Ayodhya's Princess, Chapter 9- 19/9 - Page 11

JYESHT MATA SITA

"Years and years ago", said Urmila, "Mithila was undergoing a famine. The food left in the kingdom ran out as well. To prevent his subjects from dying of hunger, Pitashree decided to do a Yagna, after which he would plough the fields of Mithila. When Pitashree was ploughing the fields, the head of the furrow got stuck in a place. Intrigued, Pitashree dug the ground there with his bare hands and found a golden box. When he opened the box, he saw the most beautiful baby girl sitting inside. She was Bhumija, the gift of the Earth"

"Jyesht Pitashree took the little girl to be his own, and named her Sita, for the head of the furrow is called Seet", said Mandavi. "The birth of Sita Jiji brought all kinds of prosperity to Mithila, all kinds of wealth as well. Following Jiji, Urmi and I were born a year later, me a day older than her. Following us was Kirti, born a year after us"

"And thus, we became four sisters. Inseparable we were, each of us had a special relationship with the other", said Urmila. "But in the four of us, Sita Jiji and I were like two bodies, one soul, and Mandavi and Kirti were the same"

"But Ma", said Taksh. "That sounds like our four fathers as well"

"It is exactly like that, son", said Raghuvar. "The four sisters share the same relationship we four brother share. Sita and Urmila share the same relationship Lakshmana and I share, Sita and Mandavi share the same relationship Bharat and I share, Sita and Kirti are exacty like Ripudaman and I. Similarly, Mandavi and Urmila are like Bharat and Lakshmana, Urmila and Kirti are like Lakshmana and Shatrughna"

"Basically, the eight of you are a reflection of one another in some way or the other", said Chandraketu.

"Exactly putra", said Bharat, ruffling Chandraketu's hair.

"Five years after Kirti was born, the four of us were playing one day", said Urmila. "The ball we were playing with got lost in the bow room"

"The bow room?", asked Somada.

"Yes putri. The bow room", said Mandavi. "We called it the bow room for the great Pinaka, the bow of swayam Bhagwan Shiva was kept in that room. In that room, there was also a huge idol of Lord Vishnu"

"That was our favourite room to play in, and Sita Jiji adored that room. For therein lay her favourite, Lord Vishnu. Anywhere He is, she would be. In a way, that is how Sita Jiji is there everywhere. For she is like Jaganmata Mahalakshmi Herself", said Urmila. "Anyway, the ball went and fell somewhere on the table where the bow was kept"

"We were clueless as to what to do. Suddenly, we saw Sita Jiji walk fearlessly towards the great bow and lift it effortlessly. Then she asked me to pick up the ball", said Mandavi. "We were shocked, but I did as I was told. It was at that time that our parents walked in to the room"

"Needless to say, they were astonished by Jiji's feat, and thus Pitaji took a vow that the person who lift the bow and strings it will be Sitapati", said Urmila. "Needless to say, Ram Bhaiya took one more step forward and broke the Shiva Dhanush at Sita Jiji's Swayamvar"

"What?"

The five children turned to Raghuveer in astonishment. He shook His head at Urmila's dramatic way of talking about the swayamvar, and proceeded to fill the gaps of the story to the children.

"So that is how you and Jyesht Ma got engaged. Then what about Ma and Pa?", asked Angad, curiously.

"Guru Vasishta asked Pitaji Janaka for Urmila's hand in marriage for Lakshmana", said Lord Rama, smiling. "And the same for Mandavi and Kirti with Bharat and Shatrughan"

"But Ram Bhaiya, you forgot to add the part where Urmi would argue with Lakshman Bhaiya almost all the time, and pretend to be angry with him, when she was happy that he was talking to her", said Mandavi.

"Rakshasi!"

"That is the truth. They had the craziest love story among the eight of us", said Mandavi.

"That is true", said Bharat, joining his wife, always ready to tease Lakshman.

"Is that so Bharat Bhaiya? What about that time when..", started Lakshmana, causing Bharat to clamp his mouth shut. Mandavi looked on, wondering what was going on, while Urmila was smiling mischievously at Raghunandan Rama, who was shaking His head. They were all incorrigible. It was only with Lakshmana that Bharat was like this, full of mischief and teasing. The same way Urmila and Mandavi were with each other.

"Okay okay stop it now. Be a role model for the kids, will you?", said Lord Rama, smiling at all of them, amused.

"Ram Bhaiya, as long as you are there, our children don't need us as role models", said Lakshmana, whose statement was accompanied by vigorous nods from everyone around. Lord Rama shook His head at the madness of His family, and said, "As you all say"

"Okay okay. Jyesht Pitashree, continue?", asked Somada, wide eyed.

"Urmi, she uses this technique far too much", said Lord Rama, smiling lovingly at Somada. "So, where were we? Yes. The marriages happened"

And the story continued. Lord Rama told them of the meeting with Bhagwan Parshuram, the entry of the four brides of Raghukul, the separation of the four brothers.

The three brothers and Hanuman exchanged quick looks. They knew that the time to tell the entire details of the vanvaas had come.

Taking a deep breath, Raghuvar and Lakshmana took turns to tell the children about Maharaja Dasharath's curse, about Manthara and her dislike for Lord Rama, about the poisoning of Kaikeyi's mind.

They spoke of Sita's patni Dharma, of her love and determination to go with Raghuveer to the forest, of her vow and chastity. Then, Lord Rama recounted how Lakshmana silenced Him with His loving, yet firm words, just like Sita had, with hers. The two brothers spoke of parting, when Lakshmana and Urmila's eyes found each others', the pain of separation still fresh.

Then came Bharat's part, which Bharat tried to be emotionless while saying, yet got emotional. He tried to blame it on himself, and Raghunandan and Lakshmana talked him out of it.

Somada turned to Hanuman and asked, "How did you meet Jyesht Pitashree, Jyesht Mata and Pa?"

Immediately, everyone in the room went silent. Raghunadan and Lakshmana closed their eyes, the memories, the pain, the guilt, the hurt flooding them.

"Give them a minute children", said Urmila. "They will start the story"

The two brothers exchanged looks with one another. Lakshmana took a deep breath, and started, "It all started when we finally reached Panchavati, on the advice of Sage Agastya"