Ram & Sita: Me Without You is Incomplete part13: pg18 - Page 3

Hi...wonderful post...

i wish we get to see dis on the show as well..😳

It is absolutely beautiful

Ram & Sita: Me Without You is Incomplete

part 3

Aranya Kanda (contd)

While in exile, there is no doubt, Ram and Sita spent a lot of quality time with each other. They were young, very much in love with each other, married with no baggage of royal or family duties. So, why didn't they have any children? Most likely, they were bound by Kaikeyi's wish to have Ram live the life of an ascetic. In this day and age its unimaginable that a couple in wilderness, very much in love wouldn't have any conjugal relationship. This speaks to the morals and will power of both Ram and Sita. Its not that they didn't spend intimate moments with each other. The famous crow story that Sita narrated to Hanuman is a perfect example (in sundar kanda).

Once, Sita and Rama were enjoying an intimate moment together when a crow swooped down from the sky and attacked Sita, eventually pecking her on her breast. Enraged, Rama took a blade of grass and invoked Brahma's weapon. The blade of grass chased the crow all through the three worlds as it tried to escape. The crow finally came back to Rama for refuge, but since Rama had already empowered the blade of grass and could not recall the divine weapon, he injured the crow's right eye but saved his life

. One day, when my body was still wet from my bath, you fell asleep with your head in my lap. A crow carrying a piece of meat in his beak began to attack me . . . I was angry with the bird and drew off my girdle. But my clothes slipped off and at that moment, you awoke and saw me. You began to laugh and I was terribly embarrassed. I hid in your arms to get away from the crow . . . You wiped the tears from my eyes and my face and hissing like an angry serpent, you said, "Lady with the thighs like an elephant's trunk, who has dared to strike you on the breast?"'

(Sattar 463- 64)

Sattar, Arshia (2011-06-09). Lost Loves: Exploring Rama's Anguish (Kindle Locations 1677-1681). Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition.

I love this story where Ram's selfless love for Sita and his desire to see her happy comes to the fore:

As months passed in the lovely forest of Panchavati, the love between Rama and Sita had only just begun to intensify. These long years away from Their home had been a silent benediction for Their blossoming relationship. Sita had lost count of the number of times She had thanked destiny for arranging this fourteen-year exile. All inconveniences were completely offset by the attention and love She received from Rama during this phase. She glowed in His love.13 They didn't speak much. Their eyes and gestures did all the talking for Them. But every such interaction left Sita hypnotized and amazed at the amount of love Her husband had for Her. She was convinced He was the god of love. One day as the couple headed toward the Godavari river for a bath, Rama looked at a partridge and then smiled at the beautiful Sita. Sita blushed and turned Her head toward the blue mound bird and glanced at Rama's broad shoulders. Continuing with

the game, Rama saw a goose in delicate movement and beamed at Sita. She in turn looked at an elephant's gait and twinkled at Him. Rama then drove Her attention to a tender creeper and watched her dainty waist in admiration. Sita flushed and looked at a blue lotus and then at the glistening body of Rama. The couple, thrilled with this physical' exchange, happily proceeded to the river.14 Lakshmana joined Them just as They stepped into the Godavari river. Everyday Lakshmana dutifully carried the clothes of the divine couple and sat on the shore as They bathed and frolicked in the waters. Today Rama had a twinkle in His eyes. Sita had learned to recognize that look to mean that something interesting was on His mind. Unexpectedly, Rama challenged Her to a swimming competition. Competition and Rama? In all these years with Him, She had never seen Him compete. When He hadn't competed for the throne, what else could He compete for? But She knew something had fascinated Him, and She happily agreed to it.15 Rama laid down the rules. Pointing toward the opposite bank of the Godavari, He said that They would both have to swim to the other bank and return to the starting point. Lakshmana, seated on the riverbank, would be the start and end point and also the judge for the competition. Lakshmana hated to be dragged into such tricky situations. How could he declare anyone a winner, and worse, how could he dare to declare someone the loser? Both ways, he would be the loser by losing the favor of one of them. But he knew better than to argue with Rama.16 Rama and Ramaa entered into the waters smiling at each other. The competitive glare in both Their eyes seemed to rattle Lakshmana. He flagged off the race with both swimming toward the other bank. Clearly Rama was leading. What were the odds of the delicate fairy winning against a powerfully trained warrior? By the time Sita reached the middle, Rama had touched the other bank and was already on his way back. He spotted Sita struggling to reach the other side. Watching Sita splash her arms wildly in a frantic attempt to swim faster made Rama contemplative: "What will I get by winning against someone I love? Do I want to win in a relationship or prove a point?"17 With a deep breath, He dunked into the river. Suddenly Lakshmana lost sight of his brother. All he could see was Sita struggling to return. She was now half way back, but there was still no sign of Rama. Sita had returned to where Lakshmana was, heaving

