The first meeting

Rāma heard the melodious tinkling of bangles and anklets. Turning to Lakshmana, He exclaimed, "It seems like Cupid has sounded his kettledrum with the intent of conquering the universe!" He turned towards the direction of the beautiful chiming of ornaments and Lo! His eyes fell on Jānakī who was searching for none but Raghunātha!

Rāma's heart was filled with rapture and His eyes became motionless. They feasted on Sītā just like the Chakora gazes towards the moon. He drank the beauty of Sītā just like the bee sucks nectar from the lotus. He felt as if Brahma had presented the beauty of the three worlds in the form of Sītā before Him. "She lends charm to charm itself!! To what shall I liken the Daughter of Janaka, for all the similes have been used by the poets?!" Rāma said to Himself.

Sītā's Sakhīs showed Her the direction where Rāma was standing. When the fawn-eyed Sītā beheld Rāma, She rejoiced as if She had discovered a long-lost treasure. She was enamoured by Rāma's beauty and gazed at Him lovingly. Jānakī ran out of words to describe the majestic looks of Srī Rāma and She experienced an inexplicable joy. It seemed as if Her eyelids had forgotten to fall for they became immobile and wanted to look at Rāghava for eternity.

When Vaidehī and Rāma's eyes met, Their lotus eyes stole each other's hearts and engulfed Their souls. The eyes dragged each other and Their consciousness entwined to become One. The spear-like sight of Sītā pierced the shoulders of the strong Rāma, whose red eyes pierced the heart of the beautiful Sītā. Their gazes drank each other, tied and pulled each other's hearts like a rope, making Rāma with a strong Bow and Sītā with sword-like eyes, enter each other's

Hearts. The slender-waisted Jānakī and the faultless Rāmachandra became one Soul with two bodies. After a long separation from the floating bed of Ādi Sesha on the Ocean of milk, was there any need to talk during this blissful reunion of Lakshmī and Nārāyana? The gaze of Rāghava made Jānakī shy. Overpowered with love, She closed Her eyes to treasure this memorable moment while Rāma smiled at Sītā and continued looking at Her.

The Sakhīs nudged Sītā to open Her eyes and insisted Her to behold Rāma one last time before leaving as it was time to return to the palace. By that time, the two royal Brothers had emerged from the bower and were standing opposite to Sītā and Her companions. Lakshmana was happy to see His Brother and bowed before Sītā in reverence. Sītā bashfully opened Her eyes and looked at Rāma again. She remembered Her Father's condition and the Swayamvara and was perturbed. Her Friends told Her that it was getting late and they all began leaving. On the pretext of seeing a flower or a creeper, Jānakī turned behind again and again to meet Rāma's eyes. When Rāghava realized that Sītā was leaving, He sketched Her on the sheet of His heart with the soft ink of His supreme love and began going back to His place of stay.  Sītā carried the image of Rāma in Her heart and rushed to the Temple of Goddess Bhavānī.

Standing before the Goddess, Mahālakshmī Sītā began singing about Mahā Gaurī."Glory, all glory to You, O youthful Daughter of Girirāja! Glory to You, who gazes at the face of the great Lord Shiva like a Chakora bird at the moon. Glory to You, O Mother of the elephant-headed Ganesha and the six-faced Kārtikeya! Oh Mother of the universe with limbs shining as lightning! You have no beginning, middle or end; Your infinite glory is a mystery even to the Vedas. You are responsible for creation, maintenance and You enchant the whole universe and carry on Your sports independently of others."

"Oh Mother, you are the foremost of all Pativratās. Your immeasurable greatness is more than what a thousand Sāradās and Seshas could tell!"

"The fourfold rewards of life are easily attainable through Your service, O bestower of boons! O beloved of Tripurāri! All who adore Your lotus feet, O Shining One, attain happiness, be they gods, men or sages. You know well my heart's longing since You ever dwell in the town of every heart. That is why I have refrained from openly declaring it!" Saying so, Sītā clasped the feet of Goddess Gaurī and bowed down to Her. Pleased by Jānakī's pure devotion and prayer, Devī Umā wanted to bless Her. She smiled and the Garland around Her neck fell on Sītā. Extremely happy and thankful on receiving the blessing, Sītā looked at Devī again with devotion.

Goddess Umā said, "Hear my infallible blessing, O Sītā! Your heart's desire shall be accomplished. Nārada's words are ever faultless and true; the suitor on whom Your heart is set will indeed be Yours. The dark-complexioned and naturally handsome suitor of whom You are enamoured shall indeed be Yours. The gracious and omniscient Lord is aware of your fidelity and love!" Hearing the blessings of the Goddess, Sītā and Her companions were very happy. Sītā thanked and worshipped Devī Bhavānī again and again and went back to the palace with Her Sisters and Sakhīs. Her heart rejoiced and Her left limbs throbbed, which was a sign of auspiciousness.

Rāma and Lakshmana returned to Sage Vishwāmitra and gave him the collected flowers. The Sage blessed the Brothers that their heart's desire would be accomplished. After spending the day hearing the legends narrated by the Sage, Rāma was all alone at night with the moon which rose over the sky. His heart was filled with Sītā and He longed for Her. Seeing the moon, He remarked that it was no match for Sītā's blemishless beauty for the moon had many faults. Yet, He gazed at the moon as if it would convey His messages to Sītā. He described the beauty of Sītā in many ways and wondered, "Since this Maiden has eyes  like the ocean of milk (where the dark Vishnu sleeps) and is living in the lotus of my heart, has she become the Goddess Lakshmī?" He told Lakshmana about his pangs of love for Sītā and later reclined to sleep.

In the palace, Sītā was lovelorn. Her body was tormented by the pain of separation and nothing could cool Her down, not even soft cushions or sandal paste! She gazed at the moon and marvelled at its luck of sharing its name with Srī Rāmachandra. She visualized the image of Rāma in the moon and exclaimed that Rāma was a cloud that came from the sky with the bow. His hair was a flower garland made of darkness and was like the Indra Nīlā Gem. His face was like the full moon and His eyes were red lotus flowers. His hands were hanging up to His knees and His two shoulders were two great emerald mountains. Those shoulders did not steal Her soul but the divine smile of Rāma enchanted Her.

After talking with Her Sisters who were astonished by Sītā's condition, She went to sleep hoping that Rāma strikes the bow and wins Her hand the next day.

To be continued.... 

Yours, 

Hari Priye