Synopsis :
Amidst the sacred serenity of Rishi Valmiki's ashram, Lav and Kush blossom under Sita’s unwavering love. When they take their first solid meal, Sita prays to Rama for their strength and righteousness .
As Sita cradles them, her whispered reflections on nature become their earliest lessons, fostering an instinctive reverence for life’s interconnectedness.
Their first birthday brings joyous celebration, yet Sita’s heart aches—Rama has yet to see his sons, casting a quiet sorrow over her solitude.
Her profound longing fills the air with plaintive songs. Paradoxically, her blessings for her sons echo Rama's voice.
The twins’ innocent curiosity deepens, their first lisping words resonating with the sacred 'Om.' As they explore their world, Sita gently unveils profound spiritual truths based on nature around them that the children observe.
A mystical communion unfolds during Chaitra Navratri, as Sita’s ritual invokes the spirit of Mandodari. Their redemptive exchange transcends past conflicts, forging empathy, forgiveness, and a shared longing for universal harmony.
The chapter culminates with a pivotal moment—a Sakhi’s innocent question about Sita’s enchantment with the golden deer. What Sita narrates, foreshadows the dramatic unfolding of destiny .
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Song 1: Sita's hermitage Abode
Sita:
Garland of basil graces the door,
Night jasmine scent , fragrance I adore .
White lotus blooms on the pool's face,
Lord's name in heart brings loving grace.|| 1 ||
In Vrindavan* blooms basil flower ,
Like a newly-wed visiting mamma,
Smiles with friends , says with laughter light,
‘By Lord's grace, my world is bright.’ || 2 ||
Note: *Vrindavan: A small shrine or altar where a Tulsi (basil) plant is grown and worshipped.
Link:
When Lav – Kush took their first morsel
Sita remembered her Lord
Make the children virtuous
Prayed She for her sons adored.
Song 2: Lav – Kush eat food for first time
As Lav – Kush
eat their first morsel of food today
I pray to you My Lord for this.
I await you every day
Please give the children
Strength immense
Do listen to a mother
May they perform good deeds
And be ever righteous ||1||
Your image is in their eyes
Only you
have to protect them
I have surrendered
myself fully to you my Lord
You only can give knowledge gems ||2||
Link:
Cradling twins like flowers with care
Sita goes through glen and dale
Though words elude their tender minds
They feel her love like a soft veil.
Song 3: Love the Trees
Sita:
Love the trees, Oh love them true,
Love the trees, Oh love them true, (Refrain)
Those who love the trees, dear Kush,
Those who love the trees,
The trees will love them too, dear Lav,
The trees will love them too. ( 1)
Green leaves that shimmer, Oh Kush,
Green leaves that shimmer,
Are like a mother's loving touch, dear Lav,
Like a mother's loving touch ( 2)
Branches of the trees, Oh Kush,
Branches of the trees,
Are carriers of divine life one , dear Lav,
Carriers of divine life one ( 3)
With your tiny lotus hands, dear Kush,
With your tiny lotus hands,
Gently touch the leaves, dear Lav,
Gently touch the leaves. ( 4)
Song 4 : Lord’s memory
Poet:
It was that night in the Ashram *
Full of deep silence, everywhere
Sita was breast feeding Lav-Kush
With love and great care ||1||
Sita’s heart filled with affection
On her lips was Rama’s name
One lamp felt her loneliness
One more creature shared the same ||2||
That was the ‘Mother cow’
Seeing Sita sorrowful
Sweetly rang her cowbells
Making her feel hopeful ||3||
It is indeed admirable
Lord’s devotion she could feel
As the cowbells ring
Rama Rama they too peal ||4||
* Ashram means hermitage
Song 5 : Sita's morning serenade
Sita:
The hermitage awakens,
Bathed in golden light,
Birdsong weaves a melody,
Chasing away the night.
Clouds in azure sky
Moon a pearly tear
Say, Janaki we are eager
Serenade to hear.
Each dawn, my plaintive voice ,
Through branches takes its flow,
Leaves dance, and flowers listen,
Share my longing woe.
The ashram surrounded by forest,
Bael and fig trees fruit laden
Morning filled with mother's voice,
Singing sweet songs to children.