and trying to catching Her breath. At that exact moment, Lakshmana noticed Rama rise up from the middle of the river and swim toward them. Seeing Her husband only half way, Sita began to giggle hysterically. As Rama approached closer, Her giggle turned into laughter. She laughed so much that Her stomach ached at the sight of Her husband struggling to swim back. Just that spirited laugh made Rama smile. It had been a while since He'd seen Her let go and laugh so excitedly, possibly the first time since They left Ayodhya. He was happy to have lost the competition yet won the most invaluable prize - Her laughter. In fact, He was ready to lose a million competitions for this. After He reached the riverbank and sat alongside Sita, She was still laughing, She put Her arms around Him lovingly, basking in the knowledge that She had won so easily against Him. Lakshmana smiled knowingly, appreciating Rama's expertise in filling His loved ones with joy. He saw the couple laugh and joke about the competition and yet at the same time talk about Their love for each other. Competition indeed!

Vilas, Shubha (2015-12-30). Ramayana: The Game of Life - Book 3 - Stolen Hope (Kindle Locations 1227-1247). . Kindle Edition. Vilas, Shubha (2015-12-30). Ramayana: The Game of Life - Book 3 - Stolen Hope (Kindle Locations 1220-1227). . Kindle Edition.

Ram and Sita's meeting with Anasuya and sage Atri is a significant event in the exile. Sita's conversation with Anasuya reflects her innermost feelings for her husband and also shows how Sita loved to adorn herself for her beloved husband- the small pleasures they both thrived in while in exile.

In a surprisingly strong voice, the yogini said, "It is fortunate you are a child of dharma. Or you would find it impossible to live in the wilds after being raised in a palace. Such an unusual girl you are, that you followed Rama into the jungle. Oh, I am so happy to see you." Then, as if speaking exhausted her, she fell silent. But she reached out and stroked Sita's head. Sita felt entirely comfortable with the extraordinary old woman. The princess said, "Mother, with a husband like mine, it was impossible for me not to come with him. He means everything to me: he is my life, my God." They sat together in a loving silence for a while, the old woman stroking Sita's head with her ancient hands that were still so fine. Suddenly Anasuya said, "I have a fair store of tapasya and I can give you any boon you want. Tell me, what would you have from me?" But Sita replied shyly, "I have Rama; what else could I want?" "Noble child! But wait, I have something from long ago such as you will not find in

the world today." Taking Sita's arm for support, Anasuya rose and went into her tiny dwelling. She returned with a square bundle, neatly wrapped in cloth, and gave it to Sita. "This was once mine, but now it is for you. Go inside and put on what you find in it." Sita found precious silks inside the bundle and ornaments no craftsman of this world had made, but surely smiths of Devaloka. And there was a small bottle of perfume, so exquisite that a mere whiff of it calmed the mind. Carefully Sita donned Anasuya's silks, and emerged lovely as Lakshmi herself: a light of fortune in that wild place. Anasuya was delighted. She walked around the princess, admiring her from every side, laughing like a girl. She made Sita sit beside her, and said, "Now I want to hear everything about you, from the day your father found you to the day Rama came and broke Siva's bow. I want to hear it all from your own lips."

Anasuya said to Sita, "Go to your husband now. He will be pleased to see you as you are." Like Lakshmi, Sita went to Rama, bashfully; and how his eyes shone when he saw her wearing Anasuya's silks and fragrant with her unworldly perfume. Rama knew Anasuya had blessed Sita.

Menon, Ramesh (2004-05-26). The Ramayana: A Modern Retelling of the Great Indian Epic (p. 153). Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Kindle Edition.

..to be contd

I am loving how you are putting it all together! Awesome!

I'm getting addicted to it 👏

beautiful...its mesmerizing..

I have heard about the crow and the sita-anasuya meeting. But really enjoyed reading the swimming competition.

I wait everyday for your post after my hardcore study day..I m getting addicted to it now.. Keep writing... I have not heard of these stories before... I really hope they show a minor version of this in skr as wellx