The Language of Myths: SeetaThe night was starry. Seeta was awake. Her b...

The Language of Myths: Seeta
The night was starry. Seeta was awake. Her b...: Seeta The night was starry. Seeta was awake. Her bridal attire was partly replaced by some comfortable and simple garments. Her compan...

Ramayana Chapter 17 Vishvamitra's Departure

Vishvamitra’s Departure

Chapter 17

Rama knew, he had left a part of his self far behind. The memory of the days spent in solitude with the unknown hermit on the outskirts of Ayodhya surfaced in his mind and had to be repressed. By now, he had seen turbulence, violence and anarchy in the world that existed beyond the safe boundaries of civilization of the kingdom of Ayodhya. The evil seemed to exist on the other side of the political frontier. He knew that his spiritual and moral opponent existed somewhere like a shadow but was going to materialize soon. ‘When’ and ‘where’ was going to be decided by the powers above.

He entered the sanctified ground where the wedding was going to take place. Rama and his three brothers looked resplendent as bridegrooms in their auspicious wedding-attire.

He was led to the altar where Vasishtha ignited the holy fire with chanting of mantras. The beloved son of Kausalya and Dashratha was going to take a wife.

Seeta arrived led by her father. Rama saw her feet for the first time and noticed that they were exceptionally beautiful. He did not want to look up to see her; there was plenty of time for that. Just now, he was content to look at her feet and imagine the rest.

Just then he heard the voice of Janaka saying, “You who are the delight of the Raghu dynasty, I bless you. My daughter Seeta is here; she is going to be your companion for life. Take her and hold her hand. She will devote her life to you, bring you good luck and will always walk behind you like your own shadow.”

Janaka’s voice was drowned in the overwhelming sounds of mantras and blessings by the preceptors and priests. Laxman, Bharat and Shatrughna took the hands of their wives in their own, in the same manner.

Four princes of Ishwaku dynasty, and four princesses of Nimi dynasty to which Janaka belonged, were now set to follow their destined paths of life.

Profoundly sonorous notes of music were played on dundubhi. In the midst of divine, auspicious songs and dance by beautiful, heavenly women, the four princes went around the holy fire with their brides, and thus the marriages were solemnized.

The next morning Vishvamitra sought leave of Janaka and Dashratha to make his departure. He went away to his hermitage where the ancient masters of yoga lived in the northern ranges of Himalayas.

After a long time Dashratha felt that life was brought to an even keel.   

   

Ramayana Chapter 16 Urmila

Urmila

Urmila was watching the garden-path leading to her father’s conference-room where she and Seeta were rarely allowed. She knew at this moment King Dashratha and her father were engaged in a talk. There was not a soul around except the sentry guarding the gate. No sound penetrated the silence outside.

Seeta’s marriage to prince Rama! There was nothing else that people talked about these days. It was being talked about in the palace, in the streets and by-lanes of Mithila, in every household of Mithila. In the palace they were walking hurriedly and bumping into each other, and laughing joyously. Yet there were many things missing. Urmila was missing; and so many other things, which people failed to notice in their obsession for Seeta’s marriage. Urmila was rather glad to be on the periphery, because that was how she liked to look at everything---watching from the periphery, silently disengaged, like a star out of the orbit.

This time she enjoyed her solitude for another reason. She liked to play with the memory of a certain moment. She liked to look at it from all angles and read several meanings into it. Then thinking that she had spent enough time in indulging herself, she would come out of it only to go back to it with a greater eagerness.

In the great excitement that followed Rama’s victory over the stubborn ancient bow, she had hugged Seeta and kissed her impulsively on the cheek. That was the moment when she saw Laxman looking at her with a spark of amusement in his eyes. And then she found that those eyes followed her everywhere. She began to take delight in the game of hide and seek, finding safety in the fact that the royal protocol did not permit them to speak to each other.

Urmila found out that this young man would meticulously avoid contact with women and was rather skeptical about love. He seemed to take pride in the splendor of his celibacy. For that reason she thought him rather vain, but charming nevertheless. He did not seek her attention, but was happy when he received it. She liked his childlike simplicity. The more she thought of him the more she began to fall in love with her solitude.

