Janaknandini and Raghunandan: An Exemplar of True Love

In Indian culture, there exist several ideal pairs of husband and wife, but the pair considered the most ideal of all is that of Raghunandan Shri Ram and Janaknandini Sita Ji. This pair is considered the most ideal because the degree of perfection found in the loving relationship of husband and wife here is rare to find anywhere else. On one side is Shri Ram, who set an ideal by adhering to the Vedic injunction of *ek-patnivrata* (vow of devotion to a single wife); on the other side is Janaki, who, despite being raised amidst the opulence of Janakpur and Ayodhya, not only accompanies her husband to the forest but, despite being abducted by Lankesh, preserves her purity and presents before the entire world the supreme example of a *pativrata* (devoted wife) woman. Her purity was such that Mandodari, citing it as an example, said to Ravan,

"The vile desire you harbored in your heart for the daughter of Mithilesha could not be fulfilled; on the contrary, you were burnt to ashes by the penance of that devoted wife."

Every love story in the world pales before the love story of Ram and Sita. Women often complain that after marriage, a husband's love for his wife gradually wanes, but the Ramkatha presents the exact opposite—there, the love of Ram and Sita never diminishes, but grows with each passing day. In that love, there is not merely *kama* (sensual desire), but respect for the wife, as well as the ideal of viewing the wife as one's own half-being and considering oneself incomplete without her; and the same holds true from Sita's side as well. Whatever the reason Shri Ram may have relinquished Janaknandini Sita, Sita always sang and recited the holy life-story of Shri Ram to her two sons. When Ram was commanded by his father to go into exile to the forest, he was prepared to go alone, but Janaki was not willing to stay behind. Describing the various hardships of the forest, Ram tried to dissuade Janaki from going there, but after listening to all of Ram's words, Janaki said this alone,

"O Hero! I know that living in exile in the forest certainly brings many sorrows, but those sorrows are felt only by those whose senses and mind are not under their control. For a woman, every relation and bond exists through her husband alone; then without a husband, what worth is royal luxury, and whose company matters? If you refuse to take me with you, you will not find me alive upon your return."

An even more exquisite vision of Ram and Sita's love is witnessed when both are in the forest. Janaki, who had never set foot off soft carpets, set out on the forest path; after walking just a short distance, her lips dried up and her feet grew weary. Exhausted, she sat on the ground and asked Ram, "How much further now?" Seeing her condition, tears welled up in Shri Ram's eyes. Where else will one find such an example of a husband weeping out of pure love upon witnessing even an ordinary distress of his wife? Further ahead, thorns pierced Janaki's feet; Ram gently seated her and removed the thorns from her feet, and seeing such affection from her husband, Janaknandini Sita was overcome with emotion. The Lord's love for Sita is also seen during the crossing of the Ganga in the episode of meeting Nishadraj. Tulsidas writes, 'रामसखा तब नाव मंगाई, प्रिया चढ़ा चढ़े रघुराई'—that is, in the boat, Ram helps his beloved wife board first and then boards himself.

In Chitrakoot, the love between Ram and Janaki attains an even more exalted form. Describing this in the Ramcharitmanas, Tulsidas says that Ram would pluck beautiful flowers from the forest, make ornaments out of them, and adoringly adorn Janaknandini Sita Ji with his own hands. Here Tulsidas writes, 'सीतहि प्रहराय प्रभु सादर'—meaning the Lord adorned Sita with these ornaments with great respect. This shows that Ram also held Sita in deep reverence and respect. Later, when Ravan abducts the Mother, Lord Ram wanders in the agony of *viraha* (sorrow of separation), asking the beasts and birds of the jungle, "O birds, O animals, O swarms of bees, has any of you seen my doe-eyed Sita?"

It was not that Ram grieved in separation from Sita merely because she was beautiful and doe-eyed. The Lord also revered Sita's virtues and her steadfast adherence to *dharma* (righteous duty). He cried out, "हा गुनि खानि जानकी सीता, रूप, शील, व्रत, नेम पुनीता"—that is, "O Janaki, mine of virtues! O Sita, immaculate in beauty, conduct, vows, and sacred observances, where are you?"

From the Vedas to the Valmiki Ramayana, all scriptures declare that a wife is the half-body of a man, and without marriage, no man is complete. Though Ram had relinquished Sita, the sacredness of their bond remained intact; hence, when a *yajna* (sacred fire ritual) had to be performed, the Lord did not remarry, but instead had a golden idol of Sita crafted and, placing her by his side, performed the rites of the yajna.

A sufficient answer to those who cast aspersions on the love of Shri Ram and Sita Ji is that once, seeing Janaknandini Sita Ji distraught in remembrance of Shri Ram, her companion Vasanti said, "Friend! Why do you sigh so deeply and lengthily for such a cruel husband as Ram?" Sita Ji immediately replied, “Shri Ram is not cruel. I am separated from him only outwardly; in reality, I alone am the queen of his heart.”

The exemplar of love is not the love story of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz or the Taj Mahal; the exemplar of love is the sacred love of Raghunandan Ram and Janaknandini Sita, to which the Ram Setu between Bharat and Lanka bears witness even today, lakhs of years later. Such an example of a love story is not found in Heer-Ranjha, Romeo-Juliet, or Laila-Majnu as is found in the love story of Ram and Sita, where there is union as well as separation, love accompanied by reverence and mutual respect, as well as deep trust and extraordinary sacrifice. Read it during this Navratri. Listen to it, share it with others, and imbibe it in your life.

– Abhijeet Singh, the author is a deep scholar of Indian culture, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity, a *jyotish-vid* (scholar of jyotisha), and a writer. 

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