"I don't even want the Heavens Sita, if I cannot have You by My side. I may have broken the bow kept at the wedding, but I shall never break My wedding vows."
Love is a promise to walk through everything hand in hand. Whether it's the palace gardens...
"This baby has all the auspicious signs of fortune in Her palms and soles."
Shatanand exclaimed in surprise when He saw the baby. King Janaka held the newborn in His arms and cradled Her lovingly.
The Kings of Mithila were called the Janakas. They had a lineage of monarchs who were chosen on the basis of knowledge and wisdom, rather than dynasties and ancestries.
The present King Janaka, Seeradhwaja, was the ruler of the kingdom of Videha. His empire spread from the east of the Gandaki river, west of the Mahananda River, north of the Ganga river and south of the Himalayas. His capital was at Janakpur Dhaam.
Descendant of King Nimi, He was the son of Hrasvaroman. He was known for His ideals of detachment to material possessions, and worldly illusions. His spiritual discourses and interactions with famous saints and sages like Rishi Ashtavakra, Rishi Sulabha and Rishi Gargi had made Mithila the intellectual centre of spirituality and wisdom.
He patronised Vedic culture, philosophy and literature. His conversation with Rishi Ashtavakra has been recorded by writers in the form of the scriptures of Ashtavakra Geeta.
His Wife, Queen Sunayana was equally wise and grounded. She took care of the affairs of the state and was the main acting force behind all the important decisions. She was profound yet practical, balancing inner wisdom with a pragmatic approach.
However, They did not have any children. They didn't not consider having children as a major part or milestone of life.
Until now. The moment He discovered the baby.
When rainfalls failed to grace the lands of Videha, a huge drought made the entire kingdom suffer. Taking the advice of the saints and sages, King Janaka decided to conduct a yagya or fire sacrifice. And He needed to plough the earth with a golden plough to complete the yagya.
But the moment the plough touched the ground, it felt hard against a wooden surface. King Janaka had the earth dug out at the same spot and to His surprise, He found a wooden chest, with a beautiful, baby girl inside. She was healthy, alive and perfectly smiling.
As soon as He held Her in Her arms, magically rain clouds appeared and Mithila was freed from the curse of the drought. She was auspicious and divine, as if Goddess Lakshmi Herself had blessed Their Kingdom.
Their Head Priest, Shatanand, advised the King to take care of the child and raise Her until He found out about Her whereabouts and real parents.
"She is the Goddess of Fertility, a child of Mother Earth, who has blessed Us with the blessings of good crops and harvest." One of the assembled sages declared.
King Janaka always felt content with whatever He had in life. But now, He felt complete.
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"Sita, the daughter I discovered through a furrow on the womb of Bhoomi Devi, while ploughing."
Queen Sunayana looked at the wonderful infant King Janaka had brought home. He named Her Sita, and handed Her to His Queen for care and adoration.
"She is so beautiful. Swami, I feel that this is a divine intervention and She is a blessing from the Gods, sent for Us. That is why We discovered Her so magically. Can We please adopt Her and raise Her as Our own daughter? I promise I will fulfil every need of Hers and be the best mother I can be. She has even brought rains to our kingdom through Her miracles. She is miraculous and divine."
She tried Her best to convince the King. She was usually a practical person who displayed less emotions. But looking at the child, She melted and all Her motherly love overflowed, like the emotions She has yearned for and had hidden for so long.
"I agree with You and this is a wise decision. But what if Her parents turn up one day to claim Her?"
Queen Sunayana paused and looked up at Him, wondering if what He said prophesied to be true one day.
"If that does happen, then I shall humbly request the parents to adopt the child as My own. We are capable of giving Her everything that She needs for welfare. But honestly, I don't think Her parents will turn up, otherwise They would not have so cruelly abandoned Her, leaving Her to die in an enclosed chest. She could have felt breathless and unable to survive. But it's God's divine grace that She is still alive and healthy."
The King completely trusted His Wife's words, and knew that Her decisions were never wrong. He agreed, much to His own happiness.
"You're the Princess of Videha, and will be known as Vaidehi." Her Father declared.
Queen Sunayana smiled, and with glistening eyes, She spoke, "The Daughter of Sunayana, Sunayana Suta, and the Daughter of King Janaka, Janaka Dulari, Janaka Suta, Janaki." She handed Her over to Her Father.
He raised the baby high and exclaimed in joy. "The beloved of Mithila, Maithili."
Queen Sunayana touched the forehead of the child and said, "The one born from Bhoomi, Bhoomija."
The King and Queen consulted the astrologers to predict the child's future and draw Her both chart and Kundli.
"This daughter of the Gods, will change the destiny of Aryavarta. She has been born for a divine purpose and shall assist Lord Vishnu. She will be Lord Rama's Ramaa."
The King and Queen were both delighted and worried. Delighted to know that She was no ordinary child. And worried because that meant that She would have Her own struggles and ordeals. For divine play is never ordinary but unique, with pain, love, separation and belonging.
They now needed to provide Her with everything They could. As well as make sure that She met the incarnation of Lord Vishnu who was destined to be Her Husband, so that She could fulfil Her divine purpose.
She was Their Siya, Janak Nandini, Parthavi, Raghavi.
She was indeed a Goddess. Everyone's to call Her own and no one's to be abandoned.
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।। श्री राम जय राम जय जय राम ।। ।। जय श्री सियाराम ।। ।। जय बोलो श्री राम लक्ष्मण जानकी जय बोलो श्री राम भक्त हनुमान जी की ।।
