I knew he is a good orator..heard from one of my friend that his Katha's are really good.
While listening to him ...when he was talking about Maandvi,wife of Bharat Sri Ram's brother...tears started rolling over my cheeks.
I had the thaught in my mind ...How that lady might have stayed without her husband..with her.
No no Bharat has not gone for Vanwas along with Ram but it Laxman who had gone along with Sita and Ram.
Then ?
Why Maandvi and Bharat were not together?
Bharat has decided to stay in one of the Hut outside Ayodhya ...the way his beloved brother Ram was staying in Jungal ..devoid of all the Rajmahal/palace Facilities.
But,in all of this ...Brotherhood ...what was the mistake of Maandvi and Urmila( Laxman's wife)?
How they might have stayed without their husbands for fourteen years??
I am just putting my thoughts on their inner situations...it's a fact that they would have been getting all the palace ..Raj Mahal facilities..but is it enough??
What is more important??
All the amenities or the company of your partner??
To be Frank
Here,we can't stay for a day without our husband at in law's place ...how did they might have managed ?
I am just trying to understand their Dil ka haal ...as a women.
It's really really very tough.
It's not that in glorifying that it's the duty of wives to serve the In laws ...like maandvi was asked to take care of all the three mother in law's..Her inner feelings were somewhere not shown..or ignored ..I don't what will be the right word for it.
And you all might have heard about Rukmani ...wife of Sri Krishna.
When we think of Krishna ...we hear Radha as well ...Radhe Radhe ...Radha Krishna....the what about Rukmani...?
Rukmani's heart might not have pained ??
She also loved Krishna with whole heart..them why we remember or take her name very rarely.
Why all our religious texts ...ignored her character?
It's just that these thoughts popped in my mind and wrote it here...to get some answers...to clear this from my mind.
This blog post is part
of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ Blogaberry Challenge
hosted by Cindy D'Silva and NooranandchawlaNoor Anand Chawla
in collaboration with Bohemian Bibliophile
It's touching how you reflect on the struggles of Maandvi, Urmila, and Rukmani. Being a woman is not easy and I am sure it was even more difficult in those times. But their resilience is a testament to the inner strength of women in challenging circumstances.
ReplyDeleteMany characters have been ignored and removed from history. It's good to know about them though.
ReplyDeleteI really dont know how this thought came in your mind but I am super impressed with your thought process and the realistic touch in it. You are so practical and somewhere I too had this thought in my mind but never thought of sharing that in a way you did. If we women dont talk about the sacrifices of these women who silently played a king size role in the lives of their husbands without getting slightest of the credit in any pages of the history, the who will talk. I am glad and moved by your writing and golden soul. God bless you dear friend.
ReplyDeleteThere is a Rukmini temple in Gujarat. However, in the north Radha is more prevalent as she was his spiritual inspiration. Having said that, mythologies across the globe focussed on the males more, women were more known for their sacrifices and never took centrestage. It is in the last two centuries, that women have come to the forefront.
ReplyDeleteIt is folklore and they glorify women who sacrifice for their husband or his ideals, we have Sita who was sent away by Rama after Dhobi's comment about having a woman who lived with another man back as his wife. What was her fault? But a woman who accepts her destiny or the one destined by her husband is considered Mata because she is the epitome of sacrifice. Even today we worship a mother because she has sacrificed to rear her children. You have emphatically highlighted the plight of these less famous women of Ramayana.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the reality touch in this story. Really cummilative it was. love reading it.
ReplyDeleteThe questions you raise about the portrayal and recognition of these women in religious texts are valid and deserve consideration. Their experiences and emotions are often overshadowed or overlooked,.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your heartfelt reflections, prompting us to contemplate the untold stories and overlooked perspectives within our religious narratives.
I also have so many questions like this. Why women always consider sacrifice devi ? Sita , rukamini, mandavi and many more are there. Society norms are due to this character only. But, Why ?
ReplyDeleteIt's perfectly natural for someone who isn't deeply devoted to have such doubts. A devotee also has doubts, that get cleared one by one as he steps up the ladder of devotion. All the doubts get cleared when the devotee becomes a Supreme devotee, the one whose aatma is not distinguished from the paramaatma. For a common person like us, it is very normal to not understand the actions or devotion exhibited by Rukmani, Mandavi and Urmila
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right. We celebrate the men but rarely think about the women in the epics. I didn't even know that Bharat's wife's name was Maandvi.
ReplyDeletePeople say everything happens for a reason but sometimes when you you don't get to know the reasons these questions ought to arise. Few characters especially women's role is not clear. Would love to know.
ReplyDeleteMostly we remember the stories passed down oraly from generation to generation. we need to take a look at the scriptures. what they actully say or don't say about these ladies of that time. It will shed more light on the life of women of that time I think...
