Choose right..

 Every day we are faced with hundreds of choices, Do we choose the right or the pleasurable.

If we could choose the right more often, we can transform ourselves and the world.


श्रेयश्च प्रेयश्च मनुष्यमेतः
तौ सम्परीत्य विविनक्ति धीरः ।
श्रेयो हि धीरोऽभि प्रेयसो वृणीते
प्रेयो मन्दो योगक्षेमाद्वृणीते ॥ ॥ कठ उपनिषद् – 1.2.2 ॥

Translation:

The preferable and the pleasurable approach man.
The intelligent one examines both and separates them.
Yea, the intelligent one prefers the preferable to the pleasurable,
(whereas) the ignorant one selects the pleasurable
for the sake of yoga (attainment of that which is not already possessed)
and kshema (the preservation of that which is already in possession). – Katha Upanishad – 1.2.2

Raavan as Sita's father

This is a version told to me by my mother.


Sita was a reincarnation of Vedavati (an avatar of Lakshmi), an orphan lady. Sita as Daughter of Ravana – The Story of Sita Born as Daughter of Raavan


Legend has it that Vedavati, a very pious woman wanted to marry Lord Vishnu. She was meditating on a river bank when Raavan was enamoured by her and tried to violate her. To escape from him, Vedavati jumped into the fire meant for yagna and before dying cursed Raavan that she would be responsible for Raavan's death in her next birth.


In her next birth Vedavati was born unto Raavan and Mandodari. As she was born, there was an 'Akashwani' stating that she would be responsible for his death. She was bundled and threw into the sea whereupon sea Goddess Varuni in turn gave her to Prithvi, the Goddess earth. She was given by Prithvi to Janaka who was performing a yagna for a child.


We know the rest of the story.


There are 2 stories to her abduction.. one which is common knowledge. The other is that

as she was Raavan's daughter, upon knowing that she was suffering due to Vanvaas thrust upon Ram by his father, Ravan took Sita away to Lanka to save her from the suffering. He tried to persuade her to stay with him, but did not reveal that he was her father, since he was ashamed of having abandoned her.


There is another version saying that Raavan was unaware of Sita being his daughter and since he lusted after his own daughter, though unaware of this fact, it was one crime too many, and that was the reason of his total destruction.


Whatever the story, my intention is not to hurt anyone's sentiments..


Whenever I pray before the Lord in the temple I visit every week, the beautiful idols of Raam Laxman Sita..I never fail to feel the agony of Sita.. for all she went through.. even though we each idol of Ram is incomplete without that of Sita.. they hardly enjoyed any life together.


Same true for Radha.. Since after having left Radha and Vrindava, Krishna never returned.


I feel the pain and agony of Radha.. forever waiting for her beloved..


Maybe it is their selfless unrequited love which have made them immortal.