What is the most melancholic sequence from Ramayana? There would actually
be no one opposing an answer that it is the time when Ram decides to leave Sita
with Guru Valmiki in the forest. This is the most controversial twist in the
story of Ram. He is considered as the Maryada Purushotham and yet he behaved
like this. There has always been some detonating debates on this topic and
still they are going on.
Most people believe that Ram violated the sacred vow that every groom takes
while marrying his bride, that he shall protect her with heart and soul till he
takes in his last breath. We know who Ram was, we know how he sacredly he dealt
with promises. He even went to the Jungle to save his father’s words, he
battled with the world’s largest army and world’s strongest king to win back
his wife. Yet after living all his life as a perfect gentleman he leaves his
pregnant wife in the forest. This final act made the most loved Indian prince an
unwelcome person.
‘The unwelcomeness that surrounds him is his greatness’. That is the true
fact that make him the real Maryada Purushotham.
Right from the first place Ram never doubted Sita. When Vibhishan (Ravan’s
elder brother and Ram’s devotee) guided Sita to Ram after the war there was hush
in the army because Sita was in Ravan’s custody for over an year. Ram replied
to this hush by ordering Sita to prove her purity in the fire. Ram was able to
order it without any dilemma because he had that much confidence in Sita. Sita
proved Ram right. She was as pure as the fire itself. This increased Sita’s popularity
among his army men and Ram was proud of this fact.
Ram’s controversial behaviour in Ayodhya was the backlash of a rumour in
his kingdom that Ram himself heard from a dhobi (washer man) that questions
Sita’s purity. Ram was drenched in sorrow as he never wanted to hear such an
allegation against him or his love. This was the point in time that Ram showed
his real character. He upheld both Raj Dharma and Pati Dharma.
Ram clearly had four choices to choose from
1) * He can tell Sita
to perform an Agni Priksha once more to prove her.
2) *He can council
his countrymen and make them believe the truth
3) *He can ignore everything
being that is being said.
4) * He can leave his
wife
Requesting Sita to perform a second Agni Pariksha was the worst thing he
can do. It would be like insulting lady Sita. A man who has vowed to protect
his wife would consider suicide to insulting his wife.
To council his countrymen about his wife is as bad as anything. It would
bring the idea of Sita to public debate. It will bring uttermost mockery to his
beloved wife.
He can ignore all the rumours in his kingdom. Rumours will continue to
prevail and it will mount day by day bringing in dishonour to his wife.
Dishonoured wife is against Pati Dharma which will force him to supress his
people by force and by doing this he will break the Raj Dharma.
So Ram found the last option that he had to be the best one. He left his
wife in the forest. By doing this he was able to turn the attention of people
from Sita’s purity to Ram’s pride. He made himself the bad bishop. He carried
the bad name with him so that his most loved wife will be remembered as what
she really was. Ram made himself bad so that Sita looks good thus he fulfilled his
Pati Dharma.
‘‘The unwelcomeness that surrounds him is his greatness’’
mrendangered@gmail.com
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