deserting sati

                         Shiv deserts Sati

 

 It was the time of tretayug wherein Lord Vishnu had taken birth in Ayodhya as prince and son of king Dashrath. When king Dashrath wished to retire after enthroning his favourite son Ram, one of the maid of his favourite wife Kaikeyi named Manthara, was used by celestial deities to instigate the Queen to obtain two boons from her husband Dashrath who had promised the boons to her long back in a battle field. Instigated by cunning Manthara Kaikeyi  entered her kopbhavan to express her anger to the king. When king went to persuade her, she asked him to grant her tow boons due to her. She demanded enthroning her own son Bharat as the king of Ayodhya and exile of fourteen years to prince Ram. To keep his words to his favourite wife Kaikeyi, king exiled prince Ram for fourteen years and the prince accompanied by his wife Sita and younger brother Lakshman wondered in the jungles.When prince Ram lived in the woods with his wife Sita and younger brother Lakshman,  Shurpanakha, the sister of King of Lanka named Ravan got enamoured to the twin brothers. But the chaste brothers turned her away. Feeling that they spurned her owing to presence of Sita, she pounced upon her to devour her. But the devoted Lakshman chopped off the nose and ears of Shurpnakha. Frustrated and humiliated Shurpnakha narrated to her brother the charm of  Sita and instigated him to make her his queen. Insinuated by his cunning sister, Ravan sent his brother Mareech, disguised as  agloden deer to lure Sita. Sita got tempted to have the deerskin of the golden animal and sent Ram to kill the deer and get her the skin. Ram followed the illusive deer who cleverly dragged him into the thick forest. When Mareech died of an arrow unleashed by prince Ram he heaved a loud shriek – ha lakshman, I got killed.’ Hearing such shriek Sit asked Lakshman to rush to help his brother. When the brothers were away Ravan appeared before Sita and took away Sita forcibly and made her a prisoner, lest she should woo him amicably from their hutment at Panchvati. On returning from the forest with the deerskin the brothers found Sita missing. Bereaved brothers set out in search of Sita. Lord Shiv and Goddess Sati were also passing by the same wood. When Sati found prince Ram, Lord Shiv saluted him with great respect. This confused Mother Sati for she believed her husband to be the Supreme Master of Universe.

 Not able to understand the profound respect of his yogi husband to an ordinary prince, she asked Lord Shiv,-“Lord! Who was this fortunate man whom you saluted with such respect? I wish to know.’” “Sati! This was no ordinary man but my favourite Lord Vishnu who has taken birth as prince Ram in Ayodhya and is now searching for his wife Sita.”

 Replied Lord Shiv. Sati was all the more confused. How could Lord Vishnu who is worshiped by such a great yogi as Lord Shiv, roam around so casually like an ordinary man, she could not understand. Although she did not express her doubt, Lord Shiv was aware of the turmoil in her mind. He therefore said,-“Sati! If you do not believe me then better go and test him yourself.” This idea appealed to Sati and she moved ahead to test the spiritual status of prince Ram. She disguised as Sita and stood quietly in the way where prince Ram accompanying his younger brother Lakshman was passing bye. As she stood there, smilingly, hoping to deceive the prince, he came near her and said,-

Mother Sati! Salutations to you. How is that you are wandering all alone here? Where is Lord Shiv?” He said with perfect poise and a smile. Sati was aghast.

“Ram! Lord Shiv is singing your glory in the nearby forest. I got confused to see you roaming so… lamenting for your wife, like an ordinary man. Now my doubt has been removed. Please tell me how have you attained such status that even Lord Shiv salutes you..” she asked. Ram replied with modesty,-“Goddess Sati! In the past once Lord Shiv invited all deities and made Lord Vishnu sit in a throne. He offered him best of the offerings and declared in front of all,-‘Lord Vishnu is my Lord. Let us all worship him always.” Ever since then both Lord Shiv and Vishnu always worship each other.” Sati was convinced to learn the history of mutual adoration of her husband to Lord Vishnu. Prince Rama saluted her and sought her blessings as a son and moved ahead.

It took Sati no time to realise that she had out of impulse only, committed a blunder as Lord Shiv would not forgive her for this act of depravity for he held consort of Lord Vishnu in the highest esteem. Further as she brooded over her such thoughtless gesture, she fell in a quandary. As she looked up and around what she saw were  myriads of Sita, Ram and Lakshman all around her. Wherever she threw a glance she found the three moving ahead together. Perplexed, she closed her eyes and sat down under a tree. When she regained poise and opened her eyes she found herself sitting all alone with no trace of prince Ram around. She heaved a sigh and decided to go back to Lord Shiv. Having tested the spiritual status of prince Ram ,she felt ashamed of her own action and stood in front of Lord Shiv with a head drooping down. Lord Shiv just said,-“Sati! How did you test him? Are you assured now or not yet?” There cam no clear reply. Silence utters all that word fail to express. With a calm smile, Shiv entered into Samadhi. Sati could not dare say anything. What tormented her further was the gesture of her husband Lord Shiv who had removed her cushion from his left and placed it in front of him, thus professing that now having disguised as Sita, she was to him like his mother and no more his consort.

 Such gesture floored her all together. Without scolding her she had been quietly deprived of her status. Having gone through such nonverbal alienation/ostracization, Sati began to sulk day in, day out. No conversation took place between them about the episode and the couple lived with a sombre silence spread between them. Sati had no opportunity to repent for or to atone fore her blunder that had deprived her of the status of a wife. Whenever she found an opportunity to serve him, she would rush to do and Lord Shiv would always narrate to her spiritual truth alone and never treated her as his wife. This tormented Sati so much that she had no option to further discussing with him regarding the episode that alienated them to such extent.