So here goes my long winding post on yesterday's episode. If you look at Sita Anasooya dialogue , Anasooya raised the most pertinent question which I had discussed last week in my stand alone post when Lakshman-Sita banter happened. That do you have the knowledge to protect yourself. What when you are alone. Sita asks Anasooya whether she feels any bad omen. And see the lady's intelligent reply. She says she is asking because she knows Asurs. Their nature. Once again knowledge highlighted and at present Sita doesn't have the knowledge of Asurs. The way they behave. The way they trap people. She doesn't have the knowledge of Maya or illusion that Asurs create. Yes Sita says she self preserve herself and will not bring any harm to Ram or Lakshman. We all know what is going to happen. She will be unable to self preserve herself and her husband and devar are going to fight a war to liberate her. A war in which her devar is gonna get critically wounded. If you look Anasooya gives indirect hint from where the trouble is gonna come. From Asurs. It was an indication for Sita to understand Asurs. Start learning about Asurs. From her husband more than her husband from her devar.
I will come to the dress Anasooya gave later. But before that let us look upon the dialogue Lakshman tells Sita. He tells bhabi it is only when you are there we are able to explore the hidden treasures in the nature, we are able to understand the nature, enjoy the nature. Lakshman respects his bhabi's understanding of Prakriti and is open to learn, explore Prakriti with her. And Sita she should have shown the humility and should have tried to understand Sanskriti or the root of Lakshman's concerns from him. Should have made herself knowledgable. Knowledge is always a 2 way process. You will be an expert in something, someone else know something else. When you share , both are enriched. Sita realizes this far too late in the game.
Shirley it is not a loop closure. It is opening up from one side. Lakshman towards Prakriti, it will close only when Sita opens herself towards Sanskriti.
See Sita's pain when Lakshman is not sleeping. More than Ram she is concerned about her devar. Nidra Devi and Urmila open up Lakshman towards Prakriti as it is then Lakshman understands the supreme sacrifice his wife has done for protecting his dharma. Now believe when Sita banishment happens the most affected person is gonna be Lakshman. Just like Sita concerned Lakshman goes against Prakriti, Lakshman will be concerned thinking if only his bhabi had understood Sanskriti. Both AP and Sita banishment is gonna hit Lakshman hard because he loves and cares for his bhabi that much.
And I am sure when Lakshman is hit by Brahmastra by Indrajith Sita is going to get equally affected as she will feel indirectly responsible for her devar's condition. Sita and Lakshman care for each other deeply and share a beautiful bond of bhabi-devar irrespective of their differences.
Now coming to the dress Anasooya gave. On a direct front it is to help Sita when she is taken away from Ravan. It is with the same dress Sita sits in Asoka Vatika for 11 months. Imagine sitting in the same dress for 11 months. So Anasooya's dress protects Sita in the trial period.
Now coming to the real meaning. It symbolizes the importance given to physical purity by Sanskriti or tradition. Sita is pure, her soul is pure. But what about her dress when she takes Agnipareeksha. If it is soiled, impure agni will take it. How will Sita look post AP if her dress is taken by Agni. Dress by Anasooya protects Sita's modesty. The purity of the dress ensures along with Sita, the dress also comes out unscathed from Agni. It also signifies the fact that for Ram her inner purity is important, but for the world yes her physical purity is also important. So both need to be protected.
Now the last part Sita Ram dialogue. Sita asks why we treat woman as Abla. And actually she herself gives the answer. That a she cow or a she lion takes care of their child. If any one tries to attack the child she protects without taking any help from any one. That gives an insight into when a women is at her ferocious best. When she is Durga. Durg in Hindi means fort. A fort is a defense mechanism. When a woman decides to defend the one she loves no one can stop her stop her. She will go any extend to protect her husband, her child, her family. So if a woman needs to show her strength she has to come in the defense position. For that she needs knowledge, knowledge of what can harm her family. And a defense comes only at the most opportune moment.
And an intelligent man knows the power his lady behold. He will understand though she is standing behind if she falls the family will fall. Hence he will attack or give physical protection. While she looks at any vulnerability that can harm him or the family fixing the loop holes. understand no one observes the defense fast. But without defense you cannot attack.
That's why the greatest battle of Ramayana is between Lakshman and Indrajith. Because Ram's defense was fighting with Ravan's defense.
And the greatest battle of MB is between Karna-Arjun. Arjun is trying to bring down the greatest defense of Dury. The whole purpose of Krishna taking the charioteer role in the war was to defend Arjun against Karna. To sit there hidden till the right time so that no one realizes he is sitting there as Arjun's defense.
Krishna gives a choice to Arjun. One side my power and other side me without weapon. Why did he give Arjun that choice. To raise Arjun's dharma over and above Karna. Karna is offered the kingdom and Panchali by Krishna. Yet he refuses to switch sides. His loyalty to Dury intact. But he was fighting for Dury. So can Arjun take his friend who is not going to fight for him. Arjun takes Krishna.
On day 11 when Karna steps in the battle field Krishna knows Arjun cannot face Karna at any cost. Karna is carrying a weapon Shakti which can be used only once but there is no defense against it in the direct battle. Krishna knew the only way Shakti can go is Karna has to tempted to use it against someone. That someone can only be Ghatolkach son of Bhima. But for him to come night battle has to be there which is against the rule of the battle.
By taking Arjun to the other side of the battle field on day 13, the events leading to night battle happens. Abhi is brutally murdered in Chakravyuha. Arjun goes like mad to kill Jayadrath. Krishna creates the illusion of sunset. Angered Kauravas call for night battle. Krishna asks Bhima to bring Ghatolkach. Only when Shakti is gone everyone realizes what was Krishna's strategy.
Dury and co were targeting Yudhi. Krishna was only targeting Karna. Everything else was bonus. Why Karna. The one who has knowledge will understand the defense.
And that is what exactly Ram tells. Not covering Ayodhya much. But happy to see that situation makes Bharat self reliant and Shatrughnan and Kirti are pitching together to take care of the rajdharma as well as take care of the family in the hour of crisis.
Udne Ki Aasha
