While I was praying, I thought of Sita, the mortal incarnation of Lakshmi and her sense of independence and fearlessness.

The story is about Sita performing the Shraddha puja by herself. During their forest exile, after the death of Dashratha, Rama and Lakshman went to collect the necessary items for Shraddha (ancestral rites). As the auspicious time for the Pind Daan (offering of ritual balls) was passing and they had not returned, the spirit of King Dasharatha appeared before Sita and requested her to perform the rites immediately. Sita gave in and started making arrangements by herself.

Pind is an offering of rounded rice balls dotted with sesame seeds and is considered a way of salvation for the departed souls. Since she was in the forest she used a mound of sand, invoking nature and other creatures to testify her sincerity. Sita needed witnesses for the ritual performed in her husband’s absence. She made Pindas from the sand of the banks of the Phalgu river and asked the following to bear witness: the Phalgu river, a cow, a brahmin priest, a Ketaki flower, a crow, a Tulsi plant and a banyan tree (known as Akshaya vat).

The Banyan tree

When Rama and Lakshman returned, they saw this. They questioned Sita. They were initially surprised that the ritual could be performed without a son and the proper materials and asked for proof. Sita explained her urgency as King Dasharatha had appeared to her and expressed his distress at the rapid passing of the sacred hour. She then asked her witnesses to speak. None of the witnesses spoke except for the Banyan tree. They were fearful of Rama’s reaction.

Sita was enraged and she cursed those who remained silent and bestowed blessings upon the Banyan tree. The Phalgu river was cursed to flow underground and remain dry on the surface, which is why it is often a sandy riverbed today. The Cow was cursed so that only its rear part would be worshipped, while its mouth would be considered impure (cows are still worshipped from the back).

The Brahmin was cursed to remain forever unsatisfied and poor, no matter how much wealth or Dakshina he received. The Ketaki flower was cursed never to be used in the worship of any deity especially Shiva. The Banyan tree (Akshayavat) was the only one, who had spoken the truth. Pleased with its honesty Sita blessed it with immortality (Akshaya means immortal) and declared that no Shraddha ritual in Gaya would be complete without offerings made beneath it.

The story highlights the importance of truthfulness and establishes that women can perform the Pind Daan ritual in the absence of male members. The Akshayavat tree in Gaya is a central pilgrimage spot for these rites even today.

And dear ones let us admire Sita’s sacred defiance to uphold her Dharma and her determination to challenge gender norms.

Aim Hrim Klim

Photo by Emma Henderson on Unsplash