As she stood watching the conference-room, the thought of Laxman returned to her mind. She tried to imagine him by her side and then laughed at the idea because in her imagination she could not think of him as away from his brother. And any way, why would she try to separate him from his brother? That was the prerogative of his wife--- whoever and wherever she may be!

Just then her personal attendant rushed in excitedly.

“ O my princess, fortune is shining upon you today! And may it continue to shine in the days to come; may it shine forever!”

Urmila was aware that since King Dashratha’s arrival, messages, errands and news were going around in frenzy. A princess needs not to get carried away and trust them unless she is apprised officially. Still she was curious to know because any news, true or false or half-truth was significant these days.

The attendant was eager to break the news. Without waiting, she said, “Soon you will come to know, but let me tell you first. His Highness has promised to give you in marriage in to Rama’s younger brother Laxman.

Urmila closed her lips tightly to contain her surprise. Then, as was the custom, she removed the pearl necklace and gave it to the attendant.

Soon she returned to earth from her dream-world and wondered what role she was going to play in future in the royal household of Ayodhya.

Brides for All

In the conference room, Janaka was joined by his brother Kushadhwaja who ruled over a state on the bank of a river that ran close to the state of Videha. Kushadhwaja’s state originally belonged to King Sudhanva who had demanded from Janaka the great bow of Shiva and Seeta both. Janaka’s refusal led to a battle between Sudhanva and Janaka and after killing his enemy in the battle, Janaka had established his own rule in the conquered state with his brother Kushadhwaja as the new king.

Everybody rejoiced over Janaka’s decision to offer Urmila to Laxman. The ties between the two kingdoms were going to be doubly secured thereby.

Vishwamitra, the great diplomat and an erstwhile king, always thought ahead of everyone. He said, “Now that you are thinking of strengthening the ties between Ayodhya and Mithila, let me also say something; please listen. I know that this wise king Kushadhwaja who is gracing the conference with his presence; he too has two beautiful daughters. I will choose them as brides for prince Bharat and his valiant brother Shatrughna. All these sons of Dashratha are bright, young, just, and endowed with godlike valour.”

He addressed Janaka and said, “His Highness, offer these two princesses in marriage to Bharat and Shatrughna and secure the ties further. You are a noble and wise king; do not hesitate.”

Vishwamitra looked at Vasishtha to seek support. Vasishtha expressed satisfaction. Janaka felt assured. He said to both the sages, “It’s a good augury for our royal family that we are ordered by you to establish a bond with the great Ishwaku dynasty. We seek your blessings and abide by your command. Let these four valiant princes marry our four daughters on the same day.

It was an event which was both unprecedented and unanticipated. Dashratha had been waiting for the safe return of Rama and Laxman from Vishwamitra’s project of conquest of forests. The thing turned out to be more than an ordinary victory. Today all his sons were going to marry in the same royal family. The political gain could not be discounted. There was no time for Dashratha to make arrangements for bringing his wives and other women of the family to Mithila. In fact, the whole affair was tacitly controlled and channelized by Vishvamitra.

The proposal that Dasharatha’s other sons should marry Kushadhwaja’s daughters was accepted without bias, and immediately thereupon, Janaka pointed out that the next two days were ruled by Purvafalguni constellation; the day after however, was ruled by Uttara-falguni constellation which is supposed to be most auspicious for solemnizing marriage. Having said this, Janaka got up and thanked Vasishtha and Vishvamitra; offered    them the preceptorship of Mithila and requested them to guide the religious ceremony as they would do it for Ayodhya.

Dashratha went back to his camp with his sons and the retinue, performed the religious rites prior to the wedding-ceremony and graced the occasion by donating four million cows to the Brahmins in Mithila.

A Surprise

Surprisingly, on the day when Dashratha had donated cows to Brahmins in anticipation of his sons’ weddings, Bharat’s maternal uncle, Prince Yudhajit, arrived in Mithila. He had been to Ayodhya to take Bharat, his nephew, to Kaikeya, his father’s state in the north-west of India, as his father was longing to see his grandson. On being told that Dashratha had left for Mithila with Bharat and Shatrughna, he came all the way down to Mithila.

