Lakshman Rekha

Lakshman Rekha is a line drawn by Lakshmana around the dwelling he shares with his brother Rama and Rama's wife Sita at Panchavati in the forest of Dandaka The line is meant to protect Sita, while he is away searching for Rama.

In the story, Rama goes chasing a golden deer (which actually is the Rakshasa Maricha in disguise), and does not return for long. When Sita coerces Lakshmana to leave in search of his brother, Lakshmana who cannot bear to see Sita cry in grief reluctantly decides to go and search for Rama, subject to his condition that Sita not cross the protective line he draws. Anybody other than Rama, Sita and himself attempting to cross the line would be singed by flames erupting from the line. Once Lakshmana leaves in search of Rama, the Rakshasa king Ravana comes in the form of a mendicant and asks Sita for alms. Not expecting a trick, she unsuspectingly crosses the Lakshman Rekha to provide alms to him and Ravana kidnaps her in his Pushpaka Vimana.

Lakshaman Rekha by Sita was done absent-mindedly by an anxious Sita only to honour the great Indian tradition of Atithi Devo Bhava: the guest is embodiment of a Deva (divine entity). Sita crosses the boundary line only to give alms to Ravana once he insists that alms cannot be accepted across a barrier as having a boundary in between was against the principle of free will of the donor.

Relevance to CB

Lakshman Rekha, in modern Indian parlance, refers to a strict convention or a rule, never to be broken. It often refers to the ethical limits of an action, traversing which may lead to undesirable consequences.

Though Radhika's intention are noble, (Of Saving her sister from any trouble), the path chosen is not quite right…………She knows her Patni Dharma, that she has to seek permission from her husband before leaving the house….And Dev has firmly told her not to leave the house at that hour of the night….

She is married and has additional responsibility of safeguarding not only her parent's honor, but also her in laws name and her husband's reputation…………..She already knows what happened when she went out late night alone, the last time. Though Vrindavan is no Delhi or Mumbai, is it right to leave the house that late? First everyone recognizes (almost everyone, I guess) recognize her in Vrindavan. What if someone spots her and later mentions it either to Dev or Shastriji? What will happen to their unshakable faith in her? Also, Babuji had mentioned to Dev that she is his "Amatnath "and he will safeguard her with his life? If something happens to her, how will Shastriji look in eye of Dev again? Second, more important, she knows from Amma and then hearing Vik talk – that he is not a good person…………Is it safe to meet such a person, in late night?? What if he tries to misbehave with her?? And why does she think, she will be able to convince him to stay out of Vishaka's life???

As I mentioned before, she is threading a very fine line………………….I dread what would happen, if police come to their house, asking Radhika to come forward as witness or whatever? Why is she not thinking, how will Dev react to this?? And his honor, his name would be tarnished……..

Dear Radhika, as noble as your intentions are, remember that even Sita had to face the consequence of crossing the Lakshman Rekha…………………so you would be no exception………………Please don't cross that line……………………..Please don't fall for the trap that Amma with evil intentions has laid for you.

Your thoughts.......

anukapoor, excellent post as always. Radhika always acts impulsively to protect her mykaa's reputation. Time and time again Rads has risked her life to restore the reputation of her father & Vishakha. Although she does not know she takes Dev for granted, always takes her own decisions without thinking of Dev's feelings. But is it not true that she behaves this way because she does not know right from wrong, to analyze a situation from all angles, to go over the pros and cons of solving a problem, you need education and experience. Radhika does not have both, one and only thing she is taught is sacrifice. Radhika is so dare devil when it comes to protecting her family is because she has no fear of losing her life while in action. Pardon me but it is very similar to the suicidal bombers who will risk their lives to prove their loyalty towards their belief. To judge what is right or wrong, when to say no firmly, whom to trust and with whom to confide all needs education and experience. Radhika does not even have a girl friend, her dearest friend is a five year old boy Nandu.....time and time again cheated by the wicked Amma should teach her a lesson but in the entire CB there is no connection between incidents....she truly dug her own hole today, hope she understands her mistakes and tells Dev that Amma sent her to talk to Vikram(I doubt very much!!!). I am so nervous to watch tomorrow's episode, I am going to depend on forum members support.