"Ordeal by Fire"

[Guest guest]

Dear devotees,

 

Many other Rama Bhaktas have dealt with this subject. Please permit me

to place before you two writings:The first is from Narayaneeyam by

Narayana Bhattathiri of Guruvayoor and the second is from Ramayana by

Shri C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji).

 

Elsewhere, in his Ramayana, Rajaji has observed while commenting on Vali Vadham:

"Let those who find faults in Rama see faults. If these critics

faultlessly pursue dharma and avoid in their own lives the flaws they

discover in Rama, the bhaktas of Sri Rama will indeed welcome it with

joy. If they exhibit the virtues of Rama and add to these more

virtues and greater flawlessness, who can complain?"

.................................................. Raama erred in

running after the magic deer to please his wife. Consequent to this,

difficulties and sorrows and conflicts of duty pursued him. If we

keep in mind that when God takes a lower and limited form by His own

ordinance, limitations follow and we should not be confused thereby.

This is my humble view as against other explanations propounded by

the pious."

Dasan,Krishnaswamy M.K.

>From Narayaneeyam by Narayana Bhattathiri

The following translation of Canto35 Verse 10 of Narayaneeyam is from

Narayaneeyam published by the Ramakrishna Math, Madras (March 1976):

"This human embodiment of Thine is for instructing mankind how too

much attachment (Kama) will lead to pangs of separation and how

addiction to Dharma (the letter of the Law) will push one to such

Adharma as abandonment of innocent ones. Otherwise, it is

unimaginable how Thou, who art ever established in the

Atman-consciousness, canst ever have any weakness of the mind.”

The following comment appears in Note #14 appended to the text:

"Bhattar's estimate of Rama Incarnation, that it is to show men how

intense affection (Kama) will lead us to pangs of separation (as Rama

suffered from his loss of Sita) and how extreme addiction to Dharma,

(the letter of the Law), will push one to Adharma -- is an echo of

the Bhagawata verse 5.19.5-6. Many a devotee of Rama will not agree

with this, although it may be conveying a subtle point that would

interest a critical student.

Extract from “Ramayana” by C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji)

Rama's face showed a strange transformation of mind. None of those

around him, not even Lakshmana, could understand.

"I have slain the enemy," said Rama (to Sita). "I have recovered you.

I have done my duty as a Kshatriya. My vow is now fulfilled."

......."It was not for mere attachment to you that I waged this grim

battle; but it was in the discharge of duty as a Kshatriya. It gives

me no joy now to get you back, for dubiety envelopes you like a dark

cloud of smoke."

"What do you wish to do now?" he continued. "You must live alone, for

we cannot live together. You can stay under the protection of any of

our kinsmen or friends. How can a Kshatriya take back a wife who has

lived for so long in a stranger's house?"

Sita looked at Rama. Her eyes flashed fire. "Unworthy words have you

spoken!" she said. "My ears have heard them and my heart is broken.

The uncultured may speak such words, but not one nobly born and

brought up like you......................Is it my fault that the

wicked Raakshasa seized me by force and imprisoned me? But since this

is how you look at it, there is but one course open to me."

Then, turning to Lakshmana, she said:"Fetch the faggots, Lakshmana, and kindle a fire."

Obeying Sita, Lakshmana kindled a big fire and the princess, with eyes

fixed on the ground, circumambulated her Lord and exclaimed: "Ye Gods,

I bow before you. Oh Rishis, I bow to you. Oh Agni, you at least know

my purity and will take me as your own!"

With these words she jumped into the flames. And wonder of wonders!

The lambent flames were crowded with celestial figures; for all the

gods came and assembled there. Brahma spoke: "Narayana! Mighty God

that took human form to slay Ravana! Is not this your own Lakshmi?"

Agni, God of fire rose in his own body out of the flames and lifting

Seeta in his arms with all her clothes and jewels untouched and

intact, presented her to Rama.

Rama said to Brahma: "Who am I? All that I know and can tell is that I

am Rama, son of Dasaratha. You must know who I am and whence I came

and more; it is you who must inform me."

Rama accepted Sita fire-proved saying to her: "Think you that I did

not know your irreproachable purity? This ordeal was to satisfy the

people................" So saying, he drew her to his side.

Then Dasaratha descended from above and, placing the prince on his

lap, blessed him. "My child!" he said to Sita. "Forgive my son.

Forgive him for the wrong he did to you to preserve the dharma of the

world. God bless you."

In conclusion, Rajagopalachari observes in his book:

I have followed the story of the Prince of Ayodhya as told by

Valmeeki. There was a legend current among people, I think even

before Valmeeki's time, that after recovering Sita, for fear of

scandal, Rama sent her away to live in the forest. This pathetic

episode must have sprung from the sorrow-laden imagination of our

women. It has taken shape as Uttarakaanda of Ramayana.

Although there is beauty in the Uttarakaanda I must say my heart

rebels against it. Valmiki had disposed of this old legend through

the fire ordeal in the battle field. Even that ordeal does not seem

to me as consistent with Rama's character. It is painful to read it.

As the Prince returned from Mithila he met Parasurama. I have heard it

said that with that meeting, Parasurama's Avataar came to an end.

Likewise, it should be held, I think, that Rama's avataar came to an

end with the slaying of Ravana. After that battle, Rama remained only

as a king of the Ikshvaku race. On this theory, Rama's treatment of

Sita after the battle and in the Uttarakaanda can be explained simply

as the behaviour of a king in accordance with the customs of the time.

[Guest guest]

With regards to ordeal by fire, there is an interesting debate on

www.musicindiaonline.com you will find it in Tamil section. The judge

of that paTTi maNDapam brings out beautiful point: when Sri Rama is

out to fetch the deer, and the deer shouts out by name lakshmaNa, sita

does two things which are quite unfair a) She accuses lakshmaNa's

chastity and his devotion to his brother and throws fire like words at

him saying he may be having desire for her b) She threatens him that

she will make a fire out of the woods nearby and jump into it. At the

end of the war Sri Rama reciprocates the same for two reasons, a) to

reflect the there are consequences for what you say and do and b)

knows that sita herself is feeling guilty and provide her a way to

get over it. Interestingly, he asks lakshmaNa to make the fire.

 

These tamil debates are solely based on kamba rAmAyaNam. If you want

hear some nice musical rendering of kamba rAmAyaNam, please go to

http://67.124.63.151/netjuke/login.php (may not work always)

there are 30 or so verses sung by TN Seshagopalan. You can read more

on kamba rAmAyaNam at http://www.dhool.com/balaji/kambar/.

 

 

MSR