Yudhajit was always civil and sober in his manners. His coming to Mithila uninvited, therefore did not give offence to Dashratha. Yudhajit however, was forewarned of something happening which had far-reaching consequences. The news of Rama’s marriage had of course been the centre of discussions everywhere. But when Yudhajit reached Ayodhya nobody knew of the further developments which had led to Bharat and Shatrughna’s betrothal to Kushadhwaja’s daughters.

Anyway, Yudhajit did not see anything amiss in what had taken place. He was happy for Bharat.

Ramayana Chapter 15 Seeta and Urmila

Seeta and Urmila

Seeta’s birth, it was believed, was ordained like that of Rama by divine will. Once, while Janaka was ploughing the field (as was the custom that the king should himself till the field where the yajnya is to be performed) the plough was dangerously close to a trench dug in the soil: a little thrust by the hand of the tiller and the infant lying embedded in the dug up soil would have lost its life. Janaka stopped in the track and thanked the providence as he bent to pick up the infant. It was a girl, covered in a blanket and sleeping in the dug up earth as if in the lap of her mother. Janaka looked at her serene face as she opened her eyes. Her beady eyes shone from her face which was smeared by mud. She was hardly a month old. But there was a steady look in her eyes. She responded eagerly to the human touch and started crying. Janaka held her close to his heart and looked up at the sky. Clouds had massed up with portents of rain. Janaka quickly wrapped up the little one in the shawl which he wore around his shoulders.

That was how Seeta came to belong to Janaka and came to be called Janaki: the daughter of Janaka, though to Janaka, she was Seeta, that is one who belonged to the ploughed earth. The Queen who was childless till then, conceived after Seeta’s arrival. Urmila was born nine months after Seeta.

Seeta bore none of the characteristics of the royal family. She was neither fair nor dark; she was sturdy and strong, mercurial by temper, sometimes boisterous and headstrong, and sometimes like the dark, silent backwaters of a river. Janaka watched over his two daughters from afar, never interfering as they grew up from childhood to adolescence.

Seeta’s childhood must have been lonely. Everyone knew that she was not a princess by birth. Janaka guarded her with a stern eye and his protective love shielded her from all possible harm. Gradually the fact of her birth acquired a mystic aura. That Seeta was born to Mother Earth was more than a belief; it became a sacred faith.

Urmila, a princess by birth, had no such aura of mystery. Inward and shy, she always retreated and let Seeta occupy her parents’ attention. Janaka did not have another child after Urmila. But he did not trouble himself over the absence of a male heir to the kingdom. However, in the interest of the state, he had to think ahead. A king who had no son could treat his daughter as the heir. The eldest daughter in such cases used to be called a Putrika, one who took the place of the son; a Putra.

The sacred bow of Shiva which had become an heirloom in the royal family was more than an antique. It had a strategic importance since Janaka had challenged Seeta’s suitors to lift and string it with an arrow if they aspired to marry Seeta. Many of them came and shrank back. Some tried and failed, and some merely watched from the periphery. They knew that Seeta was no ordinary woman and marrying her entailed a heavy political responsibility. Besides, Janaka was growing old. They had already formed alliances and secretly opened a front against him and were waiting for a chance to attack. Gradually the number of Janaka’s secret enemies increased and there was none who came forward to marry Seeta.

Seeta’s hopes withered and so did those of Urmila, because Janaka always thought of Seeta before Urmila.

And suddenly one day while the sacrifice was on under the preceptorship of Shatananda, Vishvamitra arrived with the two princes from Ayodhya and Seeta’s fortune changed overnight.

In those remote inaccessible days of the ancient chronicle Ramayana, there were many things we cannot understand today. Women in those days adorned their bodies, from head to feet. But the testimony of their charm had to be found in the eyes of the beholder. We don’t know whether there were mirrors in the days of Ramayana. Beauty truly resided in the eye of the beholder and the woman trusted the beholder’s eye. Women saw their bodies but not their faces. They knew their body and its language intimately because they were told to listen to it, understand it and trust it.

