5 Choices of Sita :the hypocenter of Ramayana

I am forced to

use your language,

Follow your grammar,

I think, it is nothing but colonization 

I think, it is nothing but taking away 

my culture,My identity, My Independence. 

                                             Gajanan Mishra

 

 Battle of Plassey (  1757) was a waterfall event in Indian history. As it was inception of colonization as well as trap  of poority for the Golden Bird. This had colonized India in two way First, Physically  and Second, Mentally. The shackles of physical conquest had been broken on the midnight of 15 August 1947 but, the mental conquest is still there in the psyche of Indians.

                     The extent of Western conquest was such a deep rooted in there con-quested areas that they forget to acknowledge their own cultural uniqueness. Irony is they feel proud when they are linked with westernization and ashamed in connecting with their own rich heritage. This is the case with Many Indian too, In the run of became westernized gentleman we have loosen scientific temperament. For us ; western is Modern and good where as Indian is backward and bad.

Goddess SITA

                  In the following paragraphs we will contradict popular notion that western culture is superior to Indian one (that Rudyard Kipling referred as white man burden to culturise non white )  by taking a leaf from the characters of Goddess Sita, which is taken from one of the  Greatest Epic of world 'The Ramayana' written by Maharshi Valmiki. We will see how Sita has taken choices interdependently  (a trait of modern/ western word that she still aim to achieve) that guide the path of Ramayana. Without that choices Ramayana would have been different.      

    The First Choice

The King of Mithila Janak found Sita in a earthen pot beneath the field while, He was ploughing earth with golden plough for new for new harvest season. That is why he named her Sita because in ancient India agricultural land were termed as Sitabhumi(  In Arthsastra Chankya mention Sita as rural land tax). King has four daughters viz. Sita, Urmila, Mandovi,Shrutkirti. He married all his daughters with the four sons of King of Ayodhya Dasharatha: Ram, Lakshman, Bharata, Satrudhna respectively. Dasharatha had three wives viz. Kaushlya ( the mother of Rama), Sumitra (Lakshmana and his brother Shatrughna were born to Sumitra), Kaikeyi (mother of Bharata).  

                                     Dasharatha declared Ram as his successor but, Kaikeyi  on the incitement of Manthara(her loyal maid) forced Dasharatha to send Ram for exile in forest for 14 years and declare  Bharata as his successor King. 

when was leaving for forest, sita had two choices -first, stay in palace with family other then Ram,

secondly, accompanies Ram to exile.       

Ram accompanied with Lkshman and Sita, both had choosed voluntarily to join Ram. Everyone along with Ram forced Sita to stay in Ayodhya but,  it was her decision that prevail.       

     

The second Choice

  They were crossed River Saryu and traveled through many forest to reach Dandkarnya  forest(on try junction of modern day Chattisgarh ,Maharastra and Andrapradesh ) which is located on south of Vindhya mountains. Incidentally  Suparnkha ,Sister of Ravana(King of Lanka, most powerful and wise person on land. who even defeated Deva's too), saw Ram in forest and got attracted towards the charm of Ram. So she proposes him for marriage  Ram refused politely by arguing, he has already wife but Suparnkha was stubborn and started disrespecting Sita. Seeing this Lkshman got angered and cut her nose, she runaway and her accompanied Khar and Dhusan, attacked on Ram and Lkshman but got defeated. Suparnkha narrated whole incident to Ravana. 

                  

SITA IN FOREST

With the intention of taking revenge,  Ravana  along with his uncle Marich came in forest. Marich converted himself into a golden deer and come in front of Sita. Seeing such a attractive deer, Sita demanded it from Ram. Ram followed the deer but he run deep in forest when he manage to capture deer, he tricked and call Lkshman and Sita for help in the voice of Ram. Lkshman assumed it may be a trick but on forcing of Sita, he had no choice but to go for rescuing Ram. Before going he draw a line (which is popularly known as Lkshmanrekha) around forest and urge Sita not to cross that line, Sita agreed. Ravana, Disguise into a Brahmin and come to ask for food from Sita. Knowing he cannot cross the boundary he demanded to Sita, to cross that line for alms. 

              Now Sita has to choose between two options-either cross the line give food to Bramhin in need by doing so endanger her own security or stay  inside refuse food to hungry Brahmin to save herself from outside danger.

And here Sita chooses to feed hungry person. so she crossed the line this gave Ravana an opportunity to abduct her and he did the same. Ravana took Sita to Lnaka via his Puspak Viman (which had build by Kuber).                          

The third Choice

 Lord Rama's ambassador, Hanuman Manage to trace Sita ( she was kept in Ashok Vatika by Ravana). There Hanuman narrated whole story while introducing himself and ask Sita's permission for letting her back to Lord Rama (as he was capable of flying and has other powers too). 

Now this is the time when Sita had two choices- First, to fly back with Hanuman and Second, to stay and wait for Ram to come and let her with him.

