Post by cnupne on Aug 2, 2012 8:48:39 GMT 5.5
One sentence from one post, took me to memory back, to one of the post in the post which I am sharing :
"The story of Rama throwing darbhai at Jayanta in the shape of a crow can be found in the Ramayana."
When Sita refused to a suggestion of Hanuman why?
In Ashoka vana ,Sita heard the voice of Hanuman with fear and looked up into the tree, and saw the monkey who was eloquent and humble, and his eyes glowed like golden fire. Hanuman came down out of the tree, ruddy-faced and humbly attired, and with joined palms spoke to Sita. Sita introduced herself to Hanuman and asked for news of Rama, and Hanuman informed her all that had befallen and spoke of Rama and Lakshmana. While Hanuman got a little closer, Sita was much afraid as she thought him to be Ravana in disguise. Hanuman tried his best to convince Sita that he was Rama`s friend and at last when she saw the signet-ring, she got convinced, and she was glad and sorry at once. Glad to know that Rama was alive and well, and sorry for his grief.
Hanuman then suggested Sita to sit on his back so that he could carry her back from Lanka across the sea to Rama.
She praised his strength, but would not go with him, because she thought she might fall from his back into the sea, especially if the rakshasas followed them, and because she would not willingly touch any person other than Rama, and she also desired that the glory of her rescue and the destruction of the rakshasas should go to Lord Rama. Hanuman praised her modesty and wisdom, and asked for a token for Rama.
Then Sita told him of an adventure with a crow, known only to herself and Rama that had befallen long ago at Chitrakuta, and she gave Hanuman a jewel from her hair, and sent a message to Rama and Lakshmana, praying them to rescue her. Hanuman took the gem and, bowing to Sita, made ready to depart.
Here is the story: Why the crow has only one eyeball
The crow, which we think a very agile bird, is in fact very scary bird. Subconsciously it thinks, it is under attack. There is sub story in Ramayan known as jayant son of lndra, episode, to how and why crow became cockeyed. Jayant took the guise of kakasura in the form of crow.
Name of crow in Sanskrit is kaaka: The crow's only language is kaa kaa. Kaa means 'who is she' in Sanskrit. The crow seems to be only species which always says 'who is she?' 'who is she?'
ls this she? ls that she? or ls this Sita she?
The story goes: Once upon a time, Rama and Sita were relaxing under a tree. Rama fell asleep on Sita's lap and she was busy admiring the flowers growing nearby. An asura, Kakasura, took the shape of a crow and started bothering Sita. lt cawed loudly, brushed against her with its wings and tried to startle her into disturbing Rama's sleep. Sita, that model of virtue (really, thank goodness for mythology.no woman ought to be like that!!!) didn't stir, so that Rama's sleep wouldn't be disturbed. Finally the asura, annoyed, pecked Sita's chest. The sharp beak of the crow, drew blood. And still she didn't utter a cry. The blood from her body dripped on Rama's brow and he stirred from his sleep. "What's this?" he demanded of Sita.
When she told him about the crow, Rama picked up the darba grass growing nearby, and sent it as an arrow after the crow. Kakasura, got scared and tried to outrun the arrow. He ran for many days and many nights, around the world and into hell and heaven. And yet, the arrow never swerved from its target.
Finally, Kakasura fell at Brahma's feet and asked what he should do. Brahma said, "Rama's arrow once released must find its goal. lt will never tire till it reaches you. You had best go and ask for Rama's forgiveness." And so, Kakasura begged for Rama's forgiveness. Rama said, "All right. The arrow will take away one eye for the grief you have caused my dear wife but your life will be spared. Henceforth you will only be able to see out of one eye."
And so, Kakasura loses one eye to Rama's arrow but saves his life. And the crow even today, you will see, cocks its head from side to side since it can only see from one eyeball!!
The event is mentioned in retrospect at a later stage when she recalls this to Hanuman who plays the role of a messenger between the devoted (divine) couple who were forced by circumstances to experience a term of separation.