As Seeta grew up, she eagerly absorbed the intimate subtle language of the body. She eagerly waited, to be claimed and worshiped because she treasured her youthful, virgin body. Urmila often wondered why Seeta spent hours, bathing her body ritualistically, then anointing it with fragrant oils and then draping herself neatly in silks. Urmila devoted longer hours to music and painting. Though she was a connoisseur of colors and hues, she was not very particular about the colors of her drapes. Seeta’s favorite were musk and golden yellow because she thought they gave her a majestic dignity. Her ruddy cheeks glowed with the color of youth and her zest for life. Urmila had heard about the sacred bow of Shiva , but had no curiosity about it. Seeta had often tried to experiment with it and ended up bruising her knees and elbows. Somehow, this ancient object fascinated her greatly. In the course of time, as she understood what role it was destined to play in her life, it acquired an awesome sanctity for her.

Ramayana Chapter 14 The Wedding

Chapter 14

The Wedding

Janaka’s ambassador reached Ayodhya after traveling for four days and nights and delivered the message of their king to Dashratha:

‘Our Lordship, King Janaka who had vowed to give his daughter Seeta in marriage to the most valiant of all kings, is glad to say that your son Rama, led by sage Vishvamitra, proved himself worthy of Seeta. In keeping with his vow, King Janaka will give his daughter in marriage to Rama. King Janaka asks for King Dasharatha’s consent to the marriage of Rama and Seeta. Your Highness may be gracious enough to come to Mithila with his mentor and preceptor and see his sons Rama and Laxman. This message is being delivered to his highness by the order of Vishvamitra and with the consent of Shatananda.’ 

There was a wave of excitement with no time to lose. The army was summoned. Carriages were kept ready. Ministers, Preceptor and the priests sat in the leading chariots. Dashratha sat in the royal chariot. The queens stayed behind in Ayodhya.

The things had happened so fast that neither the king nor the queens had any time to think and plan ahead.

The capital city of Mithila was witnessing an unprecedented union of two kingdoms. Vishvamitra’s astute statesmanship was bearing a good result. It was decided to perform the wedding ceremony after the completion of the ritual of sacrifice. In fact, there were two weddings, because Urmila was going to wed Laxman.

The events in Mithila were assuming a diplomatic significance now. Vishvamitra’s statesmanship was there behind all these rapid developments. Janaka’s might and military prowess were well known, but unless provoked, Janaka would not engage in war. Janaka was also aware now of the far-reaching consequences of this alliance. Not very far back, a neighboring king who had taken offence at being rejected as a suitor of Seeta, had attacked Ayodhya. Janaka had killed him in the battle that ensued and thereafter Janaka’s younger brother Kushadhwaja was crowned as king of the enemy’s kingdom. Later, all the rejected suitors had held Mithila under a siege. Now the news of two great princes being present at Mithila was enough to keep the enemies at bay, but nothing could be taken for granted during the forthcoming weddings.

After traveling for four days and nights, Dasharatha arrived with his retinue in Mithila. Janaka addressed him thus:”I am greatly honored; it’s my good fortune that has brought the great king of the Raghu dynasty here, along with his distinguished preceptor Vasishtha. My own kingdom is blessed and further strengthened by this alliance. Now I want your Highness to grace the valediction of the sacrificial ceremony by his presence and thereafter perform the ceremony of the marriage of Rama and Seeta. This is what I propose. Your Highness may express his thoughts on my proposal.”

Dashratha looked at Vasishtha and Vishvamitra. The entire thing was not without a political tinge. Vishvamitra’s political acumen was neatly putting everything in place. The princes were in Vishvamitra’s care now. Dashratha was being rushed from one predicament into another. His wives were far away in Ayodhya. He had deliberately traveled all the way to Mithila without the women of the family because he knew the political significance of what was happening now.

Vishvamitra and Vasishtha saw Dashratha’s procrastination. Vishvamitra said,”Rama has fulfilled the difficult condition laid down by Janaka. It was no ordinary feat. This is the most auspicious sign for Rama’s future. Rama is entering upon a new phase of his mission. This alliance is willed by the powers above.”

Dashratha turned to Janaka and said, “I consider myself fortunate that the two kingdoms are going to unite in alliance thus. You are the host. We will abide by the arrangements you make for the marriage ceremony.”

Janaka was satisfied. He immediately ordered his ministers to make arrangements for the marriage while he got busy attending to his royal guest.

