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| THE AGNI PARIKSHE |
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| CORONATION OF RAMA |
Demanding a proof of her innocence during captivity, Rama
desired Sita to pass through a fiery ordeal. Rama did this to convince all skeptics about his wife's
purity rather than to assure himself.
So accordingly Sita was asked to take the 'AGNI PARIKSHE' (the fire ordeal).
She was made to sit on a pyre of fire and if she were pure the AGNI wouldn't
harm her thus proving her purity. Accordingly Agni didn't even harm even a hair
of her body leaving her unscathed proving her to be pure. After her innocence
was proved, Rama, Sita and Lakshmana returned to Ayodhya.
Rama was welcomed with great joy and enthusiasm. His coronation
took place in Ayodhya with great pomp and grandeur. Sita became his queen. Ayodhya became a
perfect haven. Happiness and peace were firmly established. They were happy for
sometime, ruling over the kingdom. The city of Rama or the
'RAMA RAJYA' came to be known as the city where prosperity and peace prevails. But their happiness
was short-lived. Sita had after a long time become pregnant.She developed the
desire to give some gifts to the wives of sages. She told Rama of her desire.
Rama laughed and said, "Sita, was it not enough that you stayed with the
wives of the rishis during our sojourn in the forest? Do you wish for the forest-life
again?" Sita smilingly replied, "At that time I was also the wife of
a forest dweller and was empty-handed. Now I am a queen and can afford to give
them generous gifts." Rama agreed saying, "Very good. Let it be so."
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| RAMA RAJYA - THE KINGDOM
OF RAMA - THE CITY OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY |
That same night a frightful thing happened. Rama was resting in his room after
supper, a spy, whose duty it was to report to the king whatever
was happening in the city, came to him. He said, "Of course all subjects praise you. But
there is a washer man in this city whose name is Mara and
his wife is Mari. She
quarreled with her husband and went away to her parents' house.
They, however,
advised her properly and brought her back to the husband's place.
The arrogant
and angry washer man snarled, 'I am not Rama to take back a wife who had gone
away.'
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| RAMA LOST IN THOUGHTS |
But you should not think too much of it."
Hearing the spy's words, Rama was stunned. Sending him away, Rama
was lost in deep worry. He said to himself, 'Alas, Sita! Why did you marry me? You seem fated
to have only sorrow. Well, camphor cannot be offered to God without being burnt.
Your life is also like that. As a king I have to conduct myself as a model to
my citizens. Though a washer-man, Mara is also a subject of my kingdom. Therefore
it becomes my duty now to renounce you.'
Rama sat for long in a stupefied state. He sent for all his brothers. By then
it was midnight. All of them rushed to him anxiously.
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