The Seeta agnipariksha episode
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Seeta parityaga (Disowning of Seeta), Seeta agnipariksha, arrival of all GODs and Sri Rama accepting Seeta episode were described in the Sargas 115 to 118 of Yuddha Kanda of Srimad Ramayana.
If we comprehend clearly the character of Sri Rama, as portrayed by Sage Valmiki, we can understand easily that the episodes of Seeta parityaga (Disowning of Seeta), Seeta agnipariksha/agnipravesha, episodes were inserted consciously, to depict Sri Rama as the incarnation or avatar of Vishnu.
Insertion of the Sargas 115 to 118 of Yuddha Kanda of Srimad Ramayana paved way for the episodes describing the Seeta parityaga (Disowning of Seeta) by Sri Rama doubting her fidelity, Seeta agnipariksha/agnipravesha, the arrival of all GODs, revealing that Sri Rama was an incarnation of Vishnu and Sri Rama accepting Seeta.
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The intention of Sage Valmiki in giving to the world the EPIC Ramayana is not to project Sri Rama as the incarnation of Vishnu. In fact, except in the interpolated episodes like the present one, we will find Sri Rama behaving like an ordinary human being.
The intention of Sage Valmiki in giving to the world the EPIC Ramayana is to project the importance of Satya (TRUTH) and Dharma, through the character Sri Rama and superiority of dakshinaachara (vedic way of life) over vaamachara.
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The following incident reveal as to how much dearly Sri Rama loved Sita.
Chopping off Maaya (illusionary) Sita's head by Indrajit
With an intention to confuse all, by playing a trick to kill Seetha's illusory image, Indrajit sallied forth towards the direction of the Vanaras, placing an illusory image of Seetha on his chariot.
Beholding Sri Hanuman and the army of Vanaras, Indrajit was excited with anger, pulled Seetha by the hair on her head and killed that illusory Seetha, with his sharp-edged sword. Split asunder by him diagonally, that miserable lady fell down on the ground.
After killing that woman, Indrajit told Sri Hanuma as follows:
"See, I killed Rama's wife with my weapon. This Seetha is dead and all your labour is in vain."
After killing her with a large sword personally, that Indrajit then sitting on his chariot, pleasure fully roared loudly. Seeing him exceedingly pleased, the Vanaras looked dejected and suddenly ran away. Sri Hanuma told the vanara army to retreat as there was no reason to continue the fight, since Seeta was killed.
Seeing Sri Hanuma withdrawing to the place where Sri Rama was, Indrajit went to a sanctuary called Nikumbhila, seeking to pour oblations into the sacred fire. The demons stood firm in big piles encircling the Indrajit.
Sri Hanuma, with sorrow, elaborated what transpired in the battle with Indrajit to Sri Rama. Hearing those words of Sri Hanuma, Sri Rama then was agitated with grief and fell down unconscious on the ground. Lakshmana started consoling his brother.
If Sri Rama already had a doubt of Seeta’s conjugal fidelity or if he already decided to disown Seeta after killing of Ravana, he would have felt relieved with the news of death of Seeta. Instead, his immediate reaction to the news of Indrajit chopping off the head of illusionary Seeta was to faint away.
A man, whose wife was abducted and who was looking forward anxiously for a reunion with his dear wife, only faints away on hearing the news of his dear wife.
Sri Rama never doubted the fidelity of Sita. It is an interpolated story.
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The following is the brief narration of Seeta agnipariksha episode.
Sri Rama sends
Vibhishana to bring Seetha to his presence. Vibhishana brings Seetha to Sri Rama's
presence.
Sri Rama informs
Seetha that the dishonour meted out to him and the wrong done to her by Ravana
have been wiped off, by his victory over the enemy with the assistance of Sri
Hanuma, Sugreeva and Vibhishana.
However, regarding with suspicion on the
character of Seetha, Sri Rama disowns her and asks her to seek shelter
elsewhere.
Seetha gives a
taunting reply to Sri Rama, saying that why she was not abandoned by the
latter, even at the time when Sri Hanuma came to see her in Lanka.
Then, Seetha requests
Lakshmana to prepare a pile of fire for her to enter. When Lakshmana prepares a
pyre, Seetha prays the fire-god and enters into it, in order to prove her conjugal
fidelity.
Lord Brahma, Lord
Shiva and other gods reach that place and eulogise Sri Rama as the incarnation
of Lord Vishnu and Seeta as Adilakshmi.