Ramayana Chapter 13 Videha

Chapter 13

Videha

Janaka’s Videha was a well-ordered and a well-administered state. It was near the foot of the Himalayan ranges. People living close to mountains are generally sedate by temperament. Janaka himself was averse to splendor and regalia. He belonged to a dynasty that had a tradition of spirituality. He was more of a philosopher than a king. With a mind that was at ease with himself and the world, he was always a good companion to everyone around. When Vishvamitra arrived in Mithila with Rama and Laxman, Janaka was preoccupied with the sacrificial rites that kings used to perform in order to remain in harmony with the gods in heaven and the rivals and friends on earth.  Vishvamitra had arrived just a little before the completion of the ceremony. Rama and Laxman were enjoying this little break from the expeditions of forests. As they were Vishvamitra’s protégés, and very young among the guests of honor, they were doted upon by sages, priests and the attendants of the king. One day Janaka himself invited them to his palace with Vishvamitra.

“Tell me what I can do for your holiness,” he said to Vishvamitra.

Vishvamitra who saw an opportunity in all such meetings with great kings, said, “We have heard about the great ancient bow in your custody, and it  is said to be the most difficult bow to handle.”

Janaka looked up at Vishvamitra warily. Vishvamitra noticed his hesitation. He proceeded in a circumspect manner.

“Your Lordship, these young men are adept at handling missiles of war. They are eager to see this great bow. They will be content to have a look at it before returning to their capital. “

Janaka looked at them with interest. He said, “Your Holiness, let me tell you all about this great bow. Let me also tell you why it has been kept here. This bow had been entrusted to one of our ancestors for safe custody. It is said that Lord Shiva, after he had destroyed the sacrificial fire of his father-in-law, King Daksha who had tried to humiliate him by not inviting him to the ceremony of the great yajnya, picked up this bow and threatened the gods who were guests of honor there.  He threatened to kill them. After the gods had appeased him he let them go unhurt. But he did not revoke the threat. The remorseful gods propitiated Shiva and asked for this bow. Shiva’s anger had subsided by then. He gave the bow to the gods who in turn gave it to our ancestor Devrat.”

Rama had heard this old myth of Shiva’s wrath. He was amazed to learn that the bow in Janaka’s possession had belonged to the mythological times.

Janaka was watching Rama. He had begun to like these two young men from Ayodhya. After a pause he proceeded testily, “I have two daughters, but no son.” He was addressing Vishvamitra as he said this. Laxman looked at Rama from the corner of his eye.

“The elder of the two is Seeta,” Janaka said.

Just then two young girls peeped in on some errand and finding three strangers seated there, vanished in the adjacent chamber. One of them caught Rama’s eye briefly. She seemed nearly of his age, while the other one seemed a little younger. For a split moment, she looked at Rama and withdrew behind the curtain.   

Janaka was not aware of this coming and going. He continued,”Seeta is a foundling, very precious to me for that reason.  I found her encased in a basket when I was tilling earth. I simply called her 'Seeta’, that is, one who came out of the tilled soil. Though adopted, she is my first child. Urmila was born a year later to my wife.

There was gentleness and peace on Janaka’s face as he related this.Rama looked around the room where they were seated. Everything seemed to be warm and composed. He wondered which of the two girls who had peeped in was Seeta. Destiny smiled—an ascetic born to a king and an earthling gifted to another king!

Janaka said, “Now it’s time for me to get my daughters married to the right men. Seeta is much sought after. Many kings have personally come here to ask for her hand in marriage. But I have decided that the one, who will be able to lift this bow, string it and get it in a ready position, will marry Seeta.

Laxman was amused, and only upon being secretly chided by Rama, gained control over his laughter.

Janaka noticed this and said, “This is not an ordinary bow. None of the kings could do even so much as lift it up from the ground. You will understand what I am saying when you have a look at it.” 

Vishvamitra looked at Rama meaningfully. Rama closed his eyes meditatively. Laxman looked on curiously.

Janaka said, “I have no hesitation in showing it to you. In fact, I shall be only too happy if Rama is able to do what no one else has done before.”

Rama came out of his momentary trance and looked at Janaka. Janaka said, “I am not jesting; I mean it.

Vishvamitra said, “Your Lordship, I request you, please show the bow to Rama.”

Janaka sent his ministers to the town-museum. They brought it in a cart moving on eight wheels. Several able-bodied men heaved up the iron casket containing the bow and placed it before them.

