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Fwd: Re: Response to Mrs. Anonymous's question

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Tatachar • January 16, 1996 


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Forwarded message:
From:	RANGASWAMY@plh.af.mil
To:	Tatachar@aol.com
Date: 96-01-16 09:37:35 EST

Dear Sreekrishna,

I would like to add to your list of unexplainable actions in the 
Ramayana.

(1) The maiming of Shoorpanaka (It was the rule in those days that
    a woman approaching a man in love should not be spurned, much less 
    maimed.).

Also, I beg to disagree with another aspect of your post: "Rama tested 
Sita's chastity for himself". This seems to imply that Rama doubted 
Sita's chastity while she was in Ravana's Ashoka Vanam. I don't think the
Lord 
ever doubted Sita's single minded devotion and dedication to him. 
Testimony in support of this fact can be obtained from the Lord's reaction 
upon hearing Anjaneya's narration after returning from Lanka. 

It was only to establish to the rest of the world that Sita had not been 
tainted even though she spent several years in Ravana's Ashoka Vanam that 
Rama required her to go through the Agni-Pariksha. 
This was also done with the view that no stigma should be attached either 
to him (the Lord) or to the Raghu dynasty.

Best Wishes,

Muralidhar Rangaswamy