Indra himself hath said, The mind of woman brooks not discipline, Her intellect hath little weight.
Rig Veda, Book 8. HYMN XXXIII. Verse 17.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Statue on the street,
Tempting the nerves
Embedded deep inside the flesh,
With a form that could churn
The bosom hidden from vision,
Is it that of the Ahalya, wife of Gautam?
She witnesses her husband,
Gautam the saint,
Deep inside the anthill,
Chanting the mantra
Meant for mukthi,
After cursing his wife,
For no mistake of hers!
Oh my God !
That atrocious Indra,
Metamorphed as my husband,
Made me fall a prey
To the tunes of his lust
Betrayal of form,
Stealing all my life!
Oh Viswamitra the pure,
Comes with Ram,
The destroyer of evils,
Benefactor of womanhood
Playing with Lakshman,
Raises high the dust storm!
Miracle of my Life!
Dust turns me into lady,
Of flesh and blood,
To be devoured by men!
I prostrate on His feet,
Rama my savior,
Long live my Lord!
Am I suitable to my Gautam?
Am I worthy to my Ahalya ?
The hurricane of thoughts
Swallow their minds
While the flowers along the roads
Smile at the so called humans,
Engrossed in nonsense!
To wade off the men,
Human weeds of my life,
I prefer the Sarayu bank,
To build our hut,
To lead a peaceful life,
Lest I be turned into a stone,
Ever in my life!
Years have passed,
Fifteen or sixteen,
I think of my Rama!
The love flooding my bosom,
Extend the invitation,
Thro’ Gautam to the couple,
The role model pair,
Rama and Sita,
For making a visit
To the small house of this peasant!
Seeing great Sita,
The embodiment of patience,
Of womanhood and beauty,
Love and sympathy engulf my soul,
Tempting me a dialogue,
On her capture by Ravan, the demon,
And release by Rama, the Avatar of this Treta Yuga!
Without mixing any trace of her suffering,
With equipoise in full command,
Narrates her story,
Of ordeal of fourteen years,
Ending with the climax,
Of proving her chastity,
By entering into the pyre,
Coming out unblemished for Rama!
Oh my Sita!
Was it His command?
Yes, He wanted a proof!
Why did you do?
He wanted me to do!
Was it a proof or purification of Thy body?
Silence starts hovering,
For moments so long!
Ahalya turns violent!
Rama My Lord!
Is it not double standards?
One rule for me and one for your wife?
The Royal couple leaves,
The dust of the moments,
Hurls Sri Ram!
Unable to withstand,
The Chariot starts rolling!
Gautama enters,
Embraces Ahalya,
She turns into Stone,
Remembering the Indra!
28 10 2011
a narrative write. well composed. thanks for sharing.