Song 6 : Morning Serenade
Sita:
Awaken O’ soul ,
With dawn’s first light ,
The eastern sky
Emblazoned bright ||1||
On bael tree,
Unfurl new leaves
Red and green
In morning breeze ||2||
On ficus tree ,
Fruits juicy red
On every bough
In clusters spread ||3||
Beautiful birds
Of many a hue
Sing the name
Of Rama anew ||4||
To rising Sun,
Every morning,
With folded hands,
I love praying ||5||
Link:
King Rama should not be blamed
His kingdom should always prosper
This was only Sita's wish
The lamps of love she'd nurture ||1||
Sorrowful at her separation
Yet her heart was dutiful
When the sorrow was uncontrolled
She sang this song soulful ||2||
Song 7: When will you Come Oh Rama!
Sita:
When will you come Oh Rama!
When will you come…
Everyday I wait for you
From dawn till dusk
When will you come Oh Rama!
When will you come… ||1||
I don’t even feel like eating
Your name is my only hope
When will you come Oh Rama!
When will you come… ||2||
I surrender myself fully
To do you work
When will you come Oh Rama!
When will you come… ||3||
Oh! Lord I will bear all sorrows happily
To propagate the “Raghu” *clan
But when will you come Oh Rama!
When will you come… ||4||
*Raghu refers to the family tree of Rama
Link :
For Sita, time stood still
Though it was passing fast
While taking care of Lav – Kush
Didn’t know a year flew past ||1||
Lav and Kush one year reached
Ashram was with joy arrayed
Sita celebration wished
Sakhis for the children prayed ||2||
Song 8 : First Birthday of Lav – Kush
Sita :
The decorated cart has come
Pulled by handsome bullocks
It’s birthday of my Lav – Kush ||1||
Gods and Goddesses have come
Saints and sages have come
It’s birthday of my Lav – Kush ||2||
Rishis have came
Brought sacred books of knowledge
It’s birthday of my Lav – Kush ||3||
Sakhis have come to give blessings
They brought fruits, flowers and plants
It’s birthday of my Lav – Kush ||4||
Birds and animals of forest have come
Peacocks have come, clouds have come
It’s birthday of my Lav – Kush ||5||
Why do tears fill my eyes kind
Uncontrolled wanders the mind
Worthy Rama's not arrived
Father's love twins are deprived
Is this a joyous birthday? (Sita cried !) ||6||
Song 9 : Rama, Shri Rama : Sita’s Plea
Sita:
Rama, Shri Rama ||refrain ||
When will Ye come
To meet your sons adoring,
All day and night yearning
They wait for you longing .|| 1 ||
Separation pain swells
In young hearts every day,
Without father in our life ,
Will joy come our way ? || 2 ||
Song 10: Longing
Sita:
The Lord has forgotten me,
He has not come to see me.
Oh clouds on the mountain top,
Please wait for just some time,
Listen to my song of longing,
And narrate my craving to Him. ||1||
Oh mighty lake, do listen,
Spread your waters so wide,
That I may float over them
To His hidden abode in Infinite. ||2||
Link:
Divine experience, one may perceive,
In many a forms, a loving weave.
When yearning rises from heart’s core ,
God’s words could from own lips pour
Song 11 : Rama has arrived at hermitage (A reverie)
Sita:
Rama has arrived at hermitage Sakhi,
Melody auspicious fills the sweet air.
Fragrantly garlands sway in the breeze,
Sweet music in the heart, love doth declare.
….. refrain
At His holy feet my heart begins to bloom
Fragrant sandalwood I apply sweet and pure
With turmeric and kumkum*, I offer my devotion
Cascade of joy starts flowing through me sure ||1||
Lav and Kush in my arms, I tenderly hold,
A yearning heart at last, finds sweet release
Blessings I utter, in Rama’s voice sweet,
Tears glisten in my eyes , love finds its peace.||2||
Note: *Kumkum is a preparation of turmeric powder and/or saffron with some additive lime that leads it to have a vibrant red colour. Turmeric (Haldi) and Kumkum is largely used in worship in Hinduism. More commonly, married ladies wear Kumkum as an auspicious sign of being wedded. Married ladies , often apply turmeric (Haldi) and kumkum on each others’ forehead as a social tradition .
