LEGENDS OF PRINCE LAKSHMAN - Page 4

Though a gruhashta, Lakshmana was a great brahmachari. The sages of Rama's time declared that his victory over Indrajit was superior to that of Rama over Ravana. Because Indrajit had the power to become invisible and he had mastery over the magical art and there was no way in which anybody could defeat him. Except one person, who had practiced purity for fourteen long years! And that qualification, Lakshmana had. For the fourteen years that he was in the forest, through the dedicated service that he did to Lord Rama, he had acquired that purity of heart to defeat Indrajit.

So quietly they change their positions; Lakshmana takes Rama's position and Sita is with her head on Lakshmana's lap. And what does Rama do? He converts Himself into a parrot and goes and sits on the top of the thatched hut, and looks to see what is going to happen to Lakshmana. But Lakshmana is not any ordinary person! Do you know what he did?Look at him! He was alone with a woman! There was nobody else. This is his brother's wife. And look at what Lakshmana did.

Hearing these words, Lakshmana felt hurt and bent down his head with grief. Noting this, Sita asked Lakshmana, 'Why are you perturbed, Lakshmana? Your brother did not speak anything harsh. Why do you feel so?' Lakshmana said, 'Have I ever had any choice of my own? I left my mother, wife and all comforts of life and accompanied you both to serve. I have surrendered myself to Rama. Where is the question of my choice? The command of Rama is what I want to carry out. While so, how can I withstand the impact of Rama asking me to put up the cottage at a place of my choice?' Rama realised the sacred feelings of Lakshmana and true attitude of his surrender and pointed out the site himself." Sai Baba, SS, 1/99, p. 25

Apparently, this is the same fruit that is called Mullan Chakka or Lakshmana Pazham (fruit) in Malayalam, and is grown in Kerala. The fruit is in high demand and supposedly very difficult to get, owing to its medicinal properties.

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES

English : Soursop tree

Hindi : Lakshman phal

Sanskrit: Lakshmanaphala

Malayalam : Mullan chakka, Lakshmanapazam.

Botanical name : Annona muricata Linn (Annona macrocarpa Werckl)

Family : Annonaceae

Distribution ' Cultivated throughout warmer parts of India, as well as growing wild.

Tintrini leaves are very small. The reason behind this is once Ram, Lakshman and Sita while on their exile of fourteen years came to a forest which grew Tintrini trees. The Tintrini those days had large, well developed leaves. They made a hut under it. The large leaves of the tree sheltered them well. Ram said that they were supposed to suffer and bear inconveniences during their exile. But this tree was sheltering them from rain and giving them protection from the intense heat and cold which were city comforts. So he ordered Lakshmana to shoot at the leaves and split them . Lakshmana did as he was told and shot at the leaves with his bow and arrow and since then the leaves are finely divided.

Botanical Name: Tamarindus indica
Sanskrit Name: Tintrini, Chincha, Tindidi, Tindida
English Name: Tamarind tree

Another version (Dhanwar Tribal Story)

It is similar except the reason for Lakshmana to shoot an arrow at them is different. During the rainy season, Sita was cooking the food under a Tintrini tree but rain kept on coming through the leaves and putting out the fire. Ramji was enraged at this and ordered Lakshman to send a letter of protest to Lord Indra, the god of rain asking him to stop the rain. Lakshmana tied the letter of protest to an arrow and shot it at the heavens. The rain subsequently stopped but the arrow as it went passed the leaves,split them into shreds and since that time they have remained small and divided.

Originally posted by: Krishni51

TALE - 17

The Immense Power of Lakshman's Brahmacharya

Though a gruhashta, Lakshmana was a great brahmachari. The sages of Rama's time declared that his victory over Indrajit was superior to that of Rama over Ravana. Because Indrajit had the power to become invisible and he had mastery over the magical art and there was no way in which anybody could defeat him. Except one person, who had practiced purity for fourteen long years! And that qualification, Lakshmana had. For the fourteen years that he was in the forest, through the dedicated service that he did to Lord Rama, he had acquired that purity of heart to defeat Indrajit.

One day, Sri Rama wanted to test his brother Lakshmana.Sita is sleeping in the forest in Sri Rama's lap. Rama pretends that He has some urgent work and says: "Lakshmana, I have some work, I have to go; but don't disturb Sita. You come and take My place and let Sita sleep without any disturbance until she wakes up."

So quietly they change their positions; Lakshmana takes Rama's position and Sita is with her head on Lakshmana's lap. And what does Rama do? He converts Himself into a parrot and goes and sits on the top of the thatched hut, and looks to see what is going to happen to Lakshmana. But Lakshmana is not any ordinary person! Do you know what he did?Look at him! He was alone with a woman! There was nobody else. This is his brother's wife. And look at what Lakshmana did.

'Sumitra'Sumitra'Sumitra..' he was reminding himself constantly that the woman who is sleeping in his lap is not Sita, but Sumitra, 'my mother, my mother, my mother' he kept saying to himself."