Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan (10)- First Meeting of Siya-Ram at the Pushp Vatika






Yes, as I had promised in my last post on Ramayan that today we’ll talk about the Pushp Vatika sequence. Here is the scene in YouTube:

So, the scene starts when Rani Sunayana Devi instructs Sita to visit the Gouri temple and worship the deity as a family custom of the Royal House. So Sita goes to the temple with her friends.

And on the other hand, we find Shri Ram and Lakshman going to the Pushp Vatika to collect the flower for the daily worship of Muni Vishwamitra. So they reach the vatika, ask the gardener about it and enter the garden. Here we have a really beautiful doha from Ram Charit Manas- ‘Lata Bhavan te prakat bhaye’ – describing the beauty of the Lord!

After completing her puja, as Sita decides to return, her friends tell her that Shri Ram has also come to the vatika, and they suggest Sita to have a look at Him. Sita aggress and goes to the vatika.

Here we have really really wonderful sequence, which is a source of Joy to all the Devotees of Siya-Ram! This sequences - its picturisation along with the devotional lines from RCM in it, the Music of Ravindra Jain saab, as well as the acting of Arun Govil and Deepika, and above all the direction of Ramanad Saagar ji- is truly memorable for its true portrayal of the emotions generated in the lovers at their first sight. The characters are not merely earthly beings, but they are the very Shri Hari and Mata Lakshmi from Vaikunth Lok, so the lines from RCM has that Depth and Richenss which gets us immersed in its beauty, filling us with the Love shared by the Lord and His Consort!!! The songs keep on repeating itself in our mind as well as the scenes become permanent in our heart!

Here is the video:

Now coming to the actual situation - after seeing Shri Ram, Sita Mata becomes emotional, and goes to Gouri Mandir again to pray to the Goddess. The lyrics of the prayer are so Sincere that we almost Feel to pray the same along with her. The way she says – ‘Kinhe hu pragata na kaaran tehi’- Is just enough to remind us about the omnipresence of the Lord!

Now, the goddess becomes happy and blesses Sita Mata with the words- 'Vinay prem vas bhayi Bhavaani'. Here we have another beautiful line- ‘Karuna nidhan sujaan sil sanehu jaant raavar’- this is also one of the Best lines , I believe in it So Much that probably I can’t express!

And the ending is so Pious!!! The repetition of the – ‘mudita mann mandir chali’, works like a Chanting Effect for me! The mood is uplifted, the heart has got a hope thr’ Mata Gouri and Sita Mata is happy at the end of the scene! Our Heart just goes out to the whole sequence again and again!

After this, we have Sita thinking about Shri Ram, in her room as well as Shri Ram looking at the Moon and comparing it with Mata Sita. Here we have a nice conversation of Shri Ram with Lakshman. A song – ‘Prachi Dishi’ from RCM is there, which very clearly depicts the state of Shri Ram. The tone is so Peaceful and True to the Actual Feelings of Shri Ram and Sita Mata!

Now Ashok Kumar comes on screen to explain the feelings of Shri Ram and Mata Sita very beautifully. He stresses the Spontaneous Feeling as well as the Restraint in their characters.

To experience the Beauty of this Pushp Vatika and the sequence continuing the mood, we need to understand the lyrics of RCM, (for first time viewers, please follow the English translation for that), otherwise the sweetness/ divinity of the scene will be lost. All the lines used here are Wonderful and Filled with Bliss, so I am unable to quote them. Here are the lyrics:
http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1261945&TPN=64&#25557037

Next time we'll attend the 'Swayamvar' of Sita Mata :)



Jai Siya-Ram!


You might also like these posts on Ramayan:


Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan (11) - Sita Swayamvar (Part 1)


Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan(9)- Ram-Lakshman in Mithila


Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan(9)- Ram-Lakshman in Mithila






In the last post we were introduced to the Royal Family of Mithila. Now we are coming back to Shri Ram and Lakshman, who are staying with Sage Vishwamitra in the ‘aamra vatika’ of Mithila. (This scene is not there on many DVD versions of the serial). As Lakshman wants to visit the city, Shri Ram asks Vishwamitra for the permission to do so. Vishwamitra becomes very happy and appreciates Shri ram for His wisdom while expressing wishes. He tells them to go to see the city so that the people of Mithila can also be Blessed by the sight of the Lord! So they go to visit the city and started spreading Joy to all… The public became overwhelmed by looking at them. The ladies looked at them and discussed about the beauty and charm … They wish if Sita could get married to this handsome Prince, then they will be able to see him again in future, when he will come to visit the in-laws. They discuss about the valour of Shri Ram. Really a wonderful scene to experience the beauty of the Lord!! All has been said in the RCM lines which has been used in the background music- 'Dekhan nagar Bhoop suta aaye'. Here is the lyrics:-

http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1349127&TPN=122

We can very easily relate this scene with the scene from Ramanand Sagar’s another great work ‘Shri Krishna’, where Shri Krishna goes out in the neighbourhood for the first time, then also the same reaction from the public can be noticed. Here is the scene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb4hEBiAIxE

And here are the lyrics of that song:-

http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1311014&TPN=83



Now coming back to Ramayan, in the last post we have seen that Raja Janak came to know about Sage Vishwamitra’s arrival in Mithila, so he goes to welcome him personally. They all meet and greet each other. Here is the scene:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9S2A9HPzQw&feature=related


Then Shri Ram and Lakshman comes there after their visit to the city (Mithila), and Raja Janak becomes ‘visibly moved’ while looking at Him. This is such a wonderful scene! The lines from ‘Ram Charit Manas’ as the backgroung music says it all- ‘Murati Madhur manohar dekhi, bhaye videh videh bisekhi’. As Janak was considered as an ascetic person, still, the first look at the Lord, filled him with the rapture of Bliss. Really a memorable scene!!


In the palace, the friends of Sita tells her about the beauty of Shri Ram, about His visit in Mithila, that day, Sita listens to it with rapt attention.


After that, we have one of the Great scenes of Ramayan here, this one is one of my Top Favorite scene of all!! Where Shri Ram and Lashman serves Muni Vishwamitra by pressing his feet. After that Lakshman dose the same to Shri Ram to serve Him. The song is – ‘Munivar sayan kinhi tab jaayi’. This scene is Soooo Unique in its Content that everytime I feel Emotional while watching it! It is indeed Blissful as well as it teaches us the lesson what the Lord delivers through this action, that is to Respect the Guru, the Brahmin. The Lord of the Universe serving a sage, what a great Humility from the Lord!! I am So much attached to this scene that probably I won’t be able to express it here. The music, the words as well as the way the singer has delivered the song - all combine to make the effect of a Divine experience here. This is indeed one of the highest moments of Ramayan acc to me. It takes the serial to a Great Height! Such a Pious moment experienced by the audience here!


We also have same kind of scene in RSji’s Shri Krishna also, where Krishna comes to the aashram of Gargacharya for the first time, in Mathura, after killing Kans. It also has the same effect on me as the previous one from Ramayan. The lyrics are also very nice in SK.

(Will try to post the link of the video of the scene as well as the lyrics of the sequence in future.)


So here in Ramayan, we have Shri Ram and Lakshman going to take rest for the night. Tomorrow or the day after they will attend the Swayambar of Sita, but before that we have another Wonderful sequence in Pushp Vatika, will write about it in my next post.


Jai Shri Ram!


May be you'll also like these posts:

Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan (8)- Introduction of the Royal House of Mithila