Episode 14 - Bali - Daan - ya Balidaan

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appukrish

@appukrish

Dazzler

Posted: 10 years ago

#21

Arshi, nice post as always.

I have heard different versions of Shantha's story, but the way it has been presented here seems to be to butcher Dasarath's character and highlight the plight of women back then. No one knows if this is how mean Dasarath was with regard to Shantha and the desire for a son.

Like i said before, this 'Siya ke Ram', story from Sita's POV. So we are going to see woman empowerment, stories of many women from the Ramayana will be brought to light and maybe retold too to suit the present generation.

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Arshics

@Arshics

Inactive

+ 6

Posted: 10 years ago

#22

@adi, Aparna,

I agree with both of you, we still have to see the closure to this sequence, and this is being told from Sita's POV, so it's bound to take a women friendly outlook

Anyway, any action is likely to be interpreted differently from different POVs, as Kaushalya said, the difference between shishtachar and atyachaar depends on which side you see it from

From Kaushalyas pov, her husbands fixation on having a male heir led to her first born being taken away, and from Dashratha's POV, it was his duty as a King to have a son to carry forward his lineage - in this day and age Dashratha's POV is wrong, and that shows through in this rendition!

Anyway, we also have to understand that people of this day and age will judge some decisions of the past harshly because they do not meet the value systems of today - I am liking this show, because I have come to terms with a writers freedom to interpret events in his or her way!

That's what writers do, we have had Chitra Bannerjee Divakaruni interpret Mahabharata from Draupadis POV in palace of illusion, we have had Amish tripathi interpret mythology is his shiva trilogy and the scion of ischvaku.

My father in law was offended by his interpretation of shiva, but I was fact enchanted by it! So it's a writers liberty to recreate the story to appeal to the listeners and as you said, Adi, if it can pass on a positive message, why not! We get such crap which demeans our culture in the name of family dramas, at least this is promoting some good values

Edited by Arshics - 10 years ago

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shruthiravi

@shruthiravi

Stunner

+ 2

Posted: 10 years ago

#23

@Arshics my first question. Why everyone feels this is degrading Dasratha. From my POV I saw a father who was conflicted between having to send his daughter to be a wife of Sanyasi, and his need to have a heir for his throne.

Dasratha himself didn't send Shanta to Rishi sringa. He didn't request her. He had send many dasis, many woman of Ayodhya to appease Rishi Sringa. But when Shanta came and told she will go, his need to have a son couldn't resist it. Only thing he couldn't see was the girl was offering herself not out of free will, but to get her father's acceptance.

And as far as he is concerned Shanta is living a marital life. The princess did succeed in bringing Rishisringa to Grishstama.

If Shanta's free will was there, there is no need for Kausalya to feel so sad. Because Shanta choose her life. And if she is happy being a sanyasi's wife so be it. Because many times parents feel, the children have choosen the wrong partner as it is the child's choice, not parent's.

But in Shanta's case her complete free will was not involved in her decision to go for Rishisringa.

It's time we Indian audience starts dealing with conflicts of emotions. Instead of seeing things in black and white, learn to interpret the grey.

Our mythology stories are given God live aura to make them white or black. But we need to understand whether it is Valmiki or whether it is vyasa they have brilliantly threaded through grey covering all human emotions, human values and even human weakness and the learnings from those epics no one can bypass even now.

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Arshics

@Arshics

Inactive

+ 6

Posted: 10 years ago

#24

Originally posted by: shruthiravi
@Arshics my first question. Why everyone feels this is degrading Dasratha. From my POV I saw a father who was conflicted between having to send his daughter to be a wife of Sanyasi, and his need to have a heir for his throne.
Dasratha himself didn't send Shanta to Rishi sringa. He didn't request her. He had send many dasis, many woman of Ayodhya to appease Rishi Sringa. But when Shanta came and told she will go, his need to have a son couldn't resist it. Only thing he couldn't see was the girl was offering herself not out of free will, but to get her father's acceptance.
And as far as he is concerned Shanta is living a marital life. The princess did succeed in bringing Rishisringa to Grishstama.
If Shanta's free will was there, there is no need for Kausalya to feel so sad. Because Shanta choose her life. And if she is happy being a sanyasi's wife so be it. Because many times parents feel, the children have choosen the wrong partner as it is the child's choice, not parent's.
But in Shanta's case her complete free will was not involved in her decision to go for Rishisringa.
It's time we Indian audience starts dealing with conflicts of emotions. Instead of seeing things in black and white, learn to interpret the grey.
Our mythology stories are given God live aura to make them white or black. But we need to understand whether it is Valmiki or whether it is vyasa they have brilliantly threaded through grey covering all human emotions, human values and even human weakness and the learnings from those epics no one can bypass even now.

- was

Thanks Shruti you have understood my title of Bali or Daan or Balidaan was it bali given by dashratha Daan by kaushalya or Balidaan by shanta its all a pov

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Kshithi

@Muggle_Diaries

Dazzler

+ 3

Posted: 10 years ago

#25

Wonderful post Arshi..

Also, till now we have seen Dasharath through Kaushalya's eyes. We have not actually heard his heart. I am hoping that in today's episode we get to see his POV.