ततो वैश्रवणो राजा यमश्च पृभिः सह |
सहस्राक्षश्च देवेशो वरुणश्च जलेश्वरः ||
षड्र्धनयनः श्रीमान् महादेवो वृषध्वजः |
कर्ता सर्वस्य लोकस्य ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मविदां वरः ||
एते सर्वे समागम्य विमानैः सूर्यसंनिभैः |
आगम्य नगरीं लङ्कामभिजग्मुश्च राघवम् || (Yuddha Kanda 117 Sarga 2 - 4 Slokas)
"Thereupon, Kubera the King of Yakshas, Yama the lord of death together with the deceased ancestors, Indra the lord of celestials Varuna the lord of waters, the illustrious Shiva the great deity who bears the device of a bull as his banner and having three eyes, Brahma the creator of all the worlds and the best among the knowers of sacred knowledge all these together reaching the City of Lanka in aerial cars, shining like the sun approached Rama."
ततः सहस्ताभरणान् प्रगृह्य विपुलान् भुजान् |
अब्रुवंस्त्रिदशश्रेष्ठा राघवं प्राञ्जलिं स्थितम् || (Yuddha Kanda 117 Sarga 5 Sloka)
"Lifting their long arms, their hands decked with ornaments, those excellent gods thereupon, spoke (as follows) to Rama who stood there, making a respectful salutation to them with his folded hands."
कर्ता सर्वस्य लोकस्य श्रेष्ठो ज्ञानवतां प्रभुः |
उपेक्षसे कथं सीतां पतन्तीं हव्यवाहने ||
कथं देवगणश्रेष्ठमात्मानं नावबुद्ध्यसे | (Yuddha Kanda 117 Sarga 6 Sloka)
"How do you, the maker of the entire cosmos, the foremost among those endowed with knowledge and an all-capable person, ignore Seetha who is falling into the fire? How do you not recognize yourself to be the foremost of the troop of gods?"
ऋतधामा वसुः पूर्वं वसूनां च प्रजापतिः ||
त्रयाणामपि लोकानामादिकर्ता स्वयं प्रभुः | (Yuddha Kanda 117 Sarga 7 Sloka)
"Among the Vasus (a class of gods, eight in number), you are the Vasu, named R^itadhama (one whose abode is Truth or the Divine Law) who was formerly the self-constituted ruler, the first creator of all the three worlds and the lord of creatures."
रुद्राणामष्टमो रुद्रः साध्यानामपि पञ्चमः ||
अश्विनौ चापि कर्णौ ते सूर्याचन्द्रामसौ दृशौ | (Yuddha Kanda 117 Sarga 8 Sloka)
"You are the eighth Rudra among (eleven) Rudras and the fifth (Viryavan by name) among the Sadhyas (a particular class of celestials belonging to Gana Devata). The twin Aswinis are your ears. The sun and the moon constitute your eyes."
अन्ते चादौ च लोकानां दृश्यसे च परंतप ||
उपेक्षसे च वैदेहीं मानुषः प्राकृतो यथा | (Yuddha Kanda 117 Sarga 9 Sloka)
भवान्नारायणो देवः श्रीमांश्चक्रायुधः प्रभुः ||
एकशृङ्गो वराहस्त्वं भूतभव्यसपत्नजित् | (Yuddha Kanda 117 Sarga 13 Sloka)
"You are the Lord Narayana himself the glorious god, who wields the discus. You are the Divine Boar with a single tusk, the conqueror of your past and future enemies."
अक्षरं ब्रह्म सत्यं च मध्ये चान्ते च राघव ||
लोकानां त्वं परो धर्मो विष्वक्सेनश्चतुर्भजः | (Yuddha Kanda 117 Sarga 14 Sloka)
"You are Brahma, the imperishable, the Truth abiding in the middle as well as at the end of the universe. You are the supreme righteousness of people, whose powers go everywhere. You are the four-armed."
शार्ङ्गधन्वा हृषीकेशः पुरुषः पुरुषोत्तमः ||
अजितः खड्गधृग्विष्णुः कृष्णश्चैव महाबलः | (Yuddha Kanda 117 Sarga 15 Sloka)
"You are the wielder of a bow called Sarnga, the lord of the senses, the supreme soul of the universe, the best of men, the invincible, the wielder of a sword named Nandaka, the all-pervader, the bestower of happiness to the earth and endowed with great might."
सहस्रचरणः श्रीमान् शतशीर्षः सहस्रदृक् ||
त्वं धारयसि भूतानि पृथिवीं च सपर्वताम् | (Yuddha Kanda 117 Sarga 22 Sloka)
"Seetha is no other than Goddess Lakshmi (the divine consort of Lord Vishnu), while you are Lord Vishnu. You are having a shining dark-blue hue. You are the Lord of created beings. For the destruction of Ravana, you entered a human body here, on this earth."
The fire-god came up, in a personified form, holding Seeta in his arms. The Fire-God affirmed the chastity of Seeta and restored her to Sri Rama.
