March 7, 2002 (Thursday)
Swami came to the Ganesh portico at around 3.40 pm.
Swami : (To teacher) How is your car?
Teacher : Swami, it is fine. It has some problem with the petrol tank and engine also.
Swami : (To Prof. Anil Kumar about the morning moral class) Ramayana is very nice, which part did you play?
Prof. A. K. : Swami, by reading Swami’s books I did Mangala Shasanam (calling for aupisciousness).
Swami : (To a teacher) Was the programme good?
Teacher : Very nice, Swami.
Swami : What innovative things did you add to it?
Prof. A. K. : I do not have that much strength, Swami. I just said what actually it was.
Thereafter, Swami narrated incidents relating to Mother
Sita from the Ramayana:
When Sita returned from Lanka
When Sita was returning, escorted by Vibhishana, many monkeys were climbing on each other to see her. But some of them bent their heads and stood. They showed respect and reverence to ladies. One should not see ladies at all, especially while walking on roads. There were no Rakshasas (demons) there, but only Vanaras (monkeys) were there.
These monkeys were devotees. While seeing ladies, one should be humble and respectful. One should not have bad looks. We must learn a lesson from this. While Sita was returning, she bent her head and walked very slowly. When the queen herself was like that, then how should the devotees be? Vibhishana himself did not see her. Sita was walking among Sarama (Vibhishana’s wife), Yakini and Dakini (Vibhishana’s daughters). There is no one ideal like Sita.
At the time of Rama's Coronation
At the time of coronation of Rama, He gave gifts to including Sugriva and other monkeys, but not to Hanuman. Sita observed this, called Hanuman and put Sinduram (vermillion) on his forehead. All were astonished because this meant that she gave him permission to go anywhere. Then Hanuman went to be Rama’s bedroom. When Rama asked him why he had come, he showed the Sinduram (symbolic of the permission). Then Rama told him, “Keeping Sinduram is good. But you should realize when, in what circumstance, and where she kept it?” Hanuman realised his mistake and went back to Sita. She instructed him as to where and when he could enter. “I am a Shrimati (consort) of Rama, not you. So, you must take note of the time and situation and make use of the permission accordingly.” Then Hanuman said, “I too have a Lord, my master – Rama. I will do anything for Him.” He obeyed the command of Mother Sita. (Through this incident, Swami highlighted the over-zealous love that Hanuman had for Lord Rama and the desire to be in His close physical proximity. So Mother Sita gave him the permission to be with his Lord all the time. However, when instructed about the social norms that he had to follow, he willingly abided by them.) Sita taught Hanuman very good manners. Sita is Lokamata (Mother of all).
Hanuman in the Ashoka Vana
While Hanuman was destroying the Ashoka Vana, Ravana sent his son, Akshaya Kumar to fight with him, thinking that Hanuman was not strong. Hanuman killed him. Then, the eldest son Indrajit was sent. Indrajit means the one who conquered his senses (Indriya). When he was coming, people stopped fighting and started seeing him. He was full of radiance. From top to toe he was a magnet. He had so much of attraction power. Seeing such a radiant son of Ravana, Hanuman himself came. Indrajit was Mandodari’s son. She was a noble woman. Befitting her character, her son also was one of strength and character. During the war, even Ravana told Indrajit, “If you wish, you fight, else you need not.” In those days, one could not kill anyone at any place. Only if one side is ready, then the other side can fight. Only when the conch is blown on one side, the opposite side would also blow it. Without giving such a signal, one could not proceed with the war. Indrajit went to the warfront on the second day. Seeing him, the monkeys were astonished. Before coming, Indrajit placed Sinduram on his wife’s head, and kept the remaining part on his forehead. If done like this, he would not die. Such secrets are not known. Then he bowed to his father. Even among the demons, there is love. He had the feeling that his brothers were killed in the war and so he too did not want to live.
