AGNI PARIKSHA OF SITA – FACTS

(After becoming Chakravarti Samraat,
Shri Ram ordained that humanity, present and future, would never ask any female
to undergo this test. Perhaps this was the first Dharm of the much cherished
RAMRAJYA.)

Lot of confusion has been created regarding the role of Shri Ram in Agni
Pariksha of Sita. The question still remains to be answered whether Shri Ram
supported or opposed Agni Pariksha.

After a very complete and comprehensive victory over Ravana, Vibhishan was
coroneted as King of Lanka. The victorious Ram asked that Sita may be brought
back. And Sita was brought back with full protocol as a queen of the victorious
army chief.

But Ram is not called Maryada Purushottam just as a mark of respect. 
He always respected the existing tradition (Maryada) of that time. He declared
that Sita had to pass the Agni Pariksha test so that he could accept her back.
Laxman strongly opposed this. Yet the victorious army chief insisted that Agni
Pariksha was the only thing which could make him accept her. Sita agreed and
after the satisfactory completion of the ritual ‘Agni Pariksha’, Shri Ram
gladly accepted her back as his wife.

Returning back to Ayodhya, Ram was coroneted as king of Ayodhya. Shri Ram
was the king who had inherited the throne of great King Dasrath, which was
subsequently and ably ruled by Bharat on behalf of Shri Ram. They had an
efficient system of obtaining feedback from the public on the basis of which
laws were made for the welfare of the public

 And now King Ram was receiving these feedbacks. Some of these
feedbacks were very disturbing. They were all about Sita and how she could not
be accepted back as queen after staying with Ravan. Initially these feedbacks
were ignored. Slowly these feedbacks started increasing and dissatisfaction
became much more apparent. Something had to be done. It was then King Ram
decided, as per the existing Maryada of that time, that he would personally
hold a Court of Enquiry in which People would appoint their representative to
plead their case and Royalty shall appoint their representative to plead the
case of Sita.

The main objection of people regarding
Sita, was that Ravan approached Sita in the form of a ‘Bhikshuk’ and as a
‘Brahmin’ he was perfectly eligible to do that, and Sita, after transgressing
Laxman Rekha  went with Ravan on her own free will. As such Shri Ram had no reason to attack Lanka,
kill unaccountable people and then ‘forcibly’ bring Sita back.

In the court which was presided by Shri Ram, the representative of Royal
family pleaded that Sita was forcibly abducted by Ravan who came in the guise
of Bhikshuk for that very purpose and that she was coeresed in transgressing
the Laxman Rekha. Sita also personally testified the same. As a further proof
they cited the example of Jatayu who died fighting Ravana. Laxman gave this
evidence because Jatayu, of course was dead. They further provided evidence, as
how Sugrive had seen Sita being forcibly taken in the southern direction by
Ravan and wailing the name of Ram she threw her ornaments were Sugrive was.
They also made Hanuman testify, how in pathetic condition Sita was living in
Ashok Vaatika waiting for Ram to rescue here.

The Peoples representative informed the Court and King Ram that Ravan
approached Sita in the form of a Bhikshuk and demanded her as Bhiksha and that
as a Brahmin he was perfectly qualified to do that. Since no one else was
present at the site except Ravan and Sita, Laxman Rekha was an important piece
of evidence. Even Sita has accepted that no physical force was used to make her
transgress the Laxman Rekha. They also contended that, now, when Sita was in
absolute and physical control of King Ram and further because she was pregnant,
she was in no position to say anything else. They also contended that after she
voluntarily left Panchvati with Ravana, the only time she met any outsider was
Hanuman, whom too, she tried to cajole in eating fruits of the nearby garden so
that he could be captured by Rakshas. A woman in distress would have motivated
Hanuman to go back and inform Shri Ram of her where about and then have food.
She did just the opposite, they argued. Regarding Jatayu episode, they informed
that since Jatayu was a friend of Ayodhaya and an enemy of Ravana and since he
was already dead, the testimony of Lakshman need to be ignored. Regarding the
testimony of Sugrive they contended that it supported their case as Sita merely
abandoned her garments, given by Shri Ram, at a safe place from where Shri Ram
could get them back.

The only other credible evidence that needed to be looked at was Agni
Pariksha. While Sita had testified that to prove her loyalty and chastity she
had successfully undertaken Agni Pariksha test, peoples representative argued
that this age old ritual did not in any way certify the loyalty or chastity of
any woman. It was true that it required some special skills but those skills in
no way certified the loyalty or chastity of a female. They requested that this
test for such purpose be abandoned and hence forth decision on such matters may
be taken on the bases of physical evidence.

The Royal representative informed that Agni Pariksha was the noblest of the
Maryada (best tradition) prevailing at that time and only very chaste, pious
and pure person could have passed this test. What more, they argued, it had
religious sanctity and while other evidence might lack corroborative witnesses,
Agni Pariksha was performed by Sita in front of entire army. Agni Pariksha,
they felt can neither be ignored or rejected by the King.

After listening to arguments of both sides, King Ram REJECTED the results
of Agni Pariksha and held that the only time when Sita was on her own, free to
make her own decision, and under no duress, was when she was alone in
Panchvati. Her decision to cross the Lakshman Rekha, without the use of any
external force, can also be construed as her consent to go with Ravana. He also
observed, that after his victory over Ravana, none of the action of Sita can be
construed to be her own free decision and without any duress. He further said
that it is true that, as a King, it is difficult to reject the result of Agni
Pariksha, because it has religious sanctity, but he would like to go with
People’s representative in as much that although Agni Pariksha required special
skills, but those skills in no way certify the loyalty or chastity of the lady.
He DISOWNED SITA AND TOLD HER TO GO WHERE EVER SHE DESIRED TO GO.

He also declared that hence forth Agni Pariksha will not be used for
certifying or testifying the loyalty or chastity of a female. Use of Agni
Pariksha will be deemed to be an act of ADHARM and NOT an act of dharm, he
declared. He also declared that if ever he became a Chakravarti Samraat (one
whose writ runs all across the globe), he would make sure that such dastardly
acts are never performed by humanity in all ages and yugs.

 We the mortals know that Shri Ram was an incarnation of Vishnu and
Sita that of Goddess Lakshmi. They performed this Leela so that humanity may
never have to suffer such dastardly acts in future. It is also absolutely clear
that Shri Ram could not have disowned Sita without rejecting Agni Pariksha.
After becoming Chakravarti Samraat, Shri Ram ordained that humanity, present
and future, would never ask any female to undergo this test. Perhaps this was the
first Dharm of the much cherished RAMRAJYA. What were the other dharm, we would
like to know.

       PLEASE
ALSO READ THE FOLLOWING:

• KAEKAI AND
  RAM
• HOROSCOPE
  OF SHRI RAM
• RAMAYAN
  AND HISTORY
• HINDU
  HISTORY...START OF A NEW KALP