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Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Lord Rama - as a husband?

Ramayana was the first story that I read. Any woman would undertake vratha's to get a husband like Rama. Even, the common blessing from elders would be " Sri Ramarare unakku purushanaa varanum" (You should get Lord Rama itself as your husband). To me, Ramayana showed the story of Sita,Hanuman and Lakshman. Even Urmila (Lakshman's wife) stood high. A few days back, an old lady told me that I look like Sita (Not sure why. May be, the saree made me look good/calm ;-) or because I gave her 10 Rs) and blessed me "Ramanum Sitaiyumaa eppovum santhoshamaa irukanum".(Always be happy like Rama and Sita). It was my wedding day, and that blessing made me happy. Still, I was wondering, Were Rama and Sita ever happy? No offense meant. But I could not accept 2 acts of Rama. 1. An Indian woman is known for her chasity. When atleast 90% of women even in this "KaliYuga" are faithful to their husbands, how can Rama doubt Sita and ask her to undergo "Agni Pariksha"? An ordinary girl, even today, attempts suicide when she is raped/love failure. Wouldn't Sita have killed herself immediately if she wasn't pure? 2. How can he banish her just because some person spoke wrong about her? Didn't he break his oath that he'll take care of her lifelong? Sita said "Whereever you are that is Ayodhya for me?" If he had felt that people won't accept her as a queen, he should have stepped down the throne and accompanied her to the forest. When she can follow him, how can he desert her? Many people gave me a lot of explanations for these 2 questions. But I think these 2 acts are never justifiable. The justification was, he did it for others. Should we live for what others say? He spoiled his life as well as Sita's and their children's because of ignorant/foolish words of someone? He fought with Ravana to get Sita back. Any ordinary person does that for his wife. May be, even God makes mistakes. Rama, was an excellent son and kept his father's promise. He was a good ruler. But was he a good husband/father? As a husband, he fought to get back his wife only to lose her again !! Sita is always the best in my heart. So, it feels good when someone says "Have patience like Sita and be an understanding wife". This might sound silly but right from my childhood days, I never wanted my husband to be like "Rama", being a "eka-pathini-virathan" and deserting his wife. I should say, Rama is not my favourite. I think its not fair to bless saying "You should get a husband like Sri Rama". He is not a special/exemplar husband !! Disclaimer: It's just my personal opinion. Devotees please don't take it personally !!

43 Comments:

  • At 7:21 PM, September 12, 2006, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    "The justification was, he did it for others"...

    That's the lesson.. You don't live for yourself...If u think that you and your family alone are important, then we are selfish...Rama was a king and his primary duty was to take care of his subjects not his family.... Sita would have fully understood this....

    Rama performed an Ashwamedha Yagnam after his seperation from Sita.. The yagnam required the presence of the king's wife.. So Rama made an idol of sita and performed the yagna...When Kings those days did not have a limit on the wives, Rama was an ekka patni virathan...

    "Sita is always the best in my heart. So, it feels good when someone says "Have patience like Sita and be an understanding wife.."

    This sounds odd because Sita was attracted by the deer and inspite of Rama's assurance that she should not get decieved by the desires, forced him to get the deer for her.. She did not listen to Lakshmana's words that nothing would have happened to Rama and forced him to look out for Rama....How can u say that she had patience? If only she had listened to both Rama and Lakshmana, she would have never been abducted in the first place....

    "He fought with Ravana to get Sita back. Any ordinary person does that for his wife."

    The pandavas lost Panchali in a game of dice!!! She was humiliated in the court room and these guys just sat there with shame...Poor panchali had to undergo humiliation for her husband's stupidity and poor rama had to fight with ravana for sita's desire for a deer.....Not all ordinary person & great kings fight for their wife/husband...

     
  • At 11:34 PM, September 12, 2006, Blogger Syam said…

    yenga indha Rama vandhu Sita ku chithappa thaana :-)

     
  • At 11:45 PM, September 12, 2006, Blogger KK said…

    Nice post Pavithra. Jai Hanuman!! I like Hanuman, because he was the only one who had TV (in his chest) those days :)

    Syam, Naan ketkalamnu iruntha kelvi neenga ketathunaal naan kashta pattu, thuyara pattu, vethanai pattu ippadi oru comment adikka vendiyatha pochu :) BTW I think Ramar is onnu vitta chithappa of Sita :)

     
  • At 3:05 AM, September 13, 2006, Blogger Syam said…

    KK, pavithra kadupaagi namma comments ah delete panna poraanga...evalo serious post podarom ivangaluku vera velai illayaanu :-)

     
  • At 4:36 AM, September 13, 2006, Blogger KK said…

    Syam, Seekiram yellar blog'layum namma comments'ku tada kondu vandhuduvanganu ninaikuren :)

     
  • At 9:15 AM, September 13, 2006, Blogger ambi said…

    not every ordinary man will support his wife pavithra. ramar ninathu irunthaal oru setup vaithu irukalaam, when sita is away from him.
    Also sitavum thappu senja thaane! when laxman was there, she scolded him to go and save/know the status of rama and she jumped that laxman rekha, hence the result.
    "vinasha kaale vibareetha buthi" avloo periya villa odachu thaane kannalam katti kittar ramar. avar thiramai mela doubt pannalama antha sita..?

    rama just wanted to show this world that she is pure. he knows very well the fact. but see, pashtu naadu, then only veedu.
    "As an admin/bureucrat U shud treat your country pple as your child. then attend your family". - vithura needhi
    nowadays all r Ulta.

     
  • At 9:26 AM, September 13, 2006, Blogger Pavithra said…

    anon - True !! Not many people live for others so bless saying "Be an obedient son like Rama, a loving brother like Rama, a caring ruler like Rama". My point was how does he become an exemplar husband? Sita was an understanding wife..so give the credit to her why to Rama just becoz he was an "eka-pathini-virathan", when he can't even live with her?

    Sita maan mela aasa pattathaala than ramayanam ;-). When Rama can be deceived by the rakshasa in the form of a deer, Lakshmana can be deceived by the false voice thinking it was Rama why can't the all powerful Ravana deceive Sita?

    To me, the story of Panchali itself is an exception.

     
  • At 9:29 AM, September 13, 2006, Blogger Pavithra said…

    Syam & KK - LOL :-).
    Giving a comedy track for a serious discussion ;-).

     
  • At 10:51 AM, September 13, 2006, Blogger Pavithra said…

    ambi - என் சிறு அறிவுக்கு எட்டியது .. ஒரு wife-ஆ 4 wife-ஆ அப்படிங்கரத விட wife(s)-அ எப்படி வச்சி இருக்கோம் அப்படிங்கரது தான் முக்கியம்னு நான் நினைக்கறேன்.
    "avar thiramai mela doubt pannalama antha sita..? ".. oru 1 hour veetukku poga late aana unga amma bayapada maataangala ;-)..atha paasam nu eduthupeengala illa unga mela confidence illainu eduthupeengalaa?

     
  • At 11:56 AM, September 13, 2006, Blogger ambi said…

    //atha paasam nu eduthupeengala illa unga mela confidence illainu eduthupeengalaa?
    //
    good qstn, ipdi supreme court public prosecuter maathiri matikiteengale your honor? :)

    athugaaga latchumanarai kanna pinnanu thitanumaa? avare paavam, newly mrrd wifea vututu kaatuku vanthrukaar. :(
    avaru evloo nallavar theriyuma?
    in one stage, rama will ask lakshman whether he identifies any of the ornaments which were scattered in the forest. appa laksh solluvar, "anna! i know only manni's metti(oli) as i used to see her feet only always.
    "Avar thaanya ambalai" apdi patta laksha intha amma thitalaama?

    //ஒரு wife-ஆ 4 wife-ஆ அப்படிங்கரத விட wife(s)-அ எப்படி வச்சி இருக்கோம்//
    valid point. athugaaga 4 wife kattitu ellaraiyum nalla vechukitta ok vaa? :)

    eley syam! ippave chappu kotaatha! tinnu katiruvaanga mugil amma. :D

     
  • At 12:39 PM, September 13, 2006, Blogger Pavithra said…

    நான் எப்போ lakshmanana திட்டினேன்? lakshman nejamaave great ;-)

    "4 wife kattitu ellaraiyum nalla vechukitta ok vaa? :) " - experience இல்லாம பேசிட்டீங்க. ஒரு wife-அ வச்சே சமாளிக்க முடியாம தவிக்கறாங்க .. 4 wife-ஆ ..Hmm..ungal thairiyathai paaratugiren !! All the best ;-)

     
  • At 12:52 PM, September 13, 2006, Blogger ambi said…

    neenga lakha thittalai, but ennomo sita amma is the beshtu kanna! beshtu!nu sonninga illa, athaan!

    //experience இல்லாம பேசிட்டீங்க. ஒரு wife-அ வச்சே சமாளிக்க முடியாம தவிக்கறாங்க //
    sorry, theriyaama thaan solliten.:(
    4 GF's a samlikkalam. (infact 4 ellam jujubi).
    but....

    //4 wife-ஆ ..Hmm..ungal thairiyathai paaratugiren !! All the best//
    cha! cha! en thangamaniku naan oru naalum throgam panna maatten. ithu future thangamani mela colgate(promise!nu thaan sollanumaa enna?) :D

     
  • At 3:38 PM, September 13, 2006, Blogger Viji said…

    I agree with the accusations. On a side note, please read Ramayana by Rajaji... and look at how Sita reportedly bashed Lakshmana, when he refused to go in search of Rama...

     
  • At 4:08 PM, September 13, 2006, Blogger Jeseem said…

    hmm..
    very thoughtful
    probably what ramayan meant by ram's action was more of a sacrifice of his wife for his people. To him, his responsibility as a king was more important than his responsibility to his wife.

    so even when u get a perfect husband, there r times, when he cannot act in a perfect husbandish way, since he may hav other constraints.

     
  • At 4:47 PM, September 13, 2006, Blogger ambi said…

    //Sita reportedly bashed Lakshmana, when he refused to go in search of Rama... //
    @pavi, naan romba deepa poga vendam!nu irunthen. yeeh, she smashed laksh that he is cunny, trying to aquire her, blah.. blah..

    cha! lakhs antha nerathula evloo manasu varutha pattu iruppar. athaan sitakku ummachi punishment kuduthaar.
    also alpa thanama maana pidichu kudu! maila pidi!nu ketta intha ramaruku buthi vendaam?
    naana iruntha "neeye oru Maan, aprom ethuku da chellam namaku innoru Maan?" shall we go Andamaan?"nu thaaja panni samalichu iruppen. LOL :)
    No offense pavithra. :)

     
  • At 5:12 PM, September 13, 2006, Blogger Pavithra said…

    viji - Thanks for stopping by. I've read that version though long back . Its true that Sita accused Lakshman..though not a justification those words depicted a typical womanish fear to me. After all, though she is a Goddess she is basically a woman which is portrayed beautifully in many incidents throughout Ramayana like following him as a dutiful wife, longing for a deer, panicking when Rama did not return and hearing his voice for help.

    jeseem - You got me right !! That's what I meant, he behaved like an ordinary husband and doesn't deserve to be said as exemplar.

    ambi - Neenga anjaneyer bhakthar nu nenachen eppo lakshmanar bhaktharaa maarineenga? Thangamani-ya warn panren ippadi ice vachi eemaathida poreenga ;-)

     
  • At 7:44 PM, September 13, 2006, Blogger Known Stranger said…

    you are reading men are from mars and women are from venus.hmmmm... hmm....

    i

     
  • At 1:09 AM, September 14, 2006, Blogger Priya said…

    Pavithra, I think Sita suffered a lot.. I don’t want to be Sita. Even though Ramayan preaches many many good morals, I always think why Sita has to be a role model for girls – "Have patience like Sita and be an understanding wife". Is it not yet another way of suppressing women? I would have been Sita with respect to undergoing hardship along with Rama. But would definitely have left him when he asked me to undergo ‘agni pariksha’. Trust is the backbone of any relationship and Rama was very mean accoridng to me.(for whatever reason he did it)

     
  • At 6:31 AM, September 14, 2006, Blogger Bharani said…

    life will be very difficult for a girl if only her husband understands her and rest of the world hates. Not her husband is always with her. She needs to feel free when moving with others, otherwise life will become a hell. Our ppl never beleive the words from mouth...they need some actions..thats why even though rama believes site 100% , she asks sita to do this.

    Once done, sita will never have problem with moving with others and others will have a greater respect towards her than before..

    i am not telling rama is an ideal man...but i believe that action has its meaning..again it is my opin :)

     
  • At 9:51 AM, September 14, 2006, Blogger ambi said…

    me always anumaar bhakthan thaan, but whenever i see my brother, i remember laksh. athaan pongitten. :D

     
  • At 10:18 AM, September 14, 2006, Blogger Unknown said…

    Rama & Sita pathi erkanave thvayana alavuku alasitadhaala....thirumana naal vaazhthu koori vidaiperugiren :)

     
  • At 12:39 PM, September 14, 2006, Blogger Pavithra said…

    known stranger - Should be reading Ramayana next ;-)

    priya - true. Sometimes Sita's story makes me feel all our patience and tolerance is useless. I don't think Rama would have doubted Sita if he had then she would have died that day itself.

    barani - true !!

    ambi - OK. Appa neenga ramaraa? ;-)

    bala - mikka nanri ;-)

     
  • At 3:41 PM, September 14, 2006, Blogger ambi said…

    he hee, neenga buthishaali, correctta kandupidichuteenga. :D

     
  • At 4:41 PM, September 14, 2006, Blogger Has to be me said…

    Good thinking on Rama, PAvithra. Tho Im unable to justify Rama's action, I think its not to right to ? the acts of Gods. Cos offlate Im trying to realise the truth / validity in most of these actions. Whenever I find out the real deeds behind this, shall let u know! ;)

     
  • At 5:39 PM, September 14, 2006, Blogger Prasanna Parameswaran said…

    nalla padhivu! sila kelvigalukku badhil solradhu romba kashtam, unmaiyan artham theriyara varaikkum, idhukku enakku badhil ippa theriyala aana kandupidikka mudiyudhaannu paarakaren!

     
  • At 9:02 PM, September 14, 2006, Blogger Jeevan said…

    Athukku thaan Ramayana kadaikal padikalai naalum, atleast Ramayanam serialavthu pakkanum, illana ippadi thaan enna comment podanumnu thariyama mulikanum.

    ennaku tharinji Ramar 14 varusham vana vasam ponar, appuram hanuman thuduvara irunthaar:)

     
  • At 11:43 PM, September 14, 2006, Blogger rachana said…

    hi pavithra!i never thought on those lines about Ram!! but your point is valid, i agree with you!

     
  • At 10:18 AM, September 15, 2006, Blogger Pavithra said…

    ambi - LOL :-)

    HTBM - Yeah !! that's what my grandma told me "We shouldn't criticize God's actions". I'm not with it ;-). Waiting for your answers !!

    indian angel - true !! All the best in ur quest ;-)

     
  • At 10:20 AM, September 15, 2006, Blogger Pavithra said…

    jeevan - ROTFL on serial ;-).

    rachana - thanks ;-).

     
  • At 11:21 AM, September 15, 2006, Blogger Rebelzz said…

    Well, i agree with what you say.. I have also thought on those lines and have had loads of arguments..

    'An ordinary girl, even today, attempts suicide when she is raped/love failure' -- Am sorry, but this comment was not in good taste

     
  • At 11:46 AM, September 15, 2006, Blogger Pavithra said…

    rebel - Welcome !! I didn't mean to say what they do is right but even today this happens !! Chasity is still considered high by women.
    I'm sorry if it offended you in any way !!

     
  • At 8:18 AM, September 19, 2006, Blogger Butterflies said…

    I stand with u pavithra...I like rama for the fact that he was honest to his wife...but never can understand the fact that...he made his wife to prove her self ..he din live with her immmidiately trust is most important when he din have that I can t accept him totally a s a great husband!

     
  • At 9:28 AM, September 19, 2006, Blogger Pavithra said…

    shuba - Thanks ;-).

     
  • At 7:12 PM, September 19, 2006, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Questions Answered

    1. Rama had asked Sita for Agni Pariksha not because he suspected but because others were speaking ill of his wife. Today we would not be holding Sita in such a high esteem hadnt she be subjected to the Agni Pariksha.

    2. To think that Rama should have renounced everything and walk behind Sita can suit a love lorn romeo. He was the king of a nation and had more responsibilities than just taking care of Sita. And Sita as we known belonged to Bhumi Mata and had to go back to her.

    :-)

     
  • At 12:08 PM, September 20, 2006, Blogger Known Stranger said…

    oh i read this subject - and didnt i sent you a mail o n this or didn i sent it to some one else

     
  • At 9:26 AM, September 21, 2006, Blogger Pavithra said…

    anon - Thanks for your answers. But they are the same that everyone says. I'm not able to accept it.

    Vaishnav - Yeah !! Got the mail. Thanks ;-)

     
  • At 9:51 PM, October 01, 2006, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Hi,
    The Act of Rama cannot be justified.
    Maybe.
    mm..but the actual explanation is like this.
    When Sita , Rama and Laks are in the forest,
    and Rama goes in searc hof the golden deer
    and that deer is actually a demon trickery and shouts in the
    voice of rama for help..

    Sita asks Laks to go and help him.
    Laks refuses knowing his borthers invulnerability
    and his responsibility to guard her..

    mm..now while our kambaramayana doesnt have this
    in actual ramayana
    Sita accuses of Lakshman of
    having hidden intentions about her,
    after something happens to rama.

    So here Sita accuses Laks. wrongly.

    So it was karma, by which she is accused wrongly too.
    This is the philosophical explanation.

    As a husband, maybe what Rama did can be questoned.
    But I think It happened more dueto Sita's own karma.

    lol...justmy thoughts..

     
  • At 6:48 AM, October 02, 2006, Blogger Adiya said…

    very nice post.. i am tightly agree with you.
    even i had posted something similar to this.
    http://kadalamittai.blogspot.com/2006_05_01_kadalamittai_archive.html

    4 me sita is the best.

    -s

     
  • At 4:02 AM, February 25, 2009, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Hello,

    I agree with you. I had been thinking on this for a while now. It is sad Lord Rama chose to follow 'others' than the 'ONE' who supported him.
    To excuse his actions as being those of a ruler is not just. It is also the duty of a ruler to show the wrong and the right way to his subjects.

     
  • At 2:58 PM, April 01, 2009, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    and one more thing i dont agree with is the the act of rama through which he killed vali, hiding behing a tree and hitting his back....... cant find justice in any ancient or modern war dharma...........

     
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  • At 2:32 AM, July 17, 2012, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Namaste Pavithra,


    Was he a good husband?

    Yes most definitely.
    He did bear twins after all and they didn’t come about without love.
    He took the best care for his wife for as long as she was with him.
    When politics, Duty and Dharma collided with his love for his wife then he didn’t have much choice but to side with Dharma Politics and above all Duty.

    Krishna tell Arjuna-- For whatever a great man does, that very thing other men also do; whatever standard he sets up, the generality of men follow the same.
    Bhagavad Gita 3:21

    For a great man like him to run away because he simply loved his wife is not a good example to set his people. Cruel and hard as it is for us to bear and for his wife even more, the decisions he took was right.

    To understand this ‘burden’ of Duty, you will have to read and understand what Krishna is explaining to Arjuna in the Bhagvad Gita.
    Its not easy and only greater men can follow these principles.

    Rama had to leave his wife for Dharam, Duty, Politics. Arjuna had to kill his great grand father-like Uncle Bhisma, His beloved teacher Drona and many others.
    Not easy.

    In your case –make sure you don’t marry a man who is burdened with duty!!
    Don’t marry a soldier if you don’t expect him to go to war and perhaps be killed.
    If you married a policeman and you broke some minor Law for example going through red light. The police may be your husband but don’t expect him NOT to do his duty of arresting you. To escape Your penalty he would have to resign on the spot. What a lovely example to set his friends, family and wider community!! The act of cowardice and shamefulness no less.

    Even a brother has to kill brother in the line of duty (Deewar –Bollywood film comes to mind). Mother towards his son (Mother India comes to mind). As a Mother do you have duty towards your son or the Law which he has broken?
    To cheat soceity for your pleasure or uphold the Law for the greater good.--Difficult dilemma.

    OK so they are films but it sets the example hopefully for you to understanding the dilemmas of Rama which you question.

    Now put yourself in the position of King Rama.

    I really hope you have already found your answer to this after all these years.
    I found this blog by chance and cannot resist leaving my comment.

    All the Best.


    Kiran
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hinduinfo/

     

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