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Special Issues

Why Viraadh took Raam away from Seetaa? (V-Raamaayan, 3/1/3)
Raam has never killed any Raakshas in the presence of Seetaa - Subaahu, Taadakaa, Viraadh, Khar, Dooshan, Maareech, or anyone including Raavan... Why? For She is the benevolent one to all sinners and pardons them if surrendered in faith at Her feet, being the incarnation of Lakshmee.

Why Indra went away without seeing Raam? (V-Raamaayan, 3/2/5)
In Sharabhang Muni's Aashram Dev Raaj Indra just goes away without talking to Raam. Why? It is said that Vishnu forbade celestials to talk to Him while He was on Prithvi. It might reveal His identity, which He didn't want to, because this would revoke Raavan's Var of not being killed by any Divine being. And Raavan could be killed only by Raam, nobody else.

Why Sharabhang Muni didn't go to  Brahm Lok with Indra? (V-Raamaayan, 3/2/5)
Since Muni has already attained Brahm Lok so he could go there anytime, but seeing Raam in human incarnation was a rare opportunity which he didn't want to lose.

Secondly, he could not go to Brahm Lok with his mortal body, he had to leave it here, then he could not see Raam, or human incarnation of Vishnu with his mortal eyes, and Raam would also leave Prithvi after fulfilling His mission, and sage like Sharabhang Muni will not return from Brahm Lok as an earthling. Hence to see and receive Raam was the priority for Sharbhang Muni. It was a rare opportunity for him to felicitate the human incarnation of Vishnu.

Why Sharabahng Muni send Raam to another place to live? (V-Raamaayan, 3/2/5)
Although after going of Sharabhang Muni, his Aashram would have a vacant place for Raam, but all the sages whom Raam met on His way, showed Him only one way - that is towards Raavan. So he also directed Him to Suteekshn's place, then Suteekshn Jee directed Him to go to Muni Agastya's place, and he directed Him to go to to Panchvatee - a place in deeper forest.

According to Kaikeyee's wish, Raam need not to go so far. He could have easily stayed nearby Gangaa River, because Dandak Van started from there only, passed His time there and came back after 14 years. But somehow Raam was ushered towards southward towards the dominion of Raakshas. And eventually Raakshas were eradicated one by one, as if the sages knew about Raam's coming there.

Did Sharabhang Muni commit suicide? (V-Raamaayan, 3/2/5)
This was not a suicide as the fire was invoked by Mantra, an Aahuti was offered, and Muni's whole body was burned completely. If it had been mortal fire and he had been an ordinary man, the fire could not have burnt the whole body of the sage. Some parts must have left out from burning.

Besides who are superior in virtue and character, even Agni Dev (Fire God) cannot burn him or her. That is what happened with Seetaa, while She was put to test; and to queen Chandramatee, the virtuous wife of Raajaa Harishchandra (a forefather of Raam) when she got ready to burn herself with dead Rohit.

Why Suteekshn Jee said "Seetaa closely following you"? (V-Raamaayan, 3/2/8)
Here Raam asks Suteekshn Jee's permission to go to kill Raavan, which Suteekshn Jee permitted Him readily, specially indicating "Seetaa closely following you", because he knew that that task could not be completed without the shadow cast of Seetaa.

Why Seetaa advises Raam on killing Raakshas? (V-Raamaayan, 3/3/9)
Seetaa describes three kinds of desire-produced sins - lying, indulgence with other's women, and fury without any enmity. She just had a hunch, as how Raam would fulfill His vow to kill Raakshas in war while being away from other two sins. That is what She was scared of. Besides, Tapsayaa, weapon, forest, and Kshatriya do not stay together.

Note
[The following text is culled from Valmiki Ramayan 3/9]

This particular chapter, the 9th one, is an interesting juncture in Raamaayan, where Seetaa reminds about the question of triggering cause for Raam's waging the war against Raakshas. Seetaa's doubt is well explained in Dharmaakootam, the encyclopedic commentary on Raamaayan, with reference to Dharm and the righteousness.

A number of pages are devoted there for this Sarg or chapter, and in there it is said, that if Seetaa is said to be self-contradictory in telling Raam that bow and arrows are a must for Kshatriya to protect the helpless when saying 'safeguard the sufferers, use their bow..." [as at verse 3/9/26] and also questioning immediately [ at 3/9/27], 'where the Kshatriya dharma, where the hermit's way of living...' etc. She is not contradicting herself in her statements, but asking Raam to have a cause, without resorting to use weapons against the Raakshas.

She is inquisitive to know why Raam alone should raise His bow and arrow against some Raakshas hurting only some sages. These sages have super powers and Indra like celestial chiefs come to these sages to take them to Swarg Lok or Brahm Lok with their mortal bodies. But these super hermits do not go to Swarg, which is the minimum ambition of any penance.

Then why are they requesting Raam to protect them from those Raakshas? And Raam has also obligingly started to wage this unilateral war, where any war requires a triggering point [so where would be the starting point. Can't these super sages eliminate these demons themselves, with their powers acquired by their Tapasyaa? This is the question of Seetaa. 

For this, Raam replies so convincingly in the next chapter, saying that the sages cannot issue forth a curse at the Raakshas, in the course of their Tapasyaa. Muni Vishwaamitra, though being a very furious Muni, once sought the help of Raam to counter the Raakshasee Taadakaa. And Raam rendered it. Now also these Muni do not want to waste their powers at the mischievous Raakshas, but ask Raam to protect them, for Raam is the king, whether he may be in capital or in forests.

Secondly, Rama is subjected to the throne of Ayodhyaa, now being held by his brother Bharat, and as a loyalist to that throne, Ram should act in accordance with the rules of his kingdom.  This area of Dandak forest is under the ambit of their own kingdom. So Raam has to perform the deeds suitable to their kingdom. When killing Baali, Raam speaks to Baali "all this area is under our kingdom, now held by Bharat, and it is my duty to act in accordance with the decree of that throne..."

Regarding the cause, Seetaa's doubt comes true and She alone becomes the ultimate cause for Raam, to wage the final war with Raavan.

 

 

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Created by Sushma Gupta on 5/27/03
Contact:  sushmajee@yahoo.com
Updated on 12/16/12