Sati and Rama

About 12 min read · 1,906 words

One day, deep in the tangled forest of Dandakaranya, Lord Shiva was riding his bull across the earth with the goddess Sati at his side. As they wandered, they came to the stretch of woodland where Rama was roaming with his brother Lakshmana. Ravana had carried off Rama’s beloved wife Sita by a trick, and Rama searched from grove to grove, crying out “Ah, Sita!”, turning his gaze this way and that, weeping again and again. The radiance of that brave son of Dasharatha, born into the solar dynasty, had faded under the sorrow of separation.

The moment the great-hearted Lord Shankara saw that forest dweller, worn and forlorn as he seemed, his heart brimmed with joy. With deep gladness he bowed to Rama, raised a cry of victory in his honor, and then turned to go his own way. Shiva, tender toward his devotees, did not reveal himself to Rama there in the forest. Yet what had just happened sent a wave of astonishment through Sati’s mind.

Sati’s Doubt

Sati spoke. “God of gods, supreme Brahman, highest Lord! Brahma, Vishnu, and all the other gods serve you always; the whole world should meditate on you and you alone. Then who, my lord, are these two archers, wandering the forest in the anguish of loss, brought so low? The elder of the two is dark as a blue lotus. Why did the sight of him drown you in joy, and why did you grow humble as any devotee before him? My lord, that a master worthy of worship should bow to his own servant does not seem fitting. Clear away this doubt of mine.”

Hearing this question, Shankara, master of every divine play, laughed and said, “Listen, Devi. I speak the truth, and there is no deception in it. It was by the power of a boon that I bowed to them with such reverence. These are two brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, the learned sons of Dasharatha, born into the solar dynasty. The younger, fair of complexion, is Lakshmana, a portion of Shesha himself; and the elder brother is Rama. In his form, Lord Vishnu has appeared in his full and undivided measure. They have descended to this earth to protect the righteous and for the welfare of us all.”

Having said this, Shambhu fell silent. Yet even after hearing Shiva’s words, no conviction settled in Sati’s heart; the maya of Shiva is truly mighty, and it casts the whole of the three worlds into delusion. Sensing the doubt in Sati’s mind, the eternal Shambhu spoke again. “Devi, if my word does not persuade you, then go yourself and put Rama to the test by your own judgment. Do whatever will lift this delusion of yours. Until then, I will wait here beneath this banyan tree.”

Sita’s Form

Having received Shiva’s leave, Sati set out, turning a plan over in her mind as she walked. “How shall I test this Rama who wanders the woods? Very well, I will take on Sita’s form and go to him. If Rama is truly Vishnu himself, he will know everything; if not, he will fail to recognize me.” With this thought she assumed the form of Sita and drew near to Rama. The truth was that she herself had already fallen into delusion.

The instant he saw Sati standing before him in Sita’s form, Rama, joy of the Raghu line, chanting the name of Shiva under his breath, understood everything. Smiling, he bowed to her and said, “Sati ji, my salutations to you. Tell me kindly, where has Lord Shambhu gone? How have you come alone into this forest without your husband? And for what reason have you set aside your own form to take on this new one? Please tell me the cause.”

At Rama’s words Sati stood speechless. Shiva’s own words came back to her, and the moment their truth dawned on her she was overcome with shame. Knowing Rama to be Vishnu himself, she let her true form appear, meditated inwardly on the feet of Shiva, and spoke with a glad heart. “Joy of the Raghus! The self-sovereign supreme Lord Shiva had come into this forest with his attendants. Seeing you here, given over to the search for Sita, he bowed to you and sang the glory of your Vaishnava form; the mere sight of you left him overwhelmed with joy. It was this that raised a confusion in my mind, and, with his leave, I put you to the test. Now I know that you are Vishnu himself. But one doubt remains, lord of the Raghavas; clear that away too. How have you come to be worthy of worship even to Lord Shiva?”

The Story of Goloka

At these words of Sati, Rama’s eyes opened wide and bright as blossoming lotuses. Inwardly he called to mind his lord Shiva, and a flood of love welled up in his heart. Because he had not been given leave, he did not go with Sati to Shiva; but, praising Shiva’s glory within his heart, he began to speak to her.

“Devi, this is a tale of ancient times. Once, in his supreme abode, Lord Shambhu had Vishvakarma raise a lovely hall within his cattle-yard and fashion a magnificent throne. He summoned Indra and the other gods, the sages, the Vedas, and the guardians of the worlds; he set a great festival in motion to the sound of the vina and the mridanga; and he gathered every article needed for a royal consecration. Maheshvara, delighted by Vishnu’s devotion, called Hari from Vaikuntha with a heart full of affection, seated him on that throne at an auspicious hour, adorned him with his own hands in ornaments and a crown, and consecrated him.

