"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...
Sita was the living Goddess and miraculous wonder of Mithila.
With every passing day, all the inhabitants of Videha revered Her with so much devotion, because She had been the dispeller of Their sorrows.
She was the apple of the eyes of Her parents, who would shower Her with affection and presents. King Janaka was a doting father, and He had never imagined the joy He had missed out in life because He didn't have a daughter and had once refused to have children.
Very soon after a year of Sita's discovery, Her younger sister, Urmila was born to Queen Sunayana. And Her uncle Kushadhwaja was also blessed with two baby girls, Shrutakirti and Mandavi.
One day, Lord Parshurama, the immortal Sage and Warrior, paid a visit to King Janaka. "Sire, You're such a noble King, that I myself have come to ask for Your daughter's hand in marriage."
King Janaka glanced at the tiny baby in His lap. She was smiling widely at Him. Terror and confusion gaped in His mind. How could He allow the Sage to marry His daughter, who was only a baby. But He could not refuse His offer and become a victim of His infamous temper.
Lord Parshurama sensed the puzzled expression on His face. He laughed, seemingly amused at His joke. "Oh King! Ofcourse I am joking. I have come to hand You over this great bow of Rudra! The One who strings it shall be eligible to ask for Your daughter's hand in marriage."
He showed the King the magnificent bow. It had intricate carvings, and special auspicious symbols. Glass crystals and gemstones were embedded all over its length, and the string seemed like some precious silk thread, but was unbreakably strong. The material was neither metal nor leather. It was simply divine and it's beauty was beyond words.
"This bow was used by Lord Shiva to defeat the Tripurasuras. It's name is Pinaka, the Hardhanu. Only a few noble souls can string it. But the miracle is, the person who can string this bow, will also be able to string it's twin bow, the Sharang, which belongs to Lord Vishnu, and is now with Me, since I am His sixth avatar."
As He extended the bow for King Janaka to hold, baby Sita touched the bow's string with Her fingertips. Surprisingly, the bow rested it's entire strength on Her little fingers. She could lift such a heavenly and heavy bow with just Her tiny hands. It was as if it was made for Her.
King Janaka tried to hold the bow and took it from Her grasp, but the bow didn't budge. He could not lift it up at all. Finally when Sita ket go of it's string, it placed itself on the ground and remained there.
None of the soldiers and caretakers could lift the bow from it's place, where Sita had kept it. So a platform was build around it, and it remained enclosed in a secret and safe chamber, where no one was allowed to go, except for Sita. She was the owner of the bow, or rather, the bow chose to belong to Her. She was thus given responsibility of caring for the Hardhanu.
Sita was growing up, amidst the tales of wisdom which echoed in the palace walls of Mithila. Curiosity was Her best friend, and She never hesitated to ask doubts. She would question everything. And Her Father never criticised Her, but only motivated Her to know more and enlighten Herself.
King Janaka had entrusted the best of sages for Her education. She was growing up so soon that it felt time had taken a leap. But being with His daughter made all time stop at that one moment.
He cherished every memory with Her, for He didn't know whether it would come back again. Daughters are supposed to be married and sent to another house where they build a home.
And Sita, She was destined to build a legacy.
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"Didi, Mother has asked You to fetch some flowers for Her daily prayers."
Little Urmila trodded along and held Her elder sister's hand. She never left Her side like Her shadow. They were inseparable, and each other's constant companions.
Sunayana would ask the little sisters to join Her for prayers in the morning, hoping to inculcate the good habit in Them. Sita loved strolling through the gardens around the palace, and She loved watering the plants and tending after Them, even at such a young age.
They were hardly toddlers, but were way wise, beyond Their age. Sita especially, was so mature and understanding of Her environment. She treated everyone diligently, and even guests were happy to come to Mithila, which was famous for it's hospitality.
"Urmila, You go, I'll come soon. It's getting late and I think I won't find many flowers in the lower branches." Sita could only collect flowers from the branches where Her hand reached, as She was too small to climb higher.
She went to the gardens and surveyed the trees. As She had predicted, almost all the flowers had already been taken by others. The trees looked empty.
Suddenly, Her gaze fell on a bunch of flowers which were located high up a tree. But She couldn't reach that high to pick the flowers.
An idea then struck Her mind.
She went to the chamber where the Shiv Dhanush was kept. She easily picked up the bow with a swift hand movement like a child's play, and carried it along with Her to the gardens.
She struck the string of the bow. The bow was so powerful that it caused very high vibrations. The flowers resting high up in the branches fell down at once.
Sita merrily picked up the flowers and went for worship.
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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 ।।