When Sita fades in longing ,
Fireflies her friends become
Her spirits again revived
She remembers Rama in bosom
Song 12 : Oh, Rama, hear this refrain
Sita:
Oh, Rama, hear this refrain,
My longing , a song with pain.
As dusk descends with gentle grace,
A mother bird, melodiously ,
Croons new songs and lullabies,
Puts to sleep her chicks lovely ||1||
The lotus bloom smiles at dawn
As evening falls it folds inside
In silent thoughts of thee, Oh Lord
And meditates throughout the night ||2||
As hush of twilight creeps
The bush comes live with fire-flies
Your memories bestir from sleep
Like starry lamps in inky skies. ||3||
Oh, Rama, Rama, Rama…
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti (Peace, Peace, Peace)
Link:
Princes worthy of living in palace
Their life in forest deep began
The worthy sons of King Rama
Who are the heirs of Raghu clan ||1||
Nurtured in the forest Ashram
They lived with their mother
Their face has the kingly glow
Also "Tapascharya"*power ||2||
*"Tapascharya" refers to penance and meditation
Song 13: Childhood of Lav - Kush
Sita:
Twins became one and half year old
They seem to play forever
They walk in a todling manner
And dance their eyes all over ||1||
Making mysterious signs
They flail their arms in the air
They pound their feet on ground
Creating sound together ||2||
I carry Lav on my shoulder
Kush clinging to my side firmly
I run through the forest and dale
The brothers shout in glee ||3||
Link:
The playful antics of Lav - Kush,
Enchant Sita affectionately
‘Mother Kaushalya would be proud’
Thought remained in heart only
Song 14 : My secret of bosom to confide
Sita:
To serve at feet , Of my Rama
Yearning burns from inside
With mother Kaushalya I wish
My secret of bosom to confide
Children Lav-Kush run around
With joyous, childlike, singing sound.
As though from sacred Om itself,
New words take birth in forms unbound.
With mother Kaushalya I wish
This secret of bosom to confide
Song 15 : Mantras bless the coming era
Sita:
As thoughts of Rama fill my heart
A sight I see, wondrously,
Lav and Kush, pure and bright,
Mantras chant effortlessly.
Mantras, seeds of sacred lore,
Subtle nuances, forevermore,
Mantras a devotion , mystic art,
Ripples of piety, deep in heart.
Ambience filled with joyousness
Heart and mind with sanctity,
Finds solace and happiness
Bathed in mantra’s purity..
Mantras bless the coming era,
Resonate through infinity,
Mantras echo, timeless and true,
A legacy of eternity.
Song 16 : The Call of my children’s Father
Sita:
Lav and Kush, my darling pair,
Sweet children, Rama’s heir ||Refrain||
These boys with eyes so bright,
Upon my shoulders, climb and play,
Sometimes smile often shy,,
Yet they search someone all day ||1||
Morning prayer-walk by the lake,
Ashram dwellers God remember,
Softly in my heart I hear
The call of my children’s Father ||2||
Song 17: The kin
Sita:
Who, indeed, are the kin of Lav and Kush?
They are the trees, creepers and birds in the bush.
Who, indeed, are the friends who take them out to play?
They are the dogs, peacocks and calves, playful all day
When I hear their happy and playful laughter,
My heart is filled with joy
And blessings shower.
Song 18 : Lullaby - Lav and Kush, my little dears
Sita:
Lav and Kush, my little dears,
You are my heart's delight.
In your eyes, the sun's bright rays,
On your lips, smiles so light ||1||.
On your heads, the thick dark curls,
Of Raghu's clan, the pride.
On your lips, in sweet melodies,
Lord's name does reside ||2||.
Song 19 : Lullaby - Blow gently, breeze
Blow gently, breeze, through the trees,
For my little ones to sleep with ease || Refrain ||
Who knows in which dreams they dwell,
Lav and Kush, lost in dreams so well.
In all three worlds, they seek, they roam,
Searching for their father, to bring him home ||1||
Sleeping buds, birds, and the hare,
Moon and stars slumber up there,
Sweet sleep spread your tender light,
May all their dreams come true tonight ||2||
Gently come into hermitage,
Innocent sleep, over forest foliage .
