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In this story, a series of events leads Sita to perform the last rites for her father-in-law, facing disbelief and skepticism from her husband and brother-in-law, and resulting in a powerful curse on those who lied to her.
Characters in the story:
Sita: Sita is the wife of Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. She is regarded as an epitome of feminine virtues and is worshipped as a goddess by many.
Lord Ram: Lord Rama is one of the most revered deities in Hinduism and is the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu. He is known for his virtues of righteousness, courage, and devotion, and is considered a symbol of ideal human behavior and the victory of good over evil.
Lakshmana: Lakshmana is a prominent character in the Hindu epic Ramayana, where he is depicted as the younger brother of Lord Rama and a loyal companion in his journey to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana.
King Dasharatha: King Dasharatha is a legendary figure in Ramayana who ruled the kingdom of Ayodhya and was the father of Lord Rama.
Rama was left in deep grief hearing the news of King Dasharatha’s passing. Recognizing his role as a dutiful son, Ram tasked his brother, Lakshmana, with venturing deep into the forest to collect the essential components for the final funeral rites. However, Lakshmana did not return for a long time, leaving Rama and Sita anxious. Worried, Rama decided to go after Lakshmana himself, leaving Sita alone. As time passed, Sita became increasingly concerned as the ritual had to be performed before noon.
Feeling that she had no other choice, Sita decided to perform the last rites herself. She bathed in the Falgu river and gathered whatever ingredients she could find. When she presented the pinda to her father-in-law, a voice from the heavens spoke and hands appeared, offering blessings and requesting the pinda. Sita was baffled, but then learned that the hands she saw belonged to Dashratha, her father-in-law. She fretted that Rama might not trust her when she recounted the incident to him.
When Rama and Lakshmana returned with the necessary ingredients, they asked Sita to cook and prepare everything for the last rites. However, Sita narrated her experience, but the brothers did not believe her.
Sita then turned to the four witnesses present during the ritual: the Falgu river, a cow, Ketaki flower, and a sacrificial fire. She asked them to corroborate her story, but to her surprise, they all lied. Sita was heartbroken, realizing that even the witnesses were not on her side.
As Rama offered the pinda to his father, a voice from the sky confirmed that Sita had already given the pinda. Rama and Lakshmana felt ashamed for not trusting Sita, and Dasharatha confirmed that everything Sita had said was true. Lord Surya also confirmed that Sita had offered the pinda.
However, Sita was angry with the four witnesses who had lied to her. She cursed them. The Falgu river was cursed to forever flow underground. The mouth of the cow was considered impure, while its back remained pure. Ketaki flowers were no longer to be used in Shiva’s worship, and fire was cursed to consume everything indiscriminately.
The story highlights the importance of trust and faith, especially in relationships. It also emphasizes the consequences of lying and the importance of speaking the truth. Sita’s curse shows that dishonesty can have lasting and far-reaching consequences. The story also illustrates the significance of performing last rites, a Hindu ritual that honors the dead and helps their soul on their journey to the afterlife.
In conclusion, the story of Sita performing the last rites for her father-in-law highlights the importance of trust and truth in relationships. It also reminds us of the significance of Hindu rituals and traditions. Finally, the story shows the consequences of dishonesty and the importance of being truthful.
