Friday 8 March 2024

Understanding Sita

 



There are many perceptions on Sita, some projecting her to be SUPREME mother, others praising her as the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi and few others  presenting their version based on modern way/feminist way of thinking.

In my view, Sita, the wife of Shri Rama, was the disciple of the latter as far as spirituality is concerned.

It is advisable to understand RAMAYANA properly, from the perspective of Sage Valmiki - how he perceived, how he understood his surroundings at that point of time and the purpose of giving RAMAYANA to the mankind, etc, as he is the original author.

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Ramayana is a multi-layered text. It can be understood as mere a story of a Prince Shri Rama. It can be understood as the fight between Dakshinachara - Vedic way of life to SPIRITUALITY and Vamachara - the way opposed to Vedic way of life. And, some others may find it as a master-piece of poetry.

Sage Valmiki was following the dictum of Vedic Rishis as far as conveying the basic tenets for evolving a human being into a higher human being and thereby to ascend the heights in SPIRITUALITY.

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We have to remember that any one interested in SPIRITUAL aspects need to inculcate 2 basic things in oneself - adherence to TRUTH and discharging one's all responsibilities as a householder, ie., DHARMA. Unless one practises TRUTH with trikarNasuddhi and discharge all one's responsibilities, however one may involve in DHYANA or some other mantra saadhana, one cannot grow spirituallly.

Rig Vedic Rishis told this first, followed by upanishads and further adhered by the sages like Valmiki and Vyasa.

Taittiriya Upanishad - Sloka : 1.11.1

शिष्यानुशासनम्

वेदमनूच्याचार्योन्तेवासिनमनुशास्ति।

सत्यं वद। धर्मं चर। स्वाध्यायान्मा प्रमदः।

Satyam vada

speak the truth; satyam, is that which accords with what is grasped through valid means of knowledge and is fit to be uttered; that thing vada, (you) speak.

dharmam cara

practise righteousness. Inasmuch as truth etc. are specifically mentioned, the word dharma (righteousness) is a generic term for all that is to be practised.

RAMAYANA gives this subtle message through Shri Rama - adherence to TRUTH and discharging responsibilities.

धर्मज्ञः सत्यसन्धश्च शीलवाननसूयकः |

क्षान्तः सान्त्वयिता श्लक्ष्ह्णः कृतज्ञो विजितेन्द्रियः || २-२-३१

"Rama knows all righteousness. He is true to his word and has good character. He has no envy. He has patience. He consoles those who are in troubles. He speaks good words. He has gratitude. He keeps senses under control."

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SITA was found by her foster father Janaka, while ploughing the land. She was taught by excellent Gurus about traditions of that period and she adhered to them.

Sita was married to Shri Rama, after the latter lifted the great bow in Mithila. Sita, after spending 12 years of happy life after marriage, followed Shri Rama to the Forest, alongwith Lakshmana.

She was abducted by Ravana, when Shri Rama and Lakshmana were away in the forest.

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Sita rejected Ravana’s proposal to become his wife and enjoy earthly pleasures and she was in spiritual austerities by uttering the name of Shri RAMA all the times, in the midst of continuous luring offered by Ravana in Lanka. This was described in Sundara Kanda.

रामेति रामेति सदैव बुद्ध्या विचिन्त्या वाचा ब्रुवती तमेव |

तस्यानुरूपं च कथां तदर्था मेवं प्रपश्यामि तथा शृणोमि || ५-३२-११

"Since I am pondering with my mind about that Rama only, and always saying 'Rama! Rama!' thus, confomably I am seeing and hearing a story thus corresponding to he same thought."

——

There is a SPIRITUAL practise in vogue, in which the disciple keeps on remembering one's own Guru's image and utters Guru's name, thus becoming Guru himself - Bhramara-Kita-Nyaya.

So, SITA was following that practice.

1 comment:

  1. సత్యం వద
    ధర్మం చర
    నేను బాగా ఇష్టపడే సూక్తి 🙏🌼

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