Love

Kshithi

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Uma

@adi2512

Sparkler

Posted: 10 years ago

#26

Originally posted by: shruthiravi
@Arshics my first question. Why everyone feels this is degrading Dasratha. From my POV I saw a father who was conflicted between having to send his daughter to be a wife of Sanyasi, and his need to have a heir for his throne.
Dasratha himself didn't send Shanta to Rishi sringa. He didn't request her. He had send many dasis, many woman of Ayodhya to appease Rishi Sringa. But when Shanta came and told she will go, his need to have a son couldn't resist it. Only thing he couldn't see was the girl was offering herself not out of free will, but to get her father's acceptance.
And as far as he is concerned Shanta is living a marital life. The princess did succeed in bringing Rishisringa to Grishstama.
If Shanta's free will was there, there is no need for Kausalya to feel so sad. Because Shanta choose her life. And if she is happy being a sanyasi's wife so be it. Because many times parents feel, the children have choosen the wrong partner as it is the child's choice, not parent's.
But in Shanta's case her complete free will was not involved in her decision to go for Rishisringa.
It's time we Indian audience starts dealing with conflicts of emotions. Instead of seeing things in black and white, learn to interpret the grey.
Our mythology stories are given God live aura to make them white or black. But we need to understand whether it is Valmiki or whether it is vyasa they have brilliantly threaded through grey covering all human emotions, human values and even human weakness and the learnings from those epics no one can bypass even now.

Thank you...a lot...for this post Shruthi !

Such a soothing perception you could bring out.

Yes., we should now indeed wait for Dasharatha's POV before jumping into any conclusions.

The scene is yet to complete.

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Darkchocolates

@darkchocolates

Sparkler

+ 3

Posted: 10 years ago

#27

Nice post Arshi<3

Loved the part where you described the real meaning of Bali- Daan- Balidaan.

I feel there are many versions of Ramayan. So no need of so many complains as I read the comments on the forum.

We must enjoy as it comes.

Now waiting to see Raja Dashratha's POV how painful it would have been for him. Wish they show this part.

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naq5

@naq5

Rocker

Posted: 10 years ago

#28

Originally posted by: adi2512

Arshi,

Since I'am at it...I'll brief you on the entire narration per the book.

It is so said, that When Dasharath was in despair to have a son, just then Rompada approached him for a favour.
Indra who was afraid, of tapasya of this great sage Rishyasringa, who was residing in Romapada's kingdom , caused severe drought.
So, he wants to adopt Shanta, so that he can send her to him, to make him a householder from a tapasvi, by which Indra fear will be nullified and will cause rains.

In return he tells Dasharath, that he will make Rishyasringa agree to do putrakameshti yagna for Dasharatha.

Dasharatha agrees.

So, as per this book, its actually a deal made between both Romapada and Dasharatha , for their individual interests.

so whatever the cvs have shown is not entirely discorrect. so according to folkfore the dasharath traded his daughter for the yagna to have a male child. but why cant shaanta return to meet her parents. if hes given his daughter for adoption its not that the parents cannot meet her

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naq5

@naq5

Rocker

Posted: 10 years ago

#29

^^^ ok so shaanta was given away at a young age coz dashrath had promised rompada to give him anything he wished for. Also rompada promised to give him putrakameshti yagna in return for his daughter.

so in a way it was also his loosely promise giving fault & also that in away he traded his daughter for the yagna

I wish it was shown this way instead of showing a grown up shaanta it would have also highlighted dashrath's habit of giving loose promises . tht wud have even connected us with kaushalya's attachment with the gold statue of the infant

But i still dont understand why cant they meet shaanta 😕😕

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Uma

@adi2512

Sparkler

Posted: 10 years ago

#30

Originally posted by: naq5

so whatever the cvs have shown is not entirely discorrect. so according to folkfore the dasharath traded his daughter for the yagna to have a male child. but why cant shaanta return to meet her parents. if hes given his daughter for adoption its not that the parents cannot meet her

@naq5,

Per the book Shanta is adopted by Romapada, and after marrying Rishyasringa, she returned to Anga to perform the yagna.

Actually, they should have stuck with this narration per this, as this seems very natural flow of events and not as melodramatic or debatable as shown y/day.

There was none of this bitterness and melodrama between Dasharatha and Kausalya equation...and suited the times it happened.

Even if they had shown like this, still the question of Dasharath giving away his daughter to his friend, for their mutual benifits could be raised...when viewed from the perspective of present times.

The writers I feel, should have handled same with little more sensitivity.

But in any case, lets wait for the conclusion.

May be we would get answers thru' Rama...he would balance it out...Dasharath s as well as Kaussalya's pov..as well as Shanta s.

--------------

Also one more question raised -

Is this to show Janaka superior to Dasharath in their thought process ?

There is a sort of answer even to this in the book.

It is said that , after Dasharath doing the yagna and getting sons, it had been advised to Janaka also to perfrom the same yagna...😆...since he had only daughters 😉

Then Janaka said -

Quote -

' The Earth grants Janaka what he deserves. The Fire grants Dasharatha what he wants. I choose the destiny of daughters. He submits to the desire of sons .

- Unquote

So, the whole incidence is thoroughly non judgemental, if looked in a balanced manner.

Each King only went as per their respective destinies.

None is Great, None is less.

It had to happen like that...and it happened..

Back to the concept.

'Destiny '. We cannot go beyond / over rule this as humans.