My little princes lies here,
Tender boys, so dear || Refrain ||
Lord Ram resides in their heart,
Lav and Kush, pure from the start.
May they find love and care,
In dreams, unaware ||1||
Why, oh why, my dear Hanuman,
You did not come, my cherished one?
They would’ve played on shoulders high,
My twin sons, affably naughty ||2||
Grandfather sits in stars afar,
Gazing down from where they are.
With blessings in his gentle sight,
Watching over them each night ||3||
Song 21 : Go children With playmates
Sita:
Go children
With playmates
Play games
You can create.
Play with Birds
Trees and Vine
Oh Rabbit
Keep the time ॥1॥
O Squirrel
Running quick
Give new strength
to my kids || 2 ||
Song 22 : Awakened Consciousness
Sita:
Oh SAKHI1, it was a dawn’s delight! || Refrain||
I was overcome with nice feeling
At dawn I woke with sunlight stream
Gently touching me were Lav-Kush,
Indeed in some innocent dream. ||1||
In a blink, the twosome rose,
Curiosity in their eyes
Like tall trees, why not saplings
Touch the heavens and the skies . ||2||
Gathering them in my embrace ,
With love I said in words of gem ,
Mother Earth, seeds in heart,
Blooms with love to nurture them .||3||
With raindrops God’s gift divine
The saplings sprout modest shy
Through Sun and shade in years of play ,
Grow as TREES and touch the sky. ||4||
Like Mother Earth,our heart children
Once you make it clean and pure
Divine gardener then will sow
The seed of OM2 with love for sure ||5||
Nurture it with kind good-deeds
Heart fills then with the ANAHAT 3 sound
Sapling grows of ATMAJNYAN 4
Reaches CHIDAKASH5 unbound ||6||
Notes:
SAKHI Lady friend
OM The word OM is defined in
Oriental literatures since ancient times , as being the primordial sound of creation. It is the original vibration of the universe. From this first vibration, all other vibrations are able to manifest.
ANAHAT the unstruck sound
ATMAJNYAN the self knowledge
CHIDAKASH "Chidakash" is translated
as "Absolute Brahma" or "Universal Consciousness" or “Cosmic Consciousness” to capture the essence of the spiritual concept.
Song 23 : In mine eyes, my love resides
Sita:
In mine eyes, my love resides
Through the mist, my Lord arrives.
In blissful laughter, joyous bright,
My little Lav and Kush delight.||1||
The cuckoo sings melodic cry
Peacock with grace dances nearby
My kohl-lined eyes, so dark and deep,
Why do they blush and softly weep?.||2||,
Friends arrived in blissful cheer,
Where are you lost, my Sita dear?
To Shiva’s temple come and pray
Deck Him in flowers for the day.||3||
Song 24 : I shall go,To worship Shambho Shankar
Sita:
I shall go ,
To worship Shambho-Shankar,
the Shiva Divine ! || Refrain ||
Lav and Kush are playing games ,
Do play all, soon I’ll return
O Ashram dwellers keep an eye
Lest they wander , little ones ||1||
Of forest flora , I weave garland,
Sakhis who accompany
Talk of their happy family
So I immerse in memory ||2||
In the heart desire stirs,
To meet in temple Rama dear,
Avoiding eyes of my Sakhis
I Conceal yearning mine sincere. ||3||
Sita:
In my dreams he came to me (Shri Ram),
At his lotus feet, I bowed in glee. ॥1 ॥
With sandalwood paste, I anoint,
Adorn with flowers, every point.
Offer fruits and blooms so grand,
Whisper sweet tales, hand in hand. ॥2 ॥
Embracing Lav and Kush our gems,
Playing many games with them
Gently teach life’s sacred lore,
Their wisdom flows, forevermore. ॥3॥
Song 26 : Come Home, My Beloved
Sita:
Come home, my Lord beloved true
Hermitage feels empty without you
My heart in every moment craves
Longing all night for your loving gaze || Refrain||.
