Seeta Swayamvar - from Shree Sartha Ramayan.

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OM SRI RAMA JAYAM:

 

To all member-devotees.

 

This is Karkkitakam - The Ramayana Masa - members'participation in

the discussions are welcome - thanks a lot.

 

Here is an article on the captioned subject culled out from above

Ramayan with certain changes to fit for an independent article.

 

NR Pillai (Raju)

Dombivli.

 

SEETA SWAYAMVAR:

 

After destroying the demons, Rama-Lakshmana not only helped

Viswamitra in carrying out the yajna but removed the fear from the

minds of ordinary people.

 

King Janaka announced the marriage of her daughter, Seeta. In fact ,

she was not his own daughter. A Brahmin had found her in an wooden

box while ploughing his field. He carried that baby girl to the King

Janaka who brought her up as his own daughter. He called her Seeta

because she was found in a field. Seeta was very intelligent and

beautiful as well.

After destroying the demons, Rama-Lakshmanas not only helped

Viswamitra in carrying out the yajna smoothly but removed the fear in

the minds of people. King Janaka had announced the marriage of his

daughter, Seeta. Seeta was not Janaka's own daughter but had

found

by a Brahmin

When she was only a child, she used to play with a huge bow. She

used to ride on it. It was called Shivdhanushya. It was extremely

heavy. Yet she loved to play with it and very easily could drag it.

 

As Seeta grew up, Janaka chose a novel way of selecting a groom for

her. He decided to arrange Swayamvara. He also declared his

condition – who ever will lift a " Shiva Dhanusya " and

bend it to tie

string to it will be her husband.

 

Invitation to Swayamvar was sent to many kings. The kings and

princes when came to know about the condition could not properly

guess about magnanimity of the same. They thought that they would

very easily lift that bow and win Seeta. All were day-dreaming and

waiting eagerly for the day of Swayamvar.

 

Vswamitra too, had heard about Seeta-swayamvara. In his opinion, a

handsome, intelligent and brave young man like Rama was fit to be

Seeta's husband. But …there was Janaka's condition….

However, he

thought that it would not be difficult for Rama to lift the heavy

Shivadhanusya. He decided to take Rama and Laxmana to Mithila.

Three of them reached Mithila at the time of Swayamvara. Royal

palace was full of kings and princes, who looked attractive in

exquisite apparels. Their colourful dresses added to the charm of

the embellished Swayamavara tent.

 

Rama and Laxmana reached there alongwith Viswamitra. Though both

were the pricess , their clothes were very ordinary and looked out of

place because of simplicity.

 

The condition for Swayamvara was once again announced. Then the huge

Shivadhanusya was dragged by many people and was placed at the

center. The Kings, one by one came forward and tried their best to

lift the bow but all of them failed miserably. So many Kings tried

but none of them could succeed. Some of the Kings not even made an

attempt. At the end, they were anxious to know as to who would win

in his attempt. Realising that right time had come, Viswamitra

signalled Rama. Very confidently Rama approached Shivdhanushya.

All kings laughed in mockery at him as he looked very young. But

next moment they were put to shame by lifting the bow very easily and

as he bent it to tie string to it, it broke into two pieces with big

noise. Those gathered there were stunned by Rama's achievement.

Janaka was very pleased and Seeta became extremely happy because of

Rama's handsome figure, his great valour which proved through

this

deed. Seeta immediately came forward to garland Rama. Thus the

Swayamvara came to an end.

 

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