[t'vengadam] Sita's Sins, Big and Small

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--- sadagopaniyengar <sadagopaniyengar wrote:

 

> Sita's Sins, Big and Small-2`

>

> Piratti's sins, if they could be called such, were prompted by

> extreme Bhagavat bhakti. The intolerance of even the thought of

> anything untoward happening to the Lord and inability to

> countenance any delay in initiating rescue operations in that

> regard, were what occasioned the cruel remarks addressed to

> Lakshmana,

=== message truncated ===

 

 

Dear SrimAn Sadagopan iyengar,

 

The narration of the 'agni-pravEsam' scene in the Ramayana never

fails to move one's heart no matter how often it is repeated. Your

account is no exception.

 

Sir, I leave this thought of mine with you:

 

When we read the Ramayana, we see that Rama's harsh words to

'pirAtti' were a thousand times more painful than any she used

against Him on the specific occasions referred to in your very

interesting posting. The Lord told Sita (in full view and hearing of

the entire public at large in Lanka), "Begone, Sita! I have no more

use for you! You may choose anyone of my 3 brothers to henceforth be

your man! Or you may even wish to go with Vibeeshana or any of these

rAkshAsA-s! Choose any of the 10 directions in this world and get

lost in it!".

 

Whatever may be the explanations and extenuating reasons that

commentators may give for this behaviour of Lord Rama, there is no

doubt in our minds that the Prince of Ayodhya certainly violated all

norms of noble behaviour and decency in using such intemperate

language against 'pirAtti'.. that too in open assembly.

 

It raises one question therefore in my mind: In hurting 'pirAtti'

with such searing words, did Rama not commit 'bhAgavata apachAram'?

After all wasn't Sita like Rama's shadow? Wasn't she his very

life-breath? Wasn't she His foremost devotee -- His special 'bhakta'

in that special way in which all 'dharma-patni-s' and

'saha-dharmachAriNi-s' in the land of Bharata remain indeed to their

husbands unto the very end of their lives?

 

May it not be said therefore that Rama stands accused of the biggest

ever violation of the cardinal precept: Thou shalt not commit

'apachAram' against a 'bhAgavata' which is sin a thousand times more

heinous than 'apachAra' against 'bhagavan' Himself?

 

If, as you say, 'pirAtti's' sins were prompted by extreme

'bhagavat-bhakti', we wonder what then lay behind Rama's sin of

'bhAgavatha-apachAram' aginst 'pirAtti'?

 

Perhaps this thought might inspire you, Sir, to pen another

interesting posting entitled "Rama's Sins, Big and Small"... I would

really look forward to it, indeed!

 

Thanks and regards,

 

dAsan,

Sudarshan

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Dear SrimAn Sudarshan,

 

On going through your mail, one of Swami Desikan's slokams came to my mind,

which I read years ago. Swami Desikan wonders and questions us - "The whole

world is still remembering these 3 acts of Sri Rama as faulty ones - killing

ThAtaka (a woman), keeping unknowingly a step back during kara-Dhooshana yuddha

(not in accordance with kshatriya dharmA) and seetha's agni pravesam. If this

is the case for the Almighty's incarnation as human, what will be the effect of

faults of mere mortals like us?"

 

Adiyen,

raghava dAsan.

[Guest guest]

, VS Venkataragavan

<raghavan103> wrote:

> Dear SrimAn Sudarshan,

>

> On going through your mail, one of Swami Desikan's slokams came to

my mind, which I read years ago. Swami Desikan wonders and questions

us - "The whole world is still remembering these 3 acts of Sri Rama

as faulty ones - killing ThAtaka (a woman), keeping unknowingly a

step back during kara-Dhooshana yuddha (not in accordance with

kshatriya dharmA) and seetha's agni pravesam. If this is the case

for the Almighty's incarnation as human, what will be the effect of

faults of mere mortals like us?"

>

> Adiyen,

> raghava dAsan.

 

 

Dear Sri Raghava dasan,

One might venture to add that perhaps Swami Desikan forgot to mention

the controversial incident of Rama slaying Vali under cover!

 

Our faults -- the faults of mere mortals -- are countless indeed but

the world will not remember us for our faults. Shakespeare

wrote, "The good that men do lives after them; the evil is interred

in their bones".

 

Regards,

dAsan,

Sudarshan