“In that city lives the leader of all men, Maharaja Janaka. He has every good quality, and during that time there was no other king like him.” (Janaki Mangala, Svayamvara Ki Taiyari, 6) janaka nāma tehiṃ nagara basai naranāyaka| saba… Read More ›
sita
Assessing Sin
“Though all of these unsuspecting wives of Ravana were seen by me, my mind has not been disturbed even a little.” (Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 11.40) kāmam dṛṣṭvā mayā sarvā viśvastā rāvaṇa striyaḥ || na tu me manasaḥ kimcid… Read More ›
Every Kind of Happiness
“Supremely famous is that city of Janakpur, where Sita Devi, the goddess of fortune herself appeared, making it like an ocean full of every type of happiness.” (Janaki Mangala, Svayamvara Ki Taiyari, 5) taham̐ basa nagara janakapura parama ujāgara| sīya… Read More ›
Purifying Through Presence
“My having glanced at the wives of others sleeping in their home will certainly do a great harm to my virtue.” (Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 11.37) para dāra avarodhasya prasuptasya nirīkṣaṇam || idam khalu mama atyartham dharma lopam kariṣyati… Read More ›
Tilaka
“That country is looking so beautiful, and the Vedas have described its purity. Known in the three worlds, Tirahut [Janakpur] is the tilaka of the earth.” (Janaki Mangala, Svayamvara Ki Taiyari, 4) desa suhāvana pāvana beda bakhāniya | bhūmi tilaka… Read More ›
Associated Risks
“My having glanced at the wives of others sleeping in their home will certainly do a great harm to my virtue.” (Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 11.37) para dāra avarodhasya prasuptasya nirīkṣaṇam || idam khalu mama atyartham dharma lopam kariṣyati… Read More ›
Diwali 2011
“O Sita, see the golden lord of mountains [Mainaka], which is golden-peaked and which rose up, piercing the ocean, to provide rest to Hanuman.” (Lord Rama speaking to Sita Devi, Valmiki Ramayana, Yuddha Kand, 123.18) hiraṇyanābhan śailendran kāñcanaṃ paśya maithili… Read More ›
Unparalleled
“Sita is not capable of associating with any other man, even if he were the lord of the demigods; for there is no one equal to Rama, not even among the demigods.” (Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 11.3) na anyam… Read More ›
Then Show Me
“With my hands folded, bowing my head I pray to them as I sing about the marriage of Sita and Rama as I understand it.” (Janaki Mangala, Mangalacharana, 2) hātha jori kari binaya sabahi sira nāvauṃ | siya raghubīra bibāhu… Read More ›
On Second Thought
“Separated from Rama, that noble lady is not able to sleep, eat, drink, or even decorate herself.” (Hanuman thinking about Sita, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 11.2) na rāmeṇa viyuktā sā svaptum arhati bhāminī | na bhoktum na api alamkartum na… Read More ›