King Dashratha asked his elder son, Rama for an exile of fourteen years. Rama obeyed his father and left for the forest. His wife - Sita and his younger brother - Laksmana accompanied him.
Rama, Sita and Laksmana settled along the banks of river Falgu in the forest.
The king was however very disturbed by his son's exile. He was filled with immense guilt and slept on floor in an attempt to partake the pains his son's would undergo in the forest. However, his agony was far deeper and he was tormented beyond measure. Unable to withstand the parting of his son, King Dhasratha collapsed.
Soon Rama, Sita and Laksmana came to know about the death of King Dhasratha. The sons were now obliged to perform shrada (ritual that pacifies and gratifies souls of the departed) of their father.
Rama asked Lakshmana to get the things necessary for the ritual. Lakshmana did as he was asked.
Time passed by. Rama and Sita waited for Laksmana to return. But he did not return. So Rama decided to go and see his brother. Rama also took longer than expected. So Sita decided to perform the ritual by herself as it was to be timed before the sunset.
Sita began the preparations for the ceremony. She bathed in the Falgu river. She returned to their hut, where she lit an earthen lamp in remembrance of their ancestors. She prepared balls of wheat flour (pindas) for offering. She sat facing south and made the offering of water and pindas to the ancestors with true heart and devotion. She sought acceptance of the offerings she made and asked for their benevolence and forgiveness for any unintended mistake.
As Sita sat remembering their ancestors, she was drawn to a supernatural voice and a shadowy figure. It said, "Sita, you have remembered us with a true heart. We are satisfied with your offerings".
Sita was startled. She saw a vague shadowy figure figure leaning against her. She asked, " O mystic figure, who are you?"
The shadow replied, "We are your dead ancestors. We are pleased with your offerings. This concludes the sharada".
Sita argued, "O kind souls, I am indeed gratified by your presence and your acceptance. But no one will believe that a shadowy soul came and accepted my offerings".
The shadow assured, "Sita, there are four witness to the offerings you made and my mystic appearance -first the Falgu River, second the cow standing there, third the fire and fourth the ketaki flowers. Stay blessed Sita!". Saying this, the shadow disappeared. Sita stood bowing her head in regards. She paid homage to her ancestors, who returned to their home far in land of dead.
Sita returned to continue the domestic chorus work. After few hours Rama and Lakshmana returned in haste. They asked Sita to cook food immediately to perform the sharada. However, Sita briefed them about the incidence and confirmed that the sharada was complete.
Rama and Laksmana were mused to hear Sita. They did not believe her and Rama asked Sita to initiate preparations for the ceremony.
Sita then called the first witness, River Falgu to evident the acceptance of sharada offering by ancestors as the shadowy figure. However, the River denied it. Sita was sad. Then called the cow, followed by the fire and the ketaki flowers to evident the happening. But all of them denied. Sita was heart broken and felt insulted. She immediately returned to preparation of food.
When the food was ready, Rama made the offerings to his ancestors. Soon the sky blazed in hues of deep red and black. A raging voice willowed, "Rama, Sita has completed the sharada. Why are you calling me again?"
Rama contended, "O respectful fathers, I didn't believe Sita".
The voice resorted, "Sita has satisfied us with the offering she made with the true heart. She is blessed. You can ask the Sun God".
The Sun God confirmed the offerings made by Sita. Hearing this Rama and Laksmana felt ashamed. They asked forgiveness from Sita.
However Sita was hurt. She was filled with rage and said, "Sun God stood witness to my offering, why did Falgu, cow, fire and Ketaki lied?"
Rama and Laksmana stood speechless. Sita wept and cursed them, "You betrayed me and my trust. I curse you Falgu that you would henceforth only flow underground. Ketaki (pandanus odoratissimus) you will never be accepted by Shiva. From this day, you - the cow shall have an impure, as you lied with it. The fire shall henceforth loose its power of discrimination and shall consume everything indiscriminately.
From that day, the ketaki flower was never offered to Lord Shiva.
No comments :
Post a Comment