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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com)

 

Divine will, difficult to comprehend

 

CHENNAI, NOV. 23. It is common knowledge that human beings suffer

due to ignorance about their true nature, which is blissful and

eternal. Ignorance is caused by the deluding power (Maya) of the

Lord Himself and only knowledge of the Self, which results due to

divine grace can remove it. But, it is puzzling to note the

description of emotions like sorrow and fear in the Ramayana felt

by Rama and Sita, who were divine manifestations. The

Ramacharitamanasa of Tulasidasa in the description of Hanuman

dropping Rama's signet ring beside Sita, who was extremely

distressed and dejected about Her rescue, when he spotted Her in

the Ashoka grove, offers insight into this paradox.

 

Tulasidasa describes that the sight of the ring evoked feelings

of joy, sorrow and wonder in Sita and She thought, ``Who can

conquer the invincible Lord of the Raghus and such a divine ring

cannot be prepared through Maya.'' Why should She who was

omniscient feel such contradictory emotions and convince Herself

that She was not being tricked as in the earlier instance when

Ravana abducted Her? The reader can be pardoned if he thinks that

Ravana who could hoodwink Sita, could conjure up a trinket like a

ring effortlessly, as demons were well-versed in sorcery.

 

In his discourse, Swami Veetabhayananda said Sita had total

control over the power of Maya and hence when She touched the

ring of the Lord, She knew for certain that it was not produced

by magic. The Divine Mother is the source of this deluding power

and Ravana had acquired the skill by meditating on Her. So She

could not be deluded. She had submitted to the will of the Lord

and accompanied Him in His divine sport when He manifested in the

world as a human being. The Lord's sports (Leela) are difficult

to fathom for the human intellect. Rama and Sita had to forget

their divine nature to fulfil their sport and hence were very

human in expressing their emotions. But, at the same time they

did not completely forget their divine nature. So one can see the

contrary natures surfacing alternately in the epic.

 

Sita represents the soul in bondage yearning to be re-united with

the Lord. Thoughts of ending Her life, fear, sorrow, the feeling

of bondage, show us Her human face. The ring represents the link

between the soul and the Lord and this was the reason that the

moment She held it, She remembered Her divine nature. Hanuman's

role was that of the spiritual teacher who is instrumental in

bringing about the union of the soul with the Lord.

 

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