“Seeing Vishnu’s devotion in this way, the delighted Shambhu, making plain everywhere how he yields himself to his devotees, said to Brahma, ‘From this day, by my command, this Vishnu, this Hari, has himself become worthy of my worship. You, together with all the gods, bow to him, and let the Vedas describe him as they describe me.’ So saying, Rudra himself bowed to Hari, and then Brahma and the other gods worshipped him too. Then Maheshvara granted him great boons. ‘By my command, be the maker, sustainer, and destroyer of all the worlds; never be defeated in battle, not even by me. Receive from me these three powers: the fulfillment of every wish, the unfolding of divine play, and eternal freedom throughout the three worlds. You are my left arm, and the Creator my right. That most luminous place of yours in my abode of pure consciousness will be renowned by the name of Goloka. Your incarnations upon the earth will be the protectors of all and my own devotees; I will surely grant them my darshan, and they will remain forever glad of my boon.’

“Having thus entrusted his whole undivided sovereignty to Hari, Shiva went to roam freely on Kailasa with his attendants. From that time the Lord of Lakshmi took on the guise of a cowherd, came there, and, as master of the cowherds, the cowherd women, and the cattle, began to protect the world. At this very time, by Shankara’s command, Hari has descended in the form of four brothers. I, Rama, am the eldest among them; the second is Bharata, the third Lakshmana, and the fourth Shatrughna. By my father’s command I came to the forest with Sita and Lakshmana, and there a night-roaming demon carried off my wife. Mother Sati, by your grace I will surely be granted the boon of finding Sita; I will slay that wicked demon and win her back. Blessed is the one on whom the two of you show mercy.”

Having said this, Rama bowed to Sati and, with her leave, went off to wander through the forest. Hearing these words of Raghunatha, the devotee of Shiva, Sati was glad; yet the memory of what she had done filled her heart with sorrow. She had not heeded Lord Shiva’s word, and she had let a base suspicion take hold against Rama. “What answer will I give Shankara now, when I go back to him?” Turning this over and over, she was seized with deep remorse, and with a heavy heart she returned to Shiva.

Shiva’s Renunciation in Thought

Reaching Shiva, Sati bowed to him within her heart. Sorrow shadowed her face; she had grown listless and drained by grief. Seeing Sati downcast, Lord Shiva asked after her wellbeing and said gently, “How did you carry out the test?” At this Sati stood beside him with bowed head; her mind was sunk in grief and gloom. Then Maheshvara, entering meditation, learned Sati’s whole conduct: that she had taken on the form of Sita, the wife of Rama whom he held worthy of worship. The moment he knew it, he renounced Sati in his mind. Shiva, keeper of the Vedic law, would not let the vow he had made before be broken. Having renounced Sati in his heart, he set out toward his home on Kailasa.

On the way, a voice from the sky rang out for both of them to hear. “Supreme Lord! Blessed are you, and blessed is this vow of yours. In all three worlds there is no other great yogi and great master like you.” Hearing this, Sati’s radiance dimmed, and she asked, “My lord! Our supreme Lord! What vow have you made? Tell me.” But the Lord, who wished only her good, did not disclose the vow he had made before Vishnu at the time of his marriage. Then Sati, meditating on the beloved of her life, came to know for herself the whole reason her dearest had renounced her. “Shambhu has renounced me,” she understood, and the daughter of Daksha sank into grief and sobbed again and again.

Though he read the feeling in Sati’s heart, Shiva kept his vow secret, and, telling one story after another, he brought her along and reached Kailasa. There he seated himself on a fine seat, entered samadhi, and began to meditate on his own true nature. Sati, weighed down by sorrow, went on living in that same abode; and so a long time passed. When Mahadeva opened his samadhi, Sati, the mother of the world, came to him as well and, with an aching heart, bowed at his feet. The great-hearted Shambhu gave her a seat before him, told her many delightful stories with great affection, and by such play lifted her grief at once. She grew as happy as before. Even so, Shiva did not give up his vow.

Let no one take this conduct of the supreme Lord Shiva for a marvel. The sages tell the story of Shiva and his consort Shivaa exactly so. Some hold that there was a real separation between the two, but how could separation ever be possible in them? Shivaa and Shiva are forever joined to each other as a word and its meaning are; a true parting between them is impossible, and by their own will alone they compose a separation that is only play.

Source: Shiva Purana (Gita Press, Sankshipta Shivapurana edition), Rudra Samhita (Sati Khanda)