Miscellaneous - Religion   

Efficacy of penance

CHENNAI: Austerity and penance go hand in hand in instilling good conduct and virtue. The value of integrity as against evil nature, wickedness and dishonesty is reinforced through the many stories of men and women from various walks of life — the poor and the rich, the sages and the kings, etc., — that are contained in the Puranas and the Itihasas.

The Valmiki Ramayana provides an insight into the austere way of a hermit’s life not only through the manner in which Lord Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana lived in the forest, but also through their visits to the hermitages of the many sages who lived there, pointed out Sengalipuram Sri B. Kesava Dikshitar in a lecture. One is able to infer the efficacy of austerity and penance of the ascetic couple, sage Atri and Anasuya, especially Anasuya’s tremendous power of penance from sage Atri’s introduction about her to Lord Rama and Sita. After bidding farewell to Bharata and his retinue with a heavy heart, they left Chitrakut and visited the hermitage of sage Atri. The devout Atri and Anasuya were overjoyed to welcome Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshmana. They prayed with all humility that they should never forget thoughts about God at any time.

Such was the power of her austerity that Anasuya protected her friend Sandili who had been cursed by sage Mandavya that she would be widowed before sunrise. Anasuya was able to pronounce a counter curse that there would be no dawn any more and brought fear and concern to the celestials when she prevented the sun to rise. Through her ascetic power she combined the period of ten nights into one and averted the death of her friend’s husband.

It is also mentioned that Anasuya was able to produce fruits and roots to satisfy the hunger of people during a drought.

Sita sought the blessings of Anasuya whose asceticism is of a very high calibre. Anausya too was impressed by Sita’s chastity that made her follow Lord Rama to the forest.

She extolled the code of conduct for a married woman and presented her with a divine apparel that would never get soiled.

Both of them exemplify the virtues of womanhood.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Cartoonscape
The Hindu Crossword 9082
Solution to Puzzle 9081
Efficacy of penance
dated November 30, 1957: Spirit of compassion
dated November 30, 1957: Delhi Corporation Bill
dated November 30, 1957: Small industries
Weather

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu