గురు బ్రహ్మ గురుర్ విష్ణుః గురుర్ దేవో మహేశ్వరః
గురు స్సాక్షాత్ పరబ్రహ్మ తస్మై శ్రీ గురవే నమః
శుక్లాం బరధరం విష్ణుం శశివర్ణం చతుర్భుజం
ప్రసన్న వదనం ధ్యాయేత్ సర్వ విఘ్నోప శాంతయే
శ్రుతి స్మృతి పురాణానాం ఆలయం కరుణాలయం
నమామి భగవత్ పాదం శంకరం లోక శంకరం
ఓం నమః శివాయ
This is in continuation of my earlier post.
1. Sita is elder to Rama
This
is another popular misconception. This is most widely used (rather abused) whenever
a groom has to marry a woman elder to him. In Vaalmiki krutha (written)
Raamaayana, sita very clearly mentions that she is about 7 years (not 100% sure
about the exact number) younger to Sri Raama. Great Brahmarshi Viswamitra would
not have taken Raama to Mithila. Sage like king Janaka would not have proposed
Sita to Sri Raama. Dasaradha would not have accepted the proposal in front of
great sages like Vasishta, Jaabaali, Maarkandeya etc.
2. Sabari
We
have heard multiple times and has seen in multiple movies as well, where Sabari
is shown as a tribal, illiterate woman living in some forest. But somehow she
knows about Sri Raama and when Sri Raama reaches her hut, she gives him some
fruits. Importantly, before handing over each fruit to Sri Raama she tastes
that fruit and only after she finds it sweet she gives that to Sri Raama. Hats
off to the guy who cooked this story and convinced so many people that movies
were also taken based on this without verifying with the authentic source.
The
reality is this. Sabari is a great sage by herself. She is neither a tribal nor
an illiterate woman. She is the disciple of some great sages, who are disciples
of the great Sage Matanga Marshi. When the time comes for her gurus to leave
the earth, they inform Sabari to continue her life in the same place, as Sri
Raama would be visiting her soon. That’s how she comes to know about Sri Raama
and continues to wait for him. When Sri Raama visits her, she pays all respects
to Sri Raama just like a great sage. No fruit tasting activities.
3. Hanuma not knowing his strength
Whenever a task of greater magnitude
needs to accomplished, then Hanuma is not aware that he can actually achieve
that. He needs to be reminded about his strength and that’s when he will
actually accomplish the task.
This is true but limited to one
time. Hanuma, during his childhood, wrecks havoc, after gaining powers (in the
forms of boons by various devathas), and troubles various rushis and munis with
mischief. They get fed up with him and curse him that he will forget that he
has this great strength. By virtue of that he will not be able to use any of
his strength. Only when someone reminds him of his strength and abilities, he will
once again be able to use his strengths.
When the south headed Vaanaras,
in search of Sita, reach the ocean, they get depressed. They know that they
have to cross the ocean and reach the other side so that they can find sita
there in Lanka. Different vaanaras present their abilities in terms of how much
distance they can fly, all less than the requirement. Hanuma sits in a corner
without mentioning any number. Jaambavanta, who knows about Hanuma, then extols
Hanuma’s strengths and states that he is the only one who can go to Lanka and
come back. That’s when Hanuma grows his body size and gets prepared to cross
the ocean.
After the above, Hanuma never
had to be reminded about what his strengths are and what he is capable of.
4. Raavana not touching sita – a
virtue
I
have heard from some people that though Raavana is a asura (Raakshasa), he has
a great character. He never forced Sita to become his wife though he is capable
of doing that once he abducts her and keeps her in his kingdom. This looks
similar to the below situation.
A
murderer kills a person and then sets fire to the body, because he has faith in
dahana samskaaram (death rituals). The actual reason could be to cover his
crime.
Raavana
has a curse on him by his great grand father Brahma. Once an apsarasa went to
Brahma complaining that Raavana is misbehaving (diplomatic word usage) with
every one that he encounters, irrespective of the wish of the woman. Then
Brahma cursed Raavana, that if he forces any woman for his pleasure, then his
head would break into multiple pieces. This is the reason why he did not push
Sita.
సర్వే
జనాః సుఖినో భవంతు
PS: There could be typos and other mistakes in telugu and
english, kindly pardon me with big hearts.
