Swami said...

[Guest guest]

Bombay Srinivasan

 

Panchavati is a place on the

banks of River Godavari running near the city Nashik. Sri Rama stayed in this

place during His sojourn in the forest with Sita and Lakshmana. It was from

this place that Ravana kidnapped mother

Sita and took Her away to Lanka. Sri Rama was well aware of the plans of

Ravana and made preparations for the momentous developments, and resolved with

Mother Sita, on their strategy and plans.

Bhagavan Baba had beautifully narrated the entire conversations in detail

in one of His divine discourses. Since Sai Himself is Sri Rama, the following

words should be exact words from Rama. Let us go through the Divine

dialogue. (Source Sai Vaani)

RESOLVE AT PANCHAVATI

 

Swami said:

 

When Ravana came near Panchavati

in order to kidnap Sita, Rama suddenly felt that the moment of fulfillment of

their task had come. Rama sent Lakshmana to collect tubers and fruits for the

day. And, noting that the proper hour

had come, He told Sita thus:

 

“Companion! You know all. Both of us are aware why we have

come on earth, and what our task is.

That task is now calling us. We have to enter upon it, in right earnest

now. Your nature and characteristics are

noble and holy beyond measure. We both

have assumed these human bodies, through rites associated with the fire

principle. My body arose from the

offering brought out of the flames of the sacrificial fire by the God Agni

Himself. You arose from the earth that

was furrowed by the plough in order to consecrate it for a fire-altar, where a

yagna had to be performed. Our bodies are born in fire and are being sustained

by the warmth of fire. Therefore, Sita,

deposit all your Divine attributes and splendor in the fire, and act as an

ordinary human being hereafter. I too

shall move and act as an ordinary human being and exhibit sorrow and anxiety on

your account, the pangs of separation and the pain of loneliness. The world

will keep in mind only these reactions.

Remember that even the smallest act of ours has to be an ideal for the

householders of the world. We have to hold forth as models in the relationship

between husband and wife, these ideals have to be in consonance with the

principles of Truth and righteousness.

Our activities have to be in conformity with the guidelines laid down in

the Shastras, the spiritual; texts. We

have to shape our lives in an exemplary manner so that the common man can

follow the ideals elaborated therein. We

have to enact this drama until the final consummation, namely, the destruction

of Ravana and the Raakshasas (demons).

 

Therefore, place your Divine splendor in the keeping fo

the God of fire, Agni, and move about as an ordinary woman caught in the coils

of illusion, Maya. For, there can be no effect without a cause. We must redeem

the effect namely, the destruction of Ravana and the Raakshasas. Therefore, we

must manipulate a cause to justify it or bring it about. Ravana has a basic fault in his character,

namely, his lustful passion. We have to

highlight it before the world. So, we have to prepare such a situation that it

would appear as if he kidnaps you in a fit of passion. The world has to realize

that his ‘dedication and devotion to

God’ are not of the highest order, for, of what use is that sense of

surrender if it is tarnished by the craving for carnal pleasure and immoral

yearning? Activities and behavior emanating from a consciousness that is not

pure and is tarnished, and the devotion to God that is polluted by lust is as

foul as dirt. These truths have to

emphasized now, for the benefit of mankind.

 

“It is also imperative to announce for the benefit of the

mankind that any spiritual Sadhana or asceticism or religious rites undertaken

with the intention of gaining super-human powers are pernicious. We have to

hold forth Ravana as a warning to mankind that, however many Divine rites and

acts one may do, if one does not give up one’s demonic passions and impulses,

they add up to only one result – rendering them unholy and sterile.

 

Over and above all this, there is one overwhelming

consideration we have to place before ourselves. There is a curse that has been

pronounced on Ravana and he has also been assured of a means by which he could

see its consequence. We have to see that

the means is fulfilled. The beginning of

his end has arrived. Today or tomorrow, we have to be separated from each

other. Of course, we are inseparable entities and nothing can keep us apart.

