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24-Vaalmeeki's Seetaaa

Swaamee Vivekananda Jee said, "Any attempt to modernize our women, if it tries to take our women away from that ideal of Sita, is immediately a failure, as we see every day. The women of India must grow and develop in the footprints of Seetaa, and that is the only way." This is what the Court in India says now too. Let us therefore review the personality of Seetaa as picturized by the original poet Vaalmeeki.

Seetaa is the harmonious abode of beauty, tenderness of heart, compassion, fidelity, wisdom, courage and endurence. Raam was every thing to Her and in His company, she would find Swarg. She was a brave, good and true Kshatriya woman who could assert in the most forceful way when needed as evidenced by Her taunt to Raam when he refused to take Her to the forest with him - "My father thought he got hold of the best man for me but he was a fool. What he had got was a cowardly woman dressed like a man!" Raam took these words coolly. He said - "When I described the horrors of the forest, I was not afraid of them. I knew I am confident of protecting you with the required strength, skill and vigilance. I did not know your courage. I will take you there. You be my partner in all that I have to do in the forest." He continued - "My family and yours are honored by you."

When Seetaa thought that Raam was transgressing the rules of propriety in promising protection to the Rishi in the forest, She emphatically protests and says - "You are transgressing Dharm." She lists three transgressions of Dharm to which a man is liable - lying, violating the wife of another and lastly adopting force without proper provocation - the last one being the most serious. She questions Raam - "What business is it of yours?" Raam takes her advice with serious consequences and explains Her as why He has taken such a decision. [Aranya Kaand/3]

Seetaa was a lady accustomed to speak freely as evidenced by her utterances to Lakshman when Maareech cried in the voice of Raam. Raam holds Lakshman responsible for the consequence as He thinks that when Seetaa talked absurdity in anger he should not have become angry too. Raam says - "No blame rests upon Seetaa as she was mad and you should not get angry with mad people."

Seetaa's presence of mind is incomparable. Even in so much distress, when Raavan was taking her, it is demonstrated when She saw five monkeys in Pampaapur. She immediately works out and drops Her ornaments tied to her upper garment of silk so that if Raam and Lakshman come there (by chance) they would get a clue.

She could demonstrate her strong mind and she knew what to do as shown in the Ashok grove too - when Raavan gave instructions to his Raakshasee. She sustains the torments of Raavan and his Raakshasee for almost a year (ten months) continuously till Hanumaan came there bringing a word about Raam.

Seetaa had enormous strength as she herself says addressing Raavan - "I have so much power in me that if I only care and direct it against you, you would be a mass of ash. But I refrain from doing so as I want to preserve my Tapas and I consider that it is Raam's duty to save me."

When Raam accuses Seetaa of infidelity and tells Her that He cannot take her back and that she is free to choose a protector anywhere, She speaks in complete self possession - "How harsh and cruel are the things you have told me! .... suspect me not...... Do you refer to Raavan touching my body? That was not of my seeking, nor even of my tolerating. That which I can control, my heart has always been with you. As for my limbs, what could I do when they were overpowered? ......... ...You have let your ill temper run away with your judgment. ........Lakshman, build me a pyre......fire is the only remedy for this woe."

Struck again at the most tender spot of Seetaa when Raam abandoned Her in the forest and Lakshman told her the truth about her banishment, she collected her thoughts as a brave woman, without forgetting her dignity, She tells him........" take a careful note of my body. It bears obvious signs of pregnancy." She courageously brings up her two sons Lav and Kush with the help of the Rishi Vaalmeeki.

When Vaalmeeki brings Her to the court of Raam along with the two sons, Raam asks for an oath of purity before He takes Her back. She declares - " .....This Earth is not for me, nor this husband, nor these subjects whom no proof can ever convince." She then prays to her mother Earth to allow Her to go back to her place of origin. The Earth opens up with a throne and her mother accompanies Her into herself. Her pitiless husband had to remain dazed.