प्रलोभ्यमाना विविधं तर्ज्यमाना च मैथिली |
नाचिन्तयत तद्रक्षस्त्वद्गतेनान्तरात्मना || (Yuddha Kanda 118 Sarga 9 Sloka)
"Seetha, whose mind was directed towards you, ignored that demon even though allured and frightened through various means."
विशुद्धभावां निष्पापां प्रतिगृह्णीष्व मैथिलीम् |
न किंचिरभिधातव्या अहमाज्ञापयामि ते || (Yuddha Kanda 118 Sarga 10 Sloka)
"Take back Seetha, who is sinless, with a pure character. She should not be told anything harsh. I hereby command you."
Then Sri Rama accepts Seeta since her chastity was confirmed by AGNIPARIKSHA.
अनन्यहृदयां भक्तां मचत्तपरिवर्तिनीम् |
अहमप्यवगच्छामि मैथिलीं जनकात्मजाम् || (Yuddha Kanda 118 Sarga 15 Sloka)
"I also know that Seetha, the daughter of Janaka, who ever revolves in my mind, is undivided in her affection to me."
प्रत्ययार्थं तु लोकानां त्रयाणाम् सत्यसंश्रयः |
उपेक्षे चापि वैदेहीं प्रविशन्तीं हुताशनम् || (Yuddha Kanda 118 Sarga 17 Sloka)
"In order to convince the three worlds, I, whose refugee is truth, ignored Seetha while she was entering the fire."
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ततः सहस्ताभरणान् प्रगृह्य विपुलान् भुजान् |
अब्रुवंस्त्रिदशश्रेष्ठा राघवं प्राञ्जलिं स्थितम् || (Yuddha Kanda 117 Sarga 5 Sloka)
"Lifting their long arms, their hands decked with ornaments, those excellent gods thereupon, spoke (as follows) to Rama who stood there, making a respectful salutation to them with his folded hands."
कर्ता सर्वस्य लोकस्य श्रेष्ठो ज्ञानवतां प्रभुः |
उपेक्षसे कथं सीतां पतन्तीं हव्यवाहने ||
कथं देवगणश्रेष्ठमात्मानं नावबुद्ध्यसे | (Yuddha Kanda 117 Sarga 6 Sloka)
"How do you, the maker of the entire cosmos, the foremost among those endowed with knowledge and an all-capable person, ignore Seetha who is falling into the fire? How do you not recognize yourself to be the foremost of the troop of gods?"
ऋतधामा वसुः पूर्वं वसूनां च प्रजापतिः ||
त्रयाणामपि लोकानामादिकर्ता स्वयं प्रभुः | (Yuddha Kanda 117 Sarga 7 Sloka)
"Among the Vasus (a class of gods, eight in number), you are the Vasu, named R^itadhama (one whose abode is Truth or the Divine Law) who was formerly the self-constituted ruler, the first creator of all the three worlds and the lord of creatures."
रुद्राणामष्टमो रुद्रः साध्यानामपि पञ्चमः ||
अश्विनौ चापि कर्णौ ते सूर्याचन्द्रामसौ दृशौ | (Yuddha Kanda 117 Sarga 8 Sloka)
"You are the eighth Rudra among (eleven) Rudras and the fifth (Viryavan by name) among the Sadhyas (a particular class of celestials belonging to Gana Devata). The twin Aswinis are your ears. The sun and the moon constitute your eyes."
अन्ते चादौ च लोकानां दृश्यसे च परंतप ||
उपेक्षसे च वैदेहीं मानुषः प्राकृतो यथा | (Yuddha Kanda 117 Sarga 9 Sloka)
"O the destroyer of the adversaries. You are seen (to exist) at the beginning and at the end of creation. Yet, you ignore Seetha, just like a common man."
भवान्नारायणो देवः श्रीमांश्चक्रायुधः प्रभुः ||
एकशृङ्गो वराहस्त्वं भूतभव्यसपत्नजित् | (Yuddha Kanda 117 Sarga 13 Sloka)
"You are the Lord Narayana himself the glorious god, who wields the discus. You are the Divine Boar with a single tusk, the conqueror of your past and future enemies."
अक्षरं ब्रह्म सत्यं च मध्ये चान्ते च राघव ||
लोकानां त्वं परो धर्मो विष्वक्सेनश्चतुर्भजः | (Yuddha Kanda 117 Sarga 14 Sloka)
"You are Brahma, the imperishable, the Truth abiding in the middle as well as at the end of the universe. You are the supreme righteousness of people, whose powers go everywhere. You are the four-armed."