Yet, we have to pretend that it has happened, in order to render the make-

believe effective. Go now, and deposit

your Divine Form in the keeping of Agni (fire). It is time for Lakshmana to

return with fruits and tubers. Also,

Ravana is ready with his perverted intelligence.

 

“I have to inform you of another secret, too. You have to

perform your part in the destruction of the Rakshasas. Though you might be

apparently under the surveillance of Ravana, since your power is immanent in

Fire, you will have to burn Lanka to ashes, not by fire, but by you as fire. In

addition, Rama has to kill Ravana; that is the Divine Will. This truth has to be proclaimed. This mystery

is to be kept away from Lakshmana also. He is our instrument in our endeavors.

When this task is accomplished and when we re-enter Ayodhya, I shall accept you

again from the fire where you reside. That act too I will transform into a

lesson for the world. The Drama starts now.â€

 

Both Sita and Rama decided

on their plan of action and awaited the unfoldment of Ravana’s strategy. From

that moment, every act and behavior of Sita and Rama, the pangs of separation,

the gasps of anxiety, the signs of pain, the groans of grief – were gestures

and reactions in the drama decided upon. They were not genuine at all. For, how

can Sita and Rama ever be separated! Through their conduct, they only willed to

teach mankind some valuable lessons.

 

When Sita was kidnapped by

Ravana, Lakshmana felt like giving up his life, for he was the cause for Sita’s

kidnap. Later he realized that his death

may cause more sorrow to Rama. Lakshmana

then realized that it had all happened because of Rama’s will. It was a part of

His drama, and he pleaded Rama to tell the truth behind His play. Then Rama replied with a smile;

 

 

“Lakshmana! You are a limb of my person, so, what can I

keep away from you? I have incarnated in order to uphold and

foster Dharma. To do so, I have to enact many scenes of righteous conduct. A baby that wails has to be comforted into

quietness by means of prattle and play, toys and jingles, songs and swings. The

mother has to devise many stratagems on the spot in order to persuade the baby

to drink the milk that it needs.

Similarly, dear brother, I, who am the mother of the Universe have to

act in these manifold ways to re-establish righteousness and demolish

unrighteousness. These incidents have

been designed to secure the twin aims of the removal of grief and the wining of

bliss. They are not just meaningless exercises.

 

Ordinary folds base their conduct on the ideals presented

to them. So, as the Master and Leader, I

have to practice what I intend to place before the as ideal conduct. Unless I practice what I hold forth as ideal,

I cannot claim to be Master and leader. When masters and leaders, who do not

deserve the positions, but still exercise their authority, righteousness

declines and unrighteousness runs wild.

Therefore, brother, remember that those in authority as masters and

leaders must prove their advice right, in actual practice. They must realize

the ideals they preach by their own genuine effort. This is the way for them

to earn the grace of God and the gratitude of men.

 

“Sita knows the role she is playing. These two bodies –

Sita’s and Mind – evince the joys and pains of union and separation only as

bodies! The pain and pleasure, the weeping and wailing are all illusory and

unreal. They follow the needs and compulsions of the incarnation I have taken

upon Myself, along with other limitations.

I am taking you into confidence regarding My reality. Take note that you

too will have to act in conformity, as the story unfolds. This Divine Mystery

is beyond the intelligence of others. So, you must all keep mum on this and

play according to the rules. We have to concentrate on the mission for which we

have come.â€

 

 

After this revelation,

they plunged immediately into the task of searching for Sita. Both acted their

roles during this search most sincerely, admirably, and realistically. Not only

the brothers, but Sita too exhibited supreme nobility and acted with equal

staunchness and sincerity, even though the Rakshasa guards terrorized her and

threatened her most cruelly. The drama enacted by the two parties held forth

for every householder and every individual, the highest ideal of righteous

conduct.

 

Baba

 

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