Aug 18, 2007

Chapter 60: Rama weds Sita

V tells Ahalya’s son Shatanand that Rama brought back life to Ahalya. Ahalya’s son’s gratitude to Rama. Rama and Lakshman go flower-picking. Rama sees Sita. Sita sees Rama. Both stare. Love at first sight. Sita prays Parvathi to have Rama as hubby. Parvathi appears and thathasthu - you will get Rama as hubby. Rama prays Shiva to have Sita as wife but he is confused since he cannot participate in the Swayamavara. Shiva appears and informs Rama that destiny got him here and destiny alone will take care of future. No need for him to worry. Parvati and Shiva speak to one another. Vishnu considers Shiva as his idol when in human avatar, and Shiva considers Vishnu as his idol at other times. Parvati says that she will fulfill Sita's promise. All for good, says Shiva.

Day of Swayamvara. Ravana too graces the occasion. Raja Janaka’s Guru says “no” to asuras in Maanav’s occasions. Ravana ignores (as he ignored his wife before going to swayamvara). The one who wins Sita is one who picks up the Pinakini (gifted by Parashuram and unliftable except by Sita). So Ravana thinks its his Pinakini. He cannot lift it. He falls. All laugh. Others try too. No one can. All laugh. Ravana announces that no one can lift it and Sita will remain unmarried. He walks away.

Meanwhile, in the swayamvara, Janaka is sad that no Kshatriya is strong enough to lift Pinakini and says so to all contestants. Lakshman shouts at Janaka no to belittle Kshatriyas (He and Rama are not competitors but V’s (who is a spectator) aides) V too is sad that no one is able to marry Sita.

V orders Rama to lift the bow, to save the face of Kshatriya and Janaka. Rama approaches Pinakini. He chants prayers to Lord Shiva (whose gift it is). Does pooja to Pinakini like aarthi, flowers, etc. Chants more prayers and then finally lifts the Pinakini in his left hand quite easily enough.

He ties the string and pulls the string in mock-arrowing. But the bow breaks in the middle because of the pull. Thunder strikes. Rama feels guilty. Parashuram, doing tapas, suddenly realizes the Pinakini is broken and marches in anger to Janaka’s palace.

Sita, as ordered, garlands Rama and accepts him as her hubby. She thanks her stars. Rama thanks Shiva for giving him the power. At that time, Parashuram comes to the palace and sees the broken Pinakini and vows to kill the man who did this.

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