शार्ङ्गधन्वा हृषीकेशः पुरुषः पुरुषोत्तमः ||
अजितः खड्गधृग्विष्णुः कृष्णश्चैव महाबलः | (Yuddha Kanda 117 Sarga 15 Sloka)
"You are the wielder of a bow called Sarnga, the lord of the senses, the supreme soul of the universe, the best of men, the invincible, the wielder of a sword named Nandaka, the all-pervader, the bestower of happiness to the earth and endowed with great might."
सहस्रचरणः श्रीमान् शतशीर्षः सहस्रदृक् ||
त्वं धारयसि भूतानि पृथिवीं च सपर्वताम् | (Yuddha Kanda 117 Sarga 22 Sloka)
"With thousand feet, with hundred heads and with thousand eyes along with Lakshmi the goddess of wealth, you bear the earth with all its created beings along with its mountains."
सीता लक्ष्मीर्भवान् विष्णुर्देवः कृष्णः प्रजापतिः ||
वधार्थं रावणस्येह प्रविष्टो मानुषीं तनुम् | (Yuddha Kanda 117 Sarga 28 Sloka)
वधार्थं रावणस्येह प्रविष्टो मानुषीं तनुम् | (Yuddha Kanda 117 Sarga 28 Sloka)
"Seetha is no other than Goddess Lakshmi (the divine consort of Lord Vishnu), while you are Lord Vishnu. You are having a shining dark-blue hue. You are the Lord of created beings. For the destruction of Ravana, you entered a human body here, on this earth."
The fire-god came up, in a personified form, holding Seeta in his arms. The Fire-God affirmed the chastity of Seeta and restored her to Sri Rama.
प्रलोभ्यमाना विविधं तर्ज्यमाना च मैथिली |
नाचिन्तयत तद्रक्षस्त्वद्गतेनान्तरात्मना || (Yuddha Kanda 118 Sarga 9 Sloka)
"Seetha, whose mind was directed towards you, ignored that demon even though allured and frightened through various means."
विशुद्धभावां निष्पापां प्रतिगृह्णीष्व मैथिलीम् |
न किंचिरभिधातव्या अहमाज्ञापयामि ते || (Yuddha Kanda 118 Sarga 10 Sloka)
"Take back Seetha, who is sinless, with a pure character. She should not be told anything harsh. I hereby command you."
Then Sri Rama accepts Seeta since her chastity was confirmed by AGNIPARIKSHA.
अनन्यहृदयां भक्तां मचत्तपरिवर्तिनीम् |
अहमप्यवगच्छामि मैथिलीं जनकात्मजाम् || (Yuddha Kanda 118 Sarga 15 Sloka)
"I also know that Seetha, the daughter of Janaka, who ever revolves in my mind, is undivided in her affection to me."
प्रत्ययार्थं तु लोकानां त्रयाणाम् सत्यसंश्रयः |
उपेक्षे चापि वैदेहीं प्रविशन्तीं हुताशनम् || (Yuddha Kanda 118 Sarga 17 Sloka)
"In order to convince the three worlds, I, whose refugee is truth, ignored Seetha while she was entering the fire."
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The episode of Seeta
parityaga (disowning) was, in my view, not penned by Sage Valmiki but a
PRAKSHIPTA (an insertion made by somebody with a view to elevating the status of Lord Vishnu to that of SARVA LOKADHIPATI at a later date) for the following
reasons.
- According to Srimad Ramayana, Lord Brahma was the ultimate God and the place of Vishnu was only next to Lord Indra. Shiva was only an ex-Senadhipathi
- As Putrakamesthi episode was inserted to make believe the readers that Sri Rama was in fact the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Seeta parityaga (Disowning of Seeta), Seeta Agnipravesha, arrival of all GODs and Sri Rama accepting Seeta episodes episodes were inserted consciously to pave way for the elevation of Sri Rama as the incarnation of Vishnu .
- Hence, eulogising Sri Rama as the incarnation of Lord Vishnu and Seeta as Adilakshmi by Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva WAS DONE to elevate the status of Lord Vishnu and did not fit into Srimad Ramayana
- As I already mentioned earlier, Sri Rama always expressed his great eagerness in getting back his dear wife Seeta at the earliest. At no point of time, till his meeting with Seeta after the death of Ravana, he was depicted expressing his desire to give up Seeta as she was residing in Ravana’s house.
- If Sri Rama already had a doubt of Seeta’s conjugal fidelity or he already decided
to disown Seeta after killing of Ravana, he would have felt relieved with the
news of death of Seeta. Instead, his
immediate reaction to the news of Indrajit chopping off the head of illusionary
Seeta was to faint away.
- Here the question is whether Sri Rama could have behaved in that manner and disowned his dear Seeta? I firmly believe that Sri Rama's high standard of thinking will not allow him to do in such a way
- It is nothing but character assassination and in the process of elevating Vishnu, Sri Rama had become a victim of this slander.
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