The wind, too, seems to sigh and weep
As if it shares my sorrow deep
Every moment is still and frozen
To hear thy words that are soft spoken. ||1||
The east has blushed with colours bright
My eyes are wet, through silent night,
Lav and Kush wake up and come near
Why do you cry Oh Mother dear ! ||2||
Sita:
O beloved blossoms,
You wait eagerly,
For the golden rays,
My princes young too
Lav and Kush do ,
For my Rama’s gaze ||1||
With pleasant smiles,
In gentle breeze
In forest grove you sway,
The twin brothers,
Accompany you
In songs as they play ||2||
Birds a many wonder
At the twin’s tresses
Like Rama himself ties ,
The children tender ,
Search for their father,
In their Mother’s eyes ||3||
Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi
Song 28 : Good omen
Sita:
Sakhi, good omen I see
On way I saw a wood apple tree
And holy ficus whispering
Wisdom words to me.
Kids and young girls
Are adorned in festive dress
Hold beat with wedded women
Sing Navratri songs joyous. ॥1॥
Link:
The hermitage accepted Sita
Engrossed with Sakhis friendly
In company of saints and sages
Lav – Kush grew up happily ||1||
Everyday Sita did worship
With wives of sages and seer
The hermitage was like her family
Festivals were celebrated together ||2||
Chaitra* month Nav-ratra* festival came
Sita installed the sacred urn
A beautiful “Kalash*” filled with water
A coconut on the top in turn ||3||
*Chaitra is the first month in Hindu Indian calendar
*Nav ratra are the first nine nights of the Chaitra month when worship of Goddess is done
*Kalash means a urn
Song 29 : Chaitra Nav-ratra
Sita:
The water in the “Kalash” resembles the ocean
The “Kalash” resembles the sky
The mango leaves in it
They resemble life on earth nigh. ||1||
On top of it
The coconut is kept itself
It’s worshipped as truth
It resembles God himself ||2||
(Manifest to Unmanifest)
Sita:
Spirituality a game of faith,
Simple innocent devotion,
Love divine within us dwells,
Harbour this a sure notion .||1||
I fill a vessel with water ,
Coconut atop place to rest ,
Believe it as my Goddess form,
So shall SHE manifest.||2||
Wood or stone, I carve with care,
Nose and ears to my best,
Call it my beloved God,
DIVINE will manifest ||3||
So descends COMPASSIONATE GOD,
To levels I can understand,
By honoring the SAGUNA1 ,
I reach the NIRGUNA’s2 hand3 ||4||
Notes:
SAGUNA1 the manifest form of deity
NIRGUNA2 The unmanifest, formless,
infinite divinity.
hand3 This metaphorical "hand"
symbolizes connection
Song 31 : Every form is divine light
Sita:
Is there God, one may enquire
In stone idols , clay's embrace,
Is He confined to these forms
Or in forest's silent grace? ||1||
In hearts devout, love doth stay,
Blessings flow from any sight,
Day and night, like a stream
As every form is divine light. ||2||
Song 32 : Worship of Chaitra Gauri
On occasion of "Chaitra Gauri" festival
Sita called her Sakhis dear
She applied "Haladi-Kumkum" to their foreheads
Gifted them coconut, fruits and pear ||1||
As Sita offered the gifts
Her eyes welled up with tears
Nostalgic memories of "Ayodhya"
Arose in her heart pure ||2||
Sita then said to her Sakhis
I was the queen of Ayodhya the great
When my friends came to the palace
I gifted gems in a plate ||3||
I wish to give you the same today
What can I place in your hands best
My heart is brimming with love for you
Hands are empty in the forest ||4||
I am giving you the forest wealth
Accept this with your heart fully
Sita then folded her hands
Prostrated to them thankfully ||5||
*Haladi means turmeric. Kumkum means vermilion. Haladi - Kumkum used in combination signifies the act of applying a pinch of Haladi and Kumkum on each others forehead by married ladies as a mark of love and affection.
