“Lakshmyaasaha rishikeshaha devyaa kaarunya roopayaa!
Rakshaha sarva siddhaanthe vedaanthe vija geeyathe!!”
From the above sloka, we can understand that Bhagawan Shriman Narayana protects this entire world along with Goddess Mahalakshmi who is embedded in his heart. As Bhagawan takes the incarnation of Lord Rama, Goddess Mahalakshmi incarnated in this world as Sita Devi. Thus, Sita and Rama are always together and they protect all of us in this world! However, when both of them were living peacefully in the forest, the Raakshasa king, Ravana separated them and fled away with Sita to Lanka. We have been seeing the in-depth details of it till the previous episode. Ravana at Lanka imprisoned Sita for ten months! Valmiki Maharishi brings this out beautifully in the following sloka:
“Sundari raghunaathasya surastree dukha shaantaye!
Dashaananasya bhavane dasha maasaam uvaachaha!!”
Now comes the important in-depth analysis of why should Sita be imprisoned in Lanka! If we look at the deeper meaning of this entire event, it is said that, in order to release all the wives of the Devas (Celestial beings) from the imprisonment of Ravana in Lanka, Sita voluntarily got herself imprisoned too! It is to be recollected from the first few episodes that Ravana had waged battles with all the Devas, humiliated them and abducted all their wives to his Lanka! It is only to release all of them Goddess Sita is entering Lanka. Hence, instead of saying that Ravana abducted Sita, it would be wise enough for all of us to say that, Ravana was carried by Sita to Lanka to meet his downfall! Valmiki Maharishi indirectly brings out this in-depth meaning in one of his slokas in “Sundara Kaanda”:
“Tathoo raavana neethaayaaha seethaayaaha chathru karshana!”
Here, when Valmiki Maharishi says “Tathoo raavana neethaayaaha”, the outward meaning might appear as if Ravana carries Sita with him to Lanka! However, it is to be understood here that Valmiki Maharishi indirectly means Sita carried Ravana along with her and voluntarily imprisons herself in Lanka, so as to liberate the wives of the Devas who were in imprisonment.
One can immediately ask a question as to why should Sita go into the prison and liberate the others? Why can’t she do that by staying outside itself? For instance, if a person falls into a deep well, initially we put a long rope and ask him/her to hold it and try to climb up. If this is not working out, the next alternative solution is that we also jump inside the well and bring that person along with us! Similarly, the wives of the Devas, were entangled in a situation wherein they cannot be liberated from outside. Hence, Goddess Sita had to enter inside Lanka so as to liberate them from the clutches of Ravana.
Thus, Sita was in the prison in Lanka and she was suffering due to the separation from her beloved Rama. Rama in turn was suffering due to the separation from his beloved Sita! Thus, Rama searches his way towards the southern direction and on his way, meets Jataayu Mahaaraaja who was badly injured by Ravana. We witnessed in the previous episode that Rama granted the highest “Moksha” for Jataayu Mahaaraaja for his selfless service.
According to the guidance given by Jataayu Mahaaraaja, Rama proceeds further in the southern direction in search of Sita and Lanka. Enroute his search, the first hurdle that Rama and Lakshmana have to face now is the demon by name “Kabandha”. Upon seeing Rama and Lakshmana walking through the dense forest area, Kabandha takes a huge and a fearful form and appears in front of both of them!
“Chithaam aadeepayaamaasa saa prajwaala sankrakaha!
Tath shareeram kabandhasya drutha pindopamam mahath!”
From the above sloka, Valmiki Maharishi explains how Kabandha comes in the way of Rama and Lakshmana with his ferocious body and form. His head was in the place of his stomach! If he stretches both of his hands he can encapsulate all the animals, human beings, etc. within a huge distance of 10 yojanas, and eat them up! (It is to be recollected that 1 yojana approximately equals 13 kilometers). It was with this ferocity Kabandha appeared in front of Rama and Lakshmana!
As he came near them, due to his power, he lifted both Rama and Lakshmana in his hands and was ready to eat up both of them at one stroke! Rama and Lakshmana initially try to neutralise Kabandha with their sharp pointed arrows, but in vein! Kabandha was unperturbed! At one stage, Rama loses hope and says to Lakshmana, “Oh Lakshmana! Please try to save yourself and don’t worry about me! I’m going to be killed by this raakshasa! You go back to the kingdom and lead a happy life and forget me and Sita!”
Hearing these words from his brother, Lakshmana becomes furious at Kabandha and decides to employ powerful “Asthras” (missiles) to counter him. Thus the plan was made and with the help of the asthras, Lakshmana succeeds in cutting off the shoulders of Kabandha! Thus Rama and Lakshmana are now finally free from his clutches! In turn, Kabandha too is freed from his curse that he had previously acquired.
He now takes his normal form and talks to both Rama and Lakshmana, “Oh princes! I’m thankful to both of you for releasing me from my curse! I would like to help you in some way I can. I shall help you with a way to find Sita. However, I do not know where is Sita currently, but my advice to you is to go westwards from this location. You would reach an ashram, which of Sage Mathanga. There would be a big mountain near that ashram. The mountain is called “Rishyamookha Parvatha”. Once you reach that place, you would find a huge group of “Vaanaraas” (monkeys) under the leadership of Sugriva. You can make friendship with Sugriva and with his help you may be able to find out where Sita is!”
Thus, Rama and Lakshmana listen carefully to Kabandha’s advice and accordingly walk their way towards the western direction. We shall also walk along with Rama and Lakshmana for today and wait till the next episode to find where exactly did both of them go to next!
The Indian Dharma 