Janaka said to Vishvamitra, “Your Holiness, this is the bow. Let the two princes have a look at it.”

By that time the news had spread around. A crowd of several thousand had gathered outside the mansion. The casket had to be carried and placed on the ground outside. When every one of the crowd was seated peacefully and the important dignitaries had occupied their seats Seeta herself arrived, accompanied by her mother and sister Urmila. They sat a little distance away from Janaka.

The queen looked at Rama and Laxman: both clad in simple garments that allowed them to move about with ease. Vishvamitra used to take special care to see that they did not stand out among the foresters as princes. Still, there was an unusual grace and dignity in them. Unless called upon to spring into action, they moved about in a leisurely manner with no shred of worry or anxiety. They breathed evenly and their eyes sparkled with a sense of amusement which was quite in keeping with their age.

The queen looked at Seeta who hadn’t enough time to get decked up thoroughly for the occasion.  She was wearing a golden yellow garment and a few prominent jewels fit for a princess. Urmila was a shade fairer than her. Seeta could not be called a beauty exactly. But there was a certain intensity about her. She looked like a reflection of the sun in the ripples of a lake. Urmila who was standing beside her was viewing everything with a detached mind. She recalled how her father’s kingdom was under a siege for more than a year by the rejected suitors who joined hands to avenge their failure to win Seeta. She wondered how their father could offer a chance to this prince whose only companions were an old sage and a young brother. The two brothers looked like twins. However, the fairer one was a bit impulsive according to her because he nudged his brother whenever he found something ludicrous or pompous in the behavior of the courtiers. Rama who was going to pick up the challenge was composed and grave. A certain inwardness and silence seemed to be the mark of his character. He seemed to give an impression that he had gone through all this before, that he had known Seeta before, and was meeting her again here and now.

Seeta’s heart fluttered. She eyed the garland of fresh flowers which the gardener had made hurriedly for this occasion. He had come personally to deliver it to her and said, “My lady, I have made garlands several times before. But I have a feeling; this is the most precious of all. These flowers spoke to me.”

“What did they say?” she asked.

“They said, we are lucky; a god is going to embrace us!”

There were drops of tears in her eyes which she tried to hide.

The gardener was standing right now in the midst of the spectators, looking at the garland one moment and at Rama the next.

Rama took a few steps, came near the casket and stood there for a moment as everybody watched with bated breath.

Rama silently sought Vishvamitra’s consent. Vishvamitra spoke with great aplomb, “Go ahead, my boy, have a look at it.” He knew well that he was making an understatement. Rama looked in the direction of Seeta. Their eyes met. The anguish in her eyes told him that this moment was going to decide her fate; there was no time to lose. He bent; opened the casket; and before anyone could realize what was happening, the great bow was up in the air, turned and bent into a half-circle and all this seemed to have happened without a beginning. Nobody saw Rama making an effort to lift it and string it. What they remembered to have seen was Rama standing upright; with the string stretched back right up to his ear. And the next moment, the ancient bow cracked with an awesome twang. It was as if the earth had split into two and the very sun ran helter skelter in the sky.

It took people quite some time to realize that Rama had indeed accomplished the impossible. There was jubilation all around. It was as if the gods in heaven had come down to celebrate Rama’s victory.

Urmila embraced Seeta spontaneously. Janaka and his wife looked at their daughter. She was still standing where she was, lost to the crowd and lost to herself. The distance between her and Rama seemed immeasurable.

Shatananda moved forward and ordered Seeta to follow him to Rama. She took a few measured steps and found herself standing in the presence of Rama. She was surrounded by the women of the royal family, every one of whom was trying to make her presence felt.

Shatananda made way for Janaka, the queen, and princess Urmila. He invited Vishvamitra and Laxman and led them to the spot where Rama was standing. The cracked bow was lying securely in the casket beside him.

Seeta had found her husband. She stood before Rama, holding the garland in her trembling hands. Rama stood before her, tall and unbending, not realizing that he had to bow down a little for Seeta to be able to garland him. Seeta looked up, raised her hands with the garland and made an effort to raise herself a little on her toes. Everyone was too excited to notice her effort except Laxman. He pressed his foot hard on Rama’s toes, which drove Rama to look down at his feet, bending a little in that process. Seeta caught that moment and quickly put the garland around his neck.