Inspiring Story from Ramayana

Abstract

Tim Fargo says about Strength of Character, “Your friends will believe in your potential, your enemies will make you live up to it”.

Wishing to be HIS Consort

The death of Ravana at the hands of Lord Rama was pre-destined, though the reason was Sita again, but in another incarnation of hers. The story goes back to the days when a girl named Vedavati was meditating in a forest. Vedavati was the daughter of a Brahmarishi Kushadhwaja, who was the son of Lord Brihaspati. Soon after she was born, Vedavati had learned the Vedas. Due to this, she came to be known as Vedavati.

When she grew up, she developed an extreme love for Lord Vishnu and wanted to marry him. With the aim of pleasing Lord Vishnu, she decided to perform a hard penance.

Her parents disagreed with her idea but she was desperate about it. Hence, she went to live in a forest against their wishes. Later her parents relented and supported her, staying with her in the ashram. One day, when she was sitting in deep meditation, a demon came who presented his desire to marry her. But she denied, upon which the demon killed her parents and went away. Vedavati now started living alone in the ashram.

The Lord was pleased by her penance, he appeared before her and asked the reason for her hard meditation. Vedavati told him that she wanted to have Lord Vishnu as her husband. However, Lord Vishnu said that it was not possible in this life of hers. He blessed her that she would become his consort in her next life. Vedavati, however, already had renounced the world in order to marry him, therefore, continued as his devotee in the form of an aesthetic.

Many years later, Ravana happened to pass by. As he saw Vedavati sitting peacefully in deep meditation, he was mesmerized by her beauty. With a desire to marry her, he went there and expressed himself to her. But when Vedavati denied his proposal, he held her by her hair. Enraged, Vedavati cut off her hair and cursed the demon for attacking her chastity, saying that one day she will become the reason for his destruction. In order to protect herself from Ravana, she jumped into a fire and became a Sati.

Before dying Vedavati cursed Ravana that he would die in case he attempted to outrage the modesty of a woman.

The Curse takes Root

Of the many reasons why Ravana was not able to outrage the modesty of Sita Devi one was the strong character of Lord Ram.

Before Ravana would take anyone's Roop he first meditated on that person in order to go deeper into the character of the person. When Kumbhkaran asked Ravana that why did he take the roop of a sage rather than taking the roop of Rama himself. Ravana replied that he also thought of taking Roop of Rama for kidnapping Sita but as he was meditating for Ram, and the character of Rama came into him, even Laxmi of three lokas was looking mere for him. He said he became afraid that he would lose his own character and submerge into the infinite being Ram. He will never be able to kidnap Sitaji then.

In another instance, after capturing Sita Devi, based on advice from Mandodari, his wife, Ravana takes the form of Lord Rama to make Sita Devi give in to him.

After few minutes he returns back to the palace. Mandodari asked him why he returned. He replied that when he took Lord Ram's form he began seeing every woman other than his wife as his sister of mother. This was the divine aura of Lord Rama that by taking his form, one could not do anything wrong.

Rama’s Love of Sita Devi

Lord Rama’s love of Sita is expressed very aptly in Tusli Ramayan. “Shri Rama said: “Ever since I have been separated from you, Sita, everything to me has become its very reverse. The fresh and tender leaves on the trees look like tongues of fire; nights appear as dreadful as the night of final dissolution and the moon scorches like the sun. Beds of lotuses are like so many spears planted on the ground, while rain-clouds pour boiling oil as it were. Those that were friendly before, have now become tormenting; the cool, soft and fragrant breezes are now like the hissing serpent. One’s agony is assuaged to some extent even by speaking of it, but to whom shall I speak about it? For there is no one who will understand. The reality about the chord of love that binds you and me, dear, is known to my heart alone; and my heart ever abides with you. Know this to be the essence of my love.”

Conclusion

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