          It was very easy for a common impatience person to choose first. But, A women of Sita's stature (who is full of self confidence, have trust in her husband's ability and who takes decision on the basis of rationality) will always opt for second. And she chooses. Sita replied to Hanuman, "I know my husband, he is belong to Suryavansi clan where respect is first and for most priority so he too will be pleased with my decision of waiting for him to rescue me with honor. By giving her chunamani (The Chudamani is a jewel-encrusted hair ornament) to Hanuman she asked him to convey her message to Rama that Sita is eagerly waiting for him.  

       

The forth Choice

After war, Vibhishan became new king of Lanka. He released Sita with honour. Sita was very joyful as she was finally going to  meet with Ram but, soon she finds that Ram is skeptical in accepting her. Ram ask her," I won your freedom and made you free but I can't take you back with me to Ayodhya as people will have doubt in your chastity. And as a king my first duty is to lead by example "

Now Sita had two choices-

First, accept Ram's verdict thereby proofing his allegations to be true or

Second, Proof her chastity.

   And  Sita had choosen to go with Ram and for that she was ready for "agnipariksha" i.e walking over fire to prove her chastity. She did the same. 

 Her each forwarding step on  fire affirming her dedication, love, devotion towards Ram. Watching this, Ram filled with joy and they happily fly towards Ayodhya with the help of Pushpak (a flying vehicle designed by Kuber) .

       The fifth Choice

Let's talk about most controversial part of Ramayana the Uttarkand(some people not consider it as part of Valmiki Ramayana ) by not going on it's exitance debate:

  King Ram used to travel and talk with peoples in his territory by disguising in different personality so that he can get in personal touch of there feeling about his rule. Once in such journey, He come across a discussion where a washerman was questioning Sita's chastity. After this Ram ask her brother Lakshman to left Sita in forest. Lakshman tried to oppose but he had to obey King Ram. So he did the same this time Sita had no choice but to follow what has ordered.

Sita took shelter in the Ashram of Maharishi Valmiki after getting exile, where two prince Lav and kush were born. After some years Lav and kush went in court of lord Rama where they  narrated life story of Ram written by Maharishi Valmiki. After that they introduce themselves as son of Sita and Ram. Once again Sita has to come in court to prove her purity and did so. After then Ram requested Sita to come back in his life and palace.

Again Sita has two options- first, accept Ram's proposal and return back to palace by forgetting her insult and letting down self respect. 

Or

second, honor her dignity by sacrificing her only love and desire "Ram".    

  

She chooses self respect and dignity over love and desire. This show Hight of her metal temperance. Then she asked mother earth to let her come in her(earth) lap. Mother earth did the same by spreading her both arm.  

Sita is representing awaking, enlighten Indian women- 

who will not just follow orders but can take effective decision.  for eg. decision of going exile with Ram.

Who has compassion for social service.  for eg. giving food to hungry monk by putting her security on danger.  

Who has courage to stand with right even in adverse condition. for eg. never bow down against Ravana's order.  

Who is rational in decision making.  for eg. Not fly back with Hanuma.  

Who can go at any level to prove her rightness. for eg. Agnipariksha.

Who's emotion can never win over her rationality. for eg. her love for Ram unable to stop her from taking the right decision.  

    

In the end I just want to conclude by saying, following western culture is not bad as such but the problem starts when we undermine our rich diverse deep rooted culture without introspecting it.

As Bhartendu Hrishchand rightly said-

निज भाषा उन्नति अहै, सब उन्नति को मूल,

बिनु निज भाषा-ज्ञान के, मिटत न हिय को सूल ।

अँग्रेजी पढ़ि के जदपि, सब गुन होत प्रवीन,

पै निज भाषा-ज्ञान बिन, रहत हीन के हीन ।

उन्नति पूरी है तबहिं, जब घर उन्नति होय,

निज शरीर उन्नति किए, रहत मूढ़ सब कोय ।

निज भाषा उन्नति बिना, कबहुँ न ह्यैहैं सोय,

लाख उपाय अनेक यों भले करे किन कोय ।

इक भाषा इक जीव इक मति सब घर के लोग,

तबै बनत है सबन सों, मिटत मूढ़ता सोग ।

और एक अति लाभ यह, या में प्रगट लखात,

निज भाषा में कीजिए, जो विद्या की बात ।

तेहि सुनि पावै लाभ सब, बात सुनै जो कोय,

यह गुन भाषा और महं, कबहूं नाहीं होय ।

विविध कला शिक्षा अमित, ज्ञान अनेक प्रकार,

सब देसन से लै करहू, भाषा माहि प्रचार ।

भारत में सब भिन्न अति, ताहीं सों उत्पात,

विविध देस मतहू विविध, भाषा विविध लखात ।

सब मिल तासों छाँड़ि कै, दूजे और उपाय,

उन्नति भाषा की करहु, अहो भ्रातगन आय ।