Yesterday I found out the exact time I was born and told the pujari. Another pujari, across the bridge in Pamban, produced my birth chart with his computer. Over the phone they discussed the details. Where the stars shone when I was born. How they rested in the sky. They determined that there was no reason for me to do the naga prathista, but if I was going to do the ritual, I first had to wash away the misfortune of being born in America with the waters of the Lakshmana Tirtham.
In the Dandak forest, Ravana’s uncle, Maricha, used his maya to become a golden doe to lure Rama and Lakshmana away from Sita. When he pranced through their encampment, Sita called out to her husband. Look! What a beautiful doe. See how it shines in the sunlight, gently nibbling on grass? Can you catch it? Please? I’ll die without it! Lakshmana cautioned his brother — It must be a demon, because no deer could be made of gold with jewels in its hide. To which Rama replied, Haven’t you heard of the seven golden swans? Who are as real as you are? The world is full of wonder; if it is real, I will capture it. If it is a demon, then it will die by the shafts of my arrows! He was led deep into the wood before one of his arrows found its mark. The doe fell onto the dark leaves littering the forest floor and cried out in Rama’s voice. Lakshmana, please help me!
Left alone, Sita prayed for husband’s safe return. She might have closed her eyes. Or they were covered in her tears. In Ravana’s flying vehicle, the pushpak vimanam, she couldn’t bare to watch the woods disappear into the earth below. Would he have abducted her if he had remembered the curse? Four yugas before, he tried to steal Vedavati from her husband, Visnu, in a forest much like this one. He grabbed her long black hair; Vedavati cut it. He reached for her arm- which turned into fire. Before she immolated the rest of herself, Vedavati cursed him. I will be born again to destroy you she said. I will be born from the earth.
Months later, when Hanuman led the brothers to rescue Sita, they stopped at Rameswaram. They took a bath in this tirtham.
In Ravana’s garden, Sita waited under a Sorrowless Tree coming into bloom.
next
Feb 22, 06:09 PM