Sita in the Ashoka Vana
No gents went inside the Ashoka Vana except Ravana. But many ladies went to see Sita. They all wanted to have the Darshan of the Lokamata. However, they did not tell Ravana. Whenever he would come there, they would be ready with their swords (as if performing their duty). One demoness called Shakini was serving Sita. She never would get dreams while sleeping. But one day, she got a dream that Rama had come to Lanka and had killed Ravana, and entire Lanka was being drowned in misery, and all women had become widows. Then she went and told Ravana, “I do not get dreams. But if I get one, it becomes true.” She pleaded with him to free Sita. But he did not pay heed to her words. Then Sarama asked Sita, “What will happen to me?” Sita replied, “You will remain Shrimati (one whose husband is alive).” Then again she asked, “When all will die, how will I remain a Shrimati?” Sita replied, “Vibhishana has already surrendered to Rama. Rama is beyond death. So Vibhishana will be protected.” Feeling very happy, Sarama got some sweets. Sita did not like having them. But she took little so that Sarama would not feel bad.
Sarama’s daughters were Shakini and Dakini. All three of them served Sita and spent ten months of their life happily with her.
Ravana and Maricha
When Ravana sent word for Maricha and asked him, “I need your help for abducting Sita.” Maricha replied, “That is bad, it is very difficult. She is already married. How much ever you tell me, I will not listen to you.” Then Ravana lifted his sword and threatened to kill him. He felt that dying at Rama’s hands was better than dying at Ravana’s hands. To become ‘dear’ to Rama, he became a ‘deer’ and went in front of the Ashram. He saw Rama and Lakshmana coming out. Sita on seeing the deer expressed her desire that she wanted to posses it. Rama asked her the reason. She replied, “When you both go out, I am alone and get bored. So I will play with it.” Rama understood that Sita had spent many months alone and hence decided to get the deer for her. Lakshmana warned that the deer was a demon, because he already came twice and did not die at both the attempts. Now he was coming for the third time. Rama said, “To make Sita happy is more important. So I will go and get it.” He drew a line around the hut and left. After sometime there was a sound, “Ah! Sita. Ah! Lakshmana.” It was Mareecha who shouted in Rama’s voice. Then Sita got panicky and urged Lakshmana to go for his brother’s help. But Lakshmana knew that it was the voice of a demon and not Rama’s and hence refused to go. Then Sita used very harsh words. She said that Lakshmana had evil intentions and wanted Rama to die. Unable to bear such words, he drew a second line around the hut and went away. Then Ravana came (in the guise of a renunciant) and started shouting, “Bhavati Bhikshandehi (Please give me alms).” What did he ask? He wanted her only. Thinking that he wanted food only, she went to get food and fruits for him. Rama and Lakshmana were not there. Ravana tried to cross the line and go into the hut, but sparks emanated as soon as he attempted to cross it. So he retreated. Then, he asked her to get the food outside the hut. Obeying the renunciant, she got it. She did not want to cross the line; but she knew that Ravana was acting. Infact, both Rama and Sita knew that Ravana was acting. That is why they stayed at Panchavati. There, all sorts of fruits were available, which were very sweet. So Rama and Lakshmana stayed there. They set up an Ashram. Guha brought them to Dandakaranya forest. Vashishtha planned for their stay there thinking that if they stayed in the same place for more time, it would not be possible for the demons to kill Rama. Rama was a householder, so Vashishtha advised him to build an Ashram at ten miles distance from Dandakaranya, at Panchavati. Sita was very happy seeing that place, but Vashishtha knew very well what would happen there.
Many people inspite of knowing Ramayana ask why it happened like that. The reason is, to kill the demons. Without reason nothing happens. All this is the Divine Masterplan. In Dandakaranya, they only planned everything. Even though Rama knew it, He acted as if He knew nothing. In the same way, even Swami also acts as if He knows nothing, though He does everything. But people do not understand. They think as if I did it without knowledge. There is nothing that I do not know.
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