WHISPERING FROM THE WOODS AND LAKSHMAN’S CHASTITY TEST

 

Valmiki’s epic Ramayana depicts the story of Ram and Sita and their exile for 14 years in the forest along with Ram’s brother Lakshman.  In the dense forest Lakshman guarded Ram and Sita all day and all night.  Lakshman left his wife princess Urmila back in the palace when he decided to follow Ram and Sita to the exile in the forest.  Urmila was the epitome of love and sacrifice.  She took a slumber for the whole exile period to keep Lakshman alert to guard his brother, Raghu clan Ram and his sister-in-law Sita.  Lakshman could keep the vigil only because Urmila slept for the mental alertness and to prevent Lakshman from physical exhaustion while discharging his duties to guard Ram and Sita.

 

During the journey in the forest Ram took the lead followed by Sita and Lakshman.  Sita could not see the face of both the brothers while traveling.  In the monsoon season they spent their days in caves.  Sita rested in the middle whereas the duo Ram and Lakshman occupied either side of the caves to protect Sita.  In the other seasons they made a hut using sticks and leaves for Sita to rest and the Dashratha’s sons slept under trees close to the hut.  They always made it a point to construct the hut nearby a pond with water.

I may brief the reason for exile in the forest for the people who are not well versed with Ramayana. The Ayodhya king from the Raghu clan Dashrath had three wives namely Kaikeyi, Kausalya and Sumitra.  Dashrath had four sons namely Ram from Kausalya, Bharath from Kaikeyi and Lakshman and Shatrughna from Sumitra.

Kaikeyi was the king’s favorite wife and Ram his most loved son.  The reason behind his favoritism for Kaikeyi has happened when in the battle field Kaikeyi was his charioteer and his chariot’s axle was broken and Kaikeyi used her forearm as the axle to save Dasrath’s life.  Dashratha was much pleased with Kaikeyi’s action and offered her two boons.  A scheming and plotting Kaikeyi at the time of coronation of Ram as the king of Ayodhya reminded Dashrath about his boons.  One of her wish was to make her son Bharath as king and the second wish was to send Ram in exile to forest for 14 years.  Dashrath was in a dilemma but Ram convinced him that he must honor his boons to Kaikeyi and readied himself for the exile in the forest.  Sita was sure about following Ram’s footsteps and nothing could change her decision to give company to her husband.  Lakshman too was serious about following Ram and Sita.  Though Urmila, Laskhman’s wife wanted to join them, Lakshman told her that she would be better in the palace to pray for them.  Urmila agreed her husband’s directive and took a slumber for 14 years.  She opened her eyes only after Ram returned to Ayodhya after completing the 14 years exile and to witness his coronation ceremony.

We are discussing the forest murmurings and the tests of proving Lakshman’s chastity during the exile.  

As the years in exile passed, Sita and the sons of Dashrath criss-crossed the land that they realized was called Jambudvipa because it was shaped wood-apple Jambul.  They took shelter under trees and in caves, often near water bodies.  As hermits they were not permitted to stay at one place and they continued to travel except during rainy season when the waters flooded the earth and the travel was dangerous.

Sita spent much time observing bees and butterflies and insects.  She discovered how to collect honey without upsetting the bees and milk from tigresses which had finished feeding their cubs.  She followed herds of elephants to reach secret waterholes atop distant mountains known only to her distant matriarchs.  She understood the migratory patterns of birds and fishes.  She learned to communicate with bears and wolves and vultures.  They told her where to find the most succulent of fruits and berries and where the best tubers could be pulled out from the ground.  She found leaves that were edible and bark that was nourishing.  In the evening, when they set up camp around a fire, she shared with Ram and Lakshman everything she had seen and learned. What was most exciting was to see the deer and tiger drink water next to each other on some evenings because once the tiger had eaten it was no longer a predator and the deer was no longer a prey.

Sita told the sons of Dashratha, ‘Flowers make themselves fragrant and offer nectar. Why?  To nourish the bees or to get themselves pollinated? Or both?  In nature, to get you have to give.  There is no charity.  There is no exploitation, neither selfishness nor selflessness.  One grows while helping others grow.  Is that not the perfect society?

Ram said, ‘I see things differently.   I see plants feeding on elements, animals feeding on plants, and animals feeding on animals that feed on plants.  I see those that eat and those that are eaten.  Those who eat are afraid that they may not get enough.  Those who can be eaten are afraid they will be consumed.  I see fear everywhere.  In a perfect society there should be no fear. To achieve that is dharma.’

They all waited for the evening when they could sit around the fire, face each other, let the flames light up their eyes as they shared the experiences of the day.  In some of the conversations Lakshman also took part.  They argued with logical reasoning. 

Ram, Lakshman and Sita are teenagers when they leave Ayodhya.  They actually grow up in the forest.  These are the growing up years when the mind challenges the certainties of childhood and is able to see the artificial nature of social structures.  

Mimansa means enquiry that leads to introspection.  This can be done through ritual or through conversation.   The former way was called Purva-mimansa and the latter way was called Uttara-mimansa, more popularly known as Vedanta. The forest exile is a time for the royal trio to do mimansa, they transform into sages.  Vedanta is Indian philosophy.

The above murmurs in the forest or whispering of the woods occurs and that lead to serenity in the wilderness.

During the exile Lakshman was subjected to chastity test.  Once by Rama and another occasion prompted by Sita.  

One day, when Rama was out hunting, Sita decided to take a nap while Lakshman kept watch.  She spread the hide of a deer and lay down in the shade of a tree.  Sleep came quickly as the breeze was gentle and kind, when latter when she was in deep slumber, the wind grew unruly and tossed her clothes all over the place.  Sita slept peacefully, unaware that her body had been exposed. 

When Ram returned he saw Sita lying uncovered, without a care in the world.  Lakshman sat with his back to her, facing the forest.  Ram said, ‘Oh, who can resist the beauty of one who reclines carelessly under the tree?

Lakshman, sensing that Ram was referring to Sita, said ‘He who is the son of Dashratha and Sumitra and brother of Ram and husband of Urmila can surely resist such a beauty who Ram says reclines so carelessly under the tree.’

Ram smiled and convinced that his brother’s integrity was unquestionable.

However, from the heavens Indra was not so impressed.  He decided to test Lakshman and sent an Apsara (most beautiful celestial nymph) to seduce him.  Lakshman shooed her away but the Apsara, Indrakamini, decided to play a trick on Laskhman.  She dropped some strands of her hair, they clung to Lakshman’s clothes of bark.     

What is this? wondered Sita, when she saw them that evening as they rested around the evening fire.  ‘This is a woman’s hair, a refined woman’s hair, for it smells of fragrant oils.  Looks like you found yourself a wife.  Clearly, the absence of Urmila is unbearable.’

What was said casually was taken seriously.  Lakshman was so angry at the suggestion of being an unfaithful husband that he jumped into the fire around which they sat.  Ram was aghast. Sita screamed. ‘Look, the fire does not hurt me.  Do you need any other proof that I have been faithful to my wife?’ said Lakshman.

Sita realized making light of the integrity of the men of the Raghu clan was not taken lightly.

I have already written many Blog posts featuring the characters of Ramayana and Mahabharata, the two great Indian epics.

The story of Ram and Sita, Lakshman and Urmila fascinated me for their integrity, love and sacrifice.

 
Whistling Woods..!!