Song 33 : O sisters, come for Haldi-Kumkum
Sita:
O sisters, come for Haldi-Kumkum1 rite,
Divine Goddesses, grace my sight. (Refrain)
O please come with alacrity
I Triguni2 await thee anxiously
Earthly friends, I have so few,
Sisters dear, what can I do? ||1||
In far LOKAS3 ( worlds), in timeless time,
Wherever you dwell in realms sublime
My worship accept with graciousness
I touch your feet in great reverence. ||2||
ॐ Aum Humble salutation to :-
ॐ श्री महालक्ष्म्यै नमः Goddess Mahalaxmi
ॐ श्री महेश्वरी देवी नमः Goddess Maheshwari
ॐ श्री मीनाक्षी देवी नमः Goddess Minakshi
ॐ श्री कामाख्या देवी नमः Goddess Kamakhya
ॐ श्री कालिका माता देवि नमः Goddess Kali
ॐ श्री चंडिकेश्वरी देवी नमः Goddess Chandika
ॐ श्री अन्नपूर्णेश्वरी देवी नम: Goddess Annapurna
ॐ शांति शांति शांति: ॐ Peace Peace Peace
Notes:
HALDI-KUMKUM : This is a lovely tradition among Indian Hindu women where they come together for some festival,auspicious rite, worship or such other function and apply HALDI (Yellow Turmeric powder) and KUM KUM (a vermillion red powder also made from turmeric and often saffron) as auspicious sign of sisterly relation.
TRIGUNI can be split as TRI (meaning three) and GUNI (meaning Virtues).
In Chapter 15 of this Anthology the three divine virtues are expounded viz.: SHAKTI (power), BHAKTI( Devotion) and MUKTI (Salvation) manifested by SITA, RADHA, MAHALAXMI . By referring to herself as TRIGUNI, Sita, in a way acknowledges her own divine qualities .
3. LOKA (Sanskrit लोक) may be translated as a plane, or a realm of existence or worlds . Different LOKAS are home to various divine beings. By referring to LOKAS , SITA emphasizes the universality of sisterhood and the belief that divine feminine energy transcends physical limitations.
Link:
On the auspicious occasion of “Chaitra Gauri”
Sita applied Haladi- Kumkum to the Sakhis
She made offering to a betel nut
As if Mandodari* it itself is
* Mandodari was wife of demon king Ravana, of Lanka. Ravana had kidnapped Sita when Rama and Sita were in exile.. Rama had subsequently freed Sita from Ravana by killing him in battle , with the help of 'Vanars' which means monkeys and perhaps refers to forest dwellers .
Song 34: Offerings to Mandodari
Sita:
Mandodari suffered an untold grief
A sacred heart she had indeed
But she was beset with misfortunate
Her husband "Ravana" paid her no heed ||1||
My worship today is an apology
For the grief because of me you suffered
Oh My! What is this whisper in my ear
Is it astral Mandodari who has appeared ||2||
Mandodari Said (in astrsal form)
My soul was indeed troubled
It was wandering in sorrow all over
The worship which you today performed
Has filled my soul with peace forever||3||
You also please forgive me
And accept my prayer
There was conflict in our families
Let us resolve it together ||4||
My heart has only this craving
There is this one wish in my mind
Let our cultures prosper
Let happiness be there in all mankind ! ||5||
Link:
Mandodari became invisible
Having uttered this testimony
Sita having heard her sincere words
Was filled with peace and harmony
Link:
Sita and all her Sakhis
Used to talk animatedly
Everybody was close to each other
And they shared thoughts freely ||1||
Sakhis respectfully accepted
Sita is full of knowledge clear
But still a question arose in their mind
How was she charmed by the deer? ||2||
Knowing the curiosity of the Sakhi
Sita's faced expressed regret
The deer was beautiful, frisky and charming
The entire forest he seemed to enchant ||3||
Song 35: The golden deer
Sita :
I called Lord Rama immediately
And pointed out to him the golden deer
See that marvellous creature
Who roams in the forest in his own splendour ||1||
When the rays of sun fall on him
His body shines like a rainbow colourfully
Oh Lord ! That deer fascinates me
It enchants my mind completely ||2||
For reasons I don’t know
I said to Rama in my folly
My heart has gone out of control
The deer can only make me jolly ||3||
Link:
While putting vermillion to Sakhi’s forehead,
Sita recalled that moment instead;
The cunning Ravana was defeated ,
And she was with Rama reunited. ||1||
Once she touched His holy feet,
Her heart with hope began to beat—
To always dwell in Lord’s grace,
Never leave this sacred place. ||2||
End of Chapter 5
Om Shanti! Om Shanti! Om Shanti!