Sita Devi – Determined devotion refuses to choose the easy way out no matter what the justification

Transcript

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Hare Krishna.
On the sacred occasion associated with Sita Devi, let us meditate on how she defines, exemplifies determination amidst submission in her unique devotion. Sita Devi is the consort of Sri Ramachandra and we see her determination in being willing to accept the sentence of forest, although that was not imposed on her directly. In fact, Lord Ram was exiled and Lord Ram told her that she was not expected to go and in fact, Lord Ram said, you cannot come.
He discouraged her, talking elaborately about the dangers and even the terrors of forest life. But Sita was unflinching and she said that I will go ahead of you and the thorns which are going to go in your feet, let them go in my feet so that you can walk on a thorn free path. Such was her determination.
And when she accepted such danger, why? Because she wanted to be with her Lord, she wanted to serve her Lord. She wanted to share in not just his joys, but also in his sorrows. So we often think of devotion as involving submission.
Yes, whatever we are told, we should do that. Yes, that is definitely true. But there are also times when the Lord tests us by giving us something to do, which may not always be the best for us.
Either or may test our determination to see if we are ready to accept something more challenging or ready to choose something more challenging. So for Sita, actually, she could have said that, oh, following my husband is also my duty. And if he’s telling me to stay, let me stay.
She considered that her duty was to be by her side of her Lord and serve him in whatever way she could. So her submission, of course, is evident in many other ways where she was always faithful and chaste and obedient to the Lord. But that submission did not in any way erode her determination.
And actually her determination is also seen when despite having both temptation and tribulation while in the clutches of Ravana, she did not deviate. Temptation, Ravana told her that you will become my chief queen. He actually took her on a tour of his palace.
He showed her the Pushpaka Viman and he showed her such extraordinary opulence. And he said, you will be the queen of all this. Just accept me.
But she was not even tempted in the least by any of that opulence. Although turning away from that opulence meant that not only would she not get anything, she would have to live in bereavement and suffering. And along with the temptation, Ravana used sort of the good cop, bad cop strategy.
Good cop is, if you act according to what we want, we will give you so much. And bad cop is, if you don’t do this, you will suffer so much. So he personally acted like a gentleman.
And of course, he was no gentleman. Sita knew that because he had abducted her. But he acted, at least initially, he would act as very infatuated by her and very, almost begging her and alluring her by grand promises.
But in the background, he told the Rakshasis, the deformed, hideous looking Rakshasis who were who were guarding her, to threaten her. And they would threaten her that if you refuse the cake, he will have you cooked and eaten for breakfast. And they would blaspheme her and they would try to mentally weaken and mentally abuse and mentally torture Sita.
But although she was in situation, not just for one day, two day, but for a full year. And even that actually she had this one day when she interacted with Hanuman. But even amidst all that, except for the association of Visha’s wife, who offered her some encouragement.
But apart from that, she was amidst such temptation and tribulation, any of which could have been a justification for giving up her single-pointed devotion to Lord Rama. But she never gave it up. And that example of chastity and devotion is inspiring and meditating on it can be empowering.
So we all face opportunities to justify lower levels of devotion and to give in to temptations and tribulations during our practice of bhakti. By praying to Sita Devi, by begging for her mercy, by meditating on her example, we can shake off such tendencies and imbibe her determination to continue to serve the Lord under all situations. Shanti Sita Devi ki Jai.
Thank you. Hare Krishna.