing and utensils for the daughters and wives of the ascetics of the hermitages. Rama woke up early, servitors and favour seekers were singing praises of his virtues and excellence The Lotus of His face bloomed. Lakshmana, Bharatha, and Satruguna paid homage to him prostrating at his feet. But Rama did not converse with his brothers. He kept silent. His face was flushed with emotion. His body showed signs of tension. Every limb was shivering with excitement......"

Like this Swami's version goes on. Hereafter I will continue in my own way of narration rather than reproducing whatever has been 'translated' by Kasthuri, because I will be more at ease that way and also there is not any difference hereafter between what Swami says and what Valmiki narrates. One thing is there, if we remember what Swami says about the subtle body of Sita leaving her earthly body, then we may not suffer any mental agony to study further about the sufferings of Sita in the forest in separation from Rama. Well! Swami has "sorrow-proofed " Sita and Rama! What about others., like Lakhsmana, Bharatha and Sathrughna, and their mothers, the three widowed queens and several others who were so much attached to Sita and Rama. How could they withstand all the tragedies that were to follow.

Having decided to send Sita to the forest, Rama at last told his brothers about his decision. He told them to take Sita to the forest, leave her there and return. Upon hearing that, the brothers were all thunderstruck and they could not believe their ears. Here was the same Ramachandra, who took so much of trouble to vanquish Ravana and bring back Sita who he loved so dearly, and now he wanted Sita Devi to be exiled to forest, that too at a time when she was carrying his progenies! Sathrughna sobbed aloud. Bharatha and Lakhsmana stood speechless with tears welling up their cheeks. Their lips quivered, their entire bodies shook as if an earth quake had hit them. Sathrughna took courage first to express his disagreement with Lord Rama. He spoke thus to Rama:

"Oh My elder brother and King of Ayodhya! Did you really utter those words? You have indeed pierced our hearts so fiercely. Matha Sita Devi is Jaganmatha, the Mother of all beings. You live in the hearts of all. What has made you to take such a harsh step? Why our Matha has to be sent away to forest? She is purest to the core, in thought, in word and in, deed! Is it not so?" Beyond this Sathrughna could not say anything because his sorrow overtook his speech and one could hear only his uncontrollable sobs.

Rama became stern now, and insisted that his brothers carried out his orders. Then Bharatha also came out with his objections (not that he was disobedient but his love and reverence to Matha Janakai was so overwhelming he could no longer control his emotions). Rama at last explained how the messenger has brought the news about a washer man's utterances and how their Surya Dynasty is now under eclipse and their glory must be redeemed at any cost., how the opinions of a King's subjects should be more respected than his own kith and kin, so on and so forth . In spite of all these, the brothers were not convinced at all. But Rama was adamant and he ultimately directly commanded Lakshmana to take Sita and leave her in the forest. And so started again the ordeal for Sita. Not long ago she had returned from the captivity of Ravana. Before that she had been living in the forest only, though with her beloved husband Rama. Now again she had been asked to end her days in the forest alone!. Were her sorrows never going to end?

Lakshmana thereafter took Sita in a chariot and took her to a lonely spot in the forest near the bank of the Ganges. Sita was frightened at the prospect of staying in the forest alone and Lakshmana was very upset about leaving her there and go. Torn between attachment and duty he lamented. Then he heard some deities of the Forest asking him in loud voice to leave Janaki and go back to his place and that no harm would befall her. Upon this Lakshmana hardened up a bit and rode back to Rama's place after telling Sita that he was only doing his duty as commanded by his elder borther.

Left alone, Sita started crying aloud and her cries were heard by none other than the great sage Valmiki who lived in a hermitage nearby and who happened to come near that spot for getting water from the Ganges. He immediately rushed to where the cries were emanating from and found Sita alone.

Sita at once recognised him as Valmiki and introduced herself to him and narrated everything that had happened. Valmiki consoled her and took her to his hermitage where Sita started living as the daughter of Valmiki The inmates of the Ashrram entertained Sita with many divine stories and kept her happy.

Time rolled by and at the due time Sita gave birth to a twin who were named Lava and Kusa (also Kucha). They were beautiful, identical twins. Their mother Sita brought them up well, teaching them everything. At the right age, Valmiki also taught them all asthras, techniques of warfare etc. and by the time they were around eleven years old they had mastered all the arts, No one could defeat them in archery. They could also sing well and it was a real treat to see and listen to them when they sang the whole Ramayana. Sita used to sigh and marvel, looking at her sons.

In the meanwhile as Lakshmana returned to the palace, completely crestfallen, the news had already spread and he had to report everything to the Queen mothers, Kausalya, Sumatra and Kaikeyi. They were very much distressed and could not understand or comprehend why Rama acted so harshly. Slowly this sorrow ate up their physical strength and not long after they all left their mortal coil.

Some years rolled by. The boys Lava and Kusa were growing in the forest and here all people were getting used to Sita's absence and Rama, his brothers and all others in the court were deeply involved in administrative works. Some courtiers and also some rishis suggested to Rama that he should perform the "Aswamedha Yaga" (Yagnya) as befitting his status. Rama consulted his brothers and other senior rishis and also "Vashistha Maharishi." They all felt that Rama should perform the Yaga and so it was decided that an Aswamedha yaga would be performed by Rama. An auspicious date was chosen and all relatives and friends and the public were invited for the great occasion as also all brahmins and rishis who were to participate and perform the rituals.

However there arose one major hurdle. No yaga could be performed by any male unless his wife was also present with him. This gave rise to the hope of Sita's return and many people felt happy at the prospect of getting her back to the palace in view of the ensuing Yaga. But Rama was undeterred. He engineered a way out of the predicament. He proposed that a golden life-like statue of Sita be made and that would fill up the place of the real Sita. For this, no body could raise any objection as this was well within the legitimacy of the Vedit rites. Even at this juncture people admired the virtue of Rama. He did not heed to some people's advice to get married again so that he could perform the Aswamedha Yaga with the new wife. Was he not an "Eka Pathni Virathan"? (One who strictly adhered to the principle of remaining wedded and devoted to one wife only). In those days, having more than one wife was a routine for many, especially the kings.

End of Part -1. Click below to read the concluding Part 2

UTTHARA RAMAYANA PART -2 (CONCLUDING)

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