Pratyaya Chita प्रत्यय चिता

I share this short narrative only to verbalize the ideas that inspired this piece. The idea of art is to create the same bhava in the observer. Art makes you experience a bhava while language rationalizes it. Hence, language is, by its very nature, reductive. And if one is not careful, it can sometimes act against the very bhava that the art attempts to create. I pray that adding this description will only enhance the experience of the art:

वागर्थाविव संपृक्तौ वागर्थप्रतिपत्तये ।

जगतः पितरौ वन्दे पार्वतीपरमेश्वरौ ॥

COMMENTARY
This piece captures the episode of what is popularly known as Sita’s agnipariksha. In the Ramayana, Valmiki never describes it in these terms and contrary to popular narratives, Rama never asks Sita to undergo any Pariksha.

प्रत्ययार्थं तु लोकानां त्रयाणाम् सत्यसंश्रयः |
उपेक्षे चापि वैदेहीं प्रविशन्तीं हुताशनम् || ६-११८-१७

"In order to convince the three worlds, I, whose refugee is truth, ignored Seetha while she was entering the fire." Says Rama after Sita comes out of the chita that she chooses to enter after Rama refuses to accept her back. Valmiki’s decription of this entire episode where Rama is torn between being a husband and being a King at the same time is a brilliant narrative on the pain and sacrifice of upholding dharma. Rama’s demeanor silently seems to ask Sita for a “self accreditation” for the benefit of the people whose Queen she is poised to become. Just as a modern elected official needs to reveal his financial records, the needs of the times perhaps needed a person of even Sita’s stature to demonstrate her character. Sita’s admonition of Rama is a testimony to the stature of women, and Sita’s own understanding of Dharma is demonstrated throughout Ramayana. Her instructions to Laxmana to prepare a pyre is an example of her ability to think like a Queen. While she is deeply hurt and angry, she seems to understand why this needs to be done and exclaims:

यथा मां शुद्धचरितां दुष्टा जानाति राघवः ।
तथा लोकस्य साक्षी मां सर्वतः पातु पावकः ॥

As my heart never wavers from Rama, may the world’s witness (Agni) protect me from all sides!

Following Vijayadashami, this piece is an attempt to capture the true spirit of the episode and erase distortions many modern day activists seem to have injected into our consciousness.

नमामि विश्वजननीं रामचन्द्रेष्टवल्लभाम् ।
सीतां सर्वानवद्याङ्गीं भजामि सततं हृदा ॥