ReplyDeleteThere are so many such sacrifices that go unnoticed or are taken for granted. I often wonder this about the freedom fighters whose names and identities we might never know. You bring out such thought-provoking points. Good one!
ReplyDeleteCall it a myth and face the wrath of public, call it a true story and get tagged as misogynist. Modern world dilemma is even more real.
ReplyDeleteWhy Ram sent a pregnant Sita away? That too, without talking to her! There are so many such questions? Loved reading your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteruchi nasa https://thejumblemumble.wordpress.com
There's the story of Sita, who was sent away by Rama about her being with Ravana. What did she do wrong? Yet, society reveres a woman who embraces her fate or the one chosen by her husband as a mother because she symbolizes sacrifice. Even today, we honor mothers for their sacrifices in raising their children. You've vividly pointed out the challenges faced by these lesser-known women from the Ramayana.
ReplyDeleteThat's the sad part about all the mythologies - the women's perspective is missing - of course I do not know what the actual texts contain but the stories that have filtered down barely talk about them or their feelings.
ReplyDeleteThe sacrifices made by Maandvi and Urmila, who had to endure separation from their husbands for fourteen years while they were on exile, are indeed poignant. Your empathy towards their plight highlights the emotional toll that such separations must have taken on them. It's a reminder of the complexities of relationships and the challenges faced by women in different historical and cultural contexts.
ReplyDeleteI have never been proud of these ancient relationship customs of our mythological stories. Polygamy, incest and all sorts of taboo things. I am sure the lives of Urmila and Mandavi were very challenging.
ReplyDeleteI also had these thoughts until I started reading books by Kavita kane to understand the perspective from their point of view. Tru reading sitas sister to know about how urmila felt I'm sure that might give you some answers
ReplyDeleteLovely dose of history and knowledge. Have read a bit about Urmila and Lakshman in 'The Forest of Enchantments' by Chitra Bannerjee. And about your question, well, being a women is the toughest job in any age and world.
ReplyDeleteIn those times, men did not ask for the women's opinions, nor, did the women speak up. I dont think those women had any say or choice in their husbands decisions, but rather were just left to deal with it.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, Rukmini and Radha cannot be compared as they are not the roles - to speak of them and compare them is like comparing apples with tomatoes - they are both red in color, but the similarities end there.
Emotionally we do need a person to be with us and thing gets a little better. but then, hope is a very big thing, we can live years in hope of something. They had assurance of their husbands returning back to them. I can say This because I have been living alone with my kids here in India, while my husband is out of India and will return soon. Second thing, Mandavi could see, meet and talk to Bharat everyday so it's not complete void. Third thing is Urmila had to sleep for long hours, as Lakshman had to stay awake day and night, he gave his sleep to Urmila so She was sleeping for almost 14years. Fouth thing is, Krishnaji got married to Ruckmini so, she wasn't alone all these years, she was with Krinshaji throughout her life. And Radhaji was of couse first and pure love but, it's not necessary that we get our first love. Did we all got married to our first love?, well I don't think so. I have seen only a few who got married to their school time love or first love.
ReplyDeleteJust trying to be a little logical and Those were the days when people were extremely patient. I can see our next generation is not as patient as we are so we can only image how much patience people had in those days or era.
ReplyDeleteYour thoughts give me new prospective about women and their sacrifices. In every era women had to sacrifice like they sent Sita to the banvas , they insulted Draupadi , they sent santa to rishwashringa muni to get 4 sons. Now the question is who would write about their stories?
ReplyDeleteTrue. Throughout history more importance has been given to men--what they want and how hey feel. Women and their feelings have always been relegated to a corner.
ReplyDeleteI also used to think this way. Rukmani also loved Krishna and I think is not a great idea to ignore Rukmani's love while people glorify Radha and her love for Krishna.
ReplyDeleteI think you have a valid point dear. Great post which makes a lot of sense about love.
ReplyDeleteNever thought in this way. You wrote in in a very nice way with the knowledge of history (Lord Ram, Bharat, Krishna and all). As usual you've written too good 👍.
ReplyDeleteYour poignant reflection on the trials faced by Maandvi, Urmila, and Rukmani strikes a chord. The path of womanhood has never been a smooth one, especially in bygone eras. Yet, their unwavering fortitude stands as a powerful tribute to the indomitable spirit of women navigating adversity.
ReplyDeleteLike you, even I often wonder about these women but then these epics are all about the valour and dutyhood of men although the cause were women.
ReplyDeleteI guess in our own ways all women live similar lives like them but under different circumstances n thats what is portrayed in these stories... our unending plight.
This facet of Hindu mythological tales has always bothered me - the female figures were treated so badly in so many ways. If not outwardly like Draupadi and Sita who were both victims of male chauvinism, then in a slight manner like with Mandavi and Urmi. It's a travesty and I'm glad you wrote about it!
ReplyDeleteNoor