||Sri Ram Jeyram Jay Jay Ram ||

 

Chapter – 3 - Aranya Kandam

Devi Anasuya's advice on Sthree Dharma to Devi Sita

Devi Sita prostrated before Devi Anasuya, and received her blessings. Devi Anasuya embraced Devi Sita and offered a seat next to her. She decorated Devi Sita with marvelous ornaments, and clothes, that remains pure and flawless always. Devi Anasuya described the Sthreedharma to Devi Sita  “Oh! Princess, listen to me carefully, brother and father are most promising to a girl child, but they cannot provide happiness and welfare for a long time. Oh! Vaidhedhi, a woman who forgets to serve her husband is immoral. The Dhairya, Dharma, companion, and wife will put into test during the hours of crisis. Oh! Janaki, a woman has to serve her husband sincerely, even if he is blind, ill, old, sick, dull-minded, poor, speechless, and arrogant, a woman who disrespects husband would be considered as morally wrong and undergoes hellish torture. The scriptures strongly recommend that the woman has only one duty, that’s to serve her husband with mind, deed, and words and she should have devotion at his feet.  There are four types of chaste women mentioned in scriptures, Veda, and Rishis and Sages. 1) The woman who does not give space for another man not even in her dreams, is considered as highly virtuous and highly praised in Veda and Rishis 2) Woman who considers men in the society as her brother, father or son is known as Madhyamam 3) The Adhama is a woman who follows the duties and responsibilities to her husband to protect  Dharma and for the welfare of the clan 4) Woman who completely ignore the duties and responsibilities towards her husband, due to some reasons or fear, and fall in love with another man is heaved to hell called Raurava for hundreds of Kalpa. The woman, who takes pleasure in the physical relationship with the stranger, would be considered as a grave sinner. The woman who sincerely follow the chastity and duties and responsibilities towards her husband attain Paramamgathi effortlessly, If not she would take several births and become a widow at a young age.”

 

Devi Anasuya continues “Oh! Janaki, a woman is considered as impure by birth, but she attains purity and Paramagathi by sincerely serving her husband. Devi Tulsi is beloved of Lord Hari, she is well known for her chastity, the four Vedas eulogizes the glories of Devi Tulsi. Oh! Sita, listen to me, Srirama is beloved to you, therefore people contemplate you as well, in this way they will protect their Sthree Dharma, and I have narrated all these for the welfare of the world.” Devi Janaki reverentially prostrated before Devi Anasuya. Lord Rama spoke to Sage Atri “Oh! Mahamune, I shall take leave with your permission, kindly shower your compassionate grace upon us, I shall take leave to the woods, and I am your sincere servant, kindly keep showering love upon us.” Sage Atri affectionately replied “Oh! Rama, Oh! Vathsa, you are righteous and beloved of ascetics and noble souls, you are relative of distressed people, even Lord Bhrama and Lord Shiva, Sanakadhis, Paramarththavadhis yearn for your presence, is benevolent to me. I have understood why Devi Sita refused all the deities and married to you. She is highly intelligent, who does not want to have incomparable Lord in their lives? Oh! Swami, how did I ask you to keep exploring the woods? Oh! Antharyami, Oh! Natha, kindly advise me.” Sage Atri stood before Rama with folded hands, shed tears of extreme compassion, and fixed his gaze on the lotus-like face of Rama.

 

Sage Atri reverentially looked at the lotus feet of Rama and thought “What kind of austerities and penance I have undertaken to attain the presence of supreme Lord who is all-pervasive, beyond Triguna, sense, and mind? It is necessary to undergo extreme austerities, Japa and Yoga, to attain intense devotion and faith, that’s the reason Tulsidas constantly sang in praise of supreme Lord Raghuveera and his glorious legends. Whoever sings in praise of the splendor of Srirama would get rid of impurities of the mind. It is the source of permanent bliss, whoever listens to the glorious legends of Sri Rama with devotion would attain the grace of him. The Kali era is the collection of evilness, there will not be Dharma, Gnana, Yoga, Tapas, etc. Therefore whoever takes shelter at the lotus feet of Rama, leaving all other faith would be considered as intelligent.”