I Disagree with Your Above Characterisation. It Comes Fr Om, I'm Afraid, an Incomplete Reading of the Ramayana in Its Original Version by Valmiki

With all due respect, ? I disagree with your above characterisation. It comes fr om, I'm afraid, an incomplete reading of the Ramayana in its original version by Valmiki. Let me put the episode in perspective: You're right, she did fancy and lust after Rama.Nothing wrong in it.Rama says he has a wife already and directs her to Lakshmana.In turn, he says, he himself is the servant of Rama and so he is not in a position to take Shoorpanaka as his w ife.Then she once again approaches Rama. Now you tell me, is it right for a woman to approach and make advances at a man whom she well knows to be married, after that man has clearly told her he's marr ied? Then, Shoorpanaka abuses Sita,calling her disfigured,dishonest,hallow-stomached- and blames her for Rama rejecting her. Please note, she does not begrudge Rama or Lakshmana. It is pure jealousy towards Sita. Then she says, and I quote, "Now I wish to eat up this human female right before your very eyes, and then I can blithely make merry along with you, without the botheration of a co-wife." Said Shuurpanakha to Rama. Then she dashes to attack Sita. Only then, Rama admonishes Shoorpanaka and instr ucts Lakshmana to deface her. Also,it is telling, if you read the original version a little further. Shoorpana ka initially goes and complaints to her brother Khara and not to Ravana,as popul arly mis-portrayed. To Khara she says that she found Sita along with Rama Lakshmana and says owing t o Sita only she got into trouble with Rama and Lakshmana.Why does she blame Sita , again it is her jealousy. More. She reports to Ravana twisting the story completely. She extols Sita's bea uty to Ravana and says her mission was to bring Sita so that Ravana could make h er his wife and that Lakshmana disfigured her because of that. And to answer your question,Is fancying a man wrong,in those days it was not wro ng at all for a woman to freely express her desires. In fact,Ayodhya Kanda menti ons Sita herself telling she married Rama through a Swayamvara. Many more instan ces of Swayavara can be seen in our epics.(Nala-Damayanthi) And,Why did Lakshmana cut off Shoorpanaka's ear and nose? Only upon the instruction of Rama,since Shoorpanaka came to attack Sita. and not for flirting, as you mention. Why did Lakshmana of all people, attack Shoorpanaka when it was Rama's duty to p rotect Sita? Rama instructed Lakshmana, as a brother would, to help protect his wife from a demon. And,"It robs a man of his power over the woman" Ramayana would not have been there if some women characters hadn't exercised the ir power over the man.- eg. Kaikeyi over Dasaratha, Shoorpanaka over Ravana. The bottomline is this. Shoorpanaka was a vile demoness,covetuous and jealous.S he got what she deserved. My humble request-Please don't twist the original narr ative with a selective reading..

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