Mythological Tales with ‘Seedhi Baat’

India is a diverse country held together by the culture, tradition and the rich heritage of the land. The constant inflow of people since time immemorial has had a profound influence on the oral history of the country. Mythological tales, folklores and stories of grit and valour are common in the subcontinent. Children grow up listening to interesting tales from great Indian mythologies like Ramayana and Mahabharata and imbibe the lessons of honesty, morality, persistence, devotion and hard work. Here are some tales from Indian mythology that highlight the importance of ‘Seedhi Baat’

1. Krishna’s Sermon

   Just before the great war of Mahabharata, when both the armies were facing each other, Arjuna started having second thoughts about the war. Krishna being his mentor-cum-charioteer, gave a lengthy sermon, which is known as the Gita. The time had paused and Krishna and Arjuna had moved to another dimension when Krishna gave the sermon. Arjuna was hesitant in fighting his cousins. Krishna explained that one has to do whatever he is supposed to do and not think about the results. He bluntly told Arjuna that as a ‘Kshatriya’ it was his duty to fight for ‘dharma’ and forget who was standing in front of him. Krishna made him understand that everything happens for a reason and he will have to fulfil his duty as a warrior and fight against ‘adharma’. Krishna was firm and blunt. The lord’s ‘Seedhi Baat’ reinvigorated Arjuna and he fought valiantly without any doubts in his mind.

2. Abhimanyu and the Chakravyuha

   Abhimanyu was the son of Arjuna and Lord Krishna’s sister Subhadra. Ha had an enigmatic personality and was one of the greatest warriors in the Kurukshetra war. The epic battle at Kurukshetra was fought over 18 days with both the armies opting for different military formations or ‘vyuhas’ every day. The chakravyuha consisted of moving concentric circles and was impregnable. Abhimanyu had heard his father explain the chakravyuha to his mother while he was in her womb but fell asleep before Arjun could explain how to come out of the formation successfully.

   Abhimanyu penetrated deep into the formation and was later surrounded by some of the greatest warriors like Karna, Drona and Ashwathama. In the last stage of his life, even though he was injured and without weapons, he was brutal with his words. He castigated the ‘maharathis’ for their treachery and did not bow down till the end. Abhimanyu’s ‘Seedhi Baat’ even in the face of adversity and his valour has ensured that his name is remembered by generations of Indians.

3. Rama’s Conviction to the Right Path

   The Ramayana is one of the two major Indian mythologies. Rama, the king of Ayodhya is the central character in the mythology. Rama was the eldest son of King Dasharatha and was set to be crowned the king. However, before the coronation, he was sent into exile with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana. At the end of the exile, Sita was kidnapped by Ravana, the king of Lanka. Rama fights and wins against the powerful Ravana with a relatively smaller army. The mythology depicts the victory of good over evil. Another highlight of the Ramayana is the honesty and fearlessness of Rama. Even after having the option to take the wrong path on multiple occasions, Rama remains forthcoming with his supporters and companions and sticks to the path of justice and righteousness. Be it his conversations with Ravana or other adversaries on the way to Lanka, Rama always practiced ‘Seedhi baat’. Rama’s honesty has led to him being called ‘Purushottam’ which has become synonymous with virtues like generosity, affection and justice.

4. Vibhishana’s Steadfastness

   Though Vibhishana was Ravana’s younger brother, he was his exact opposite. Vibhishana knew Ravana had committed a grave sin by kidnapping Sita. When other people in Ravana’s court would support his actions, Vibhishana would always ask him to repent for his sins and ask Lord Rama for forgiveness. Vibhishana was regularly mocked and ridiculed in Ravana’s court for supporting Lord Rama’s cause. However, Vibhishana remained resolute and would do ‘Seedhi Baat’ even before Ravana, the king of Lanka. Eventually, when the war ended, Vibhishana was rewarded for his steadfastness. Lord Rama declared Vibhishana the king of Lanka after the death of Ravana.

5. The Strength of Sita

   Sita is the most important character in Ramayana, second to none. Ramayana is the story of good’s victory over evil, of Rama’s triumph over the powerful Ravana. However, the seed of the epic battle between the Prince of Ayodhya and the King of Lanka was sown due to the capture of Sita against her will. Lord Rama defeated Ravana and brought back Sita. The queen’s real test started after returning to Ayodhya. She had to give an ‘Agnipariksha’, the highest form of test to prove her purity. Even after passing the ‘pariksha’ rumours refused to die down as she had spent considerable time in confinement.

   Since Lord Rama gave precedence to his role as the sovereign over the role of husband, he banished Sita to the forest where Sage Valmiki gave her shelter. The twins Luv and Kush were born in the forest. After several years and a series of incidents, the twins met their father Lord Rama who asked them to come back to the kingdom with their mother. However, Sita refused the offer with absolute clarity of thoughts and words. Instead, she sought salvation and the ground opened and she entered the pit. Sita’s love for Lord Rama was boundless but she was straightforward and blunt when she felt she was wronged. Sita could have lived in luxury, however, she opted for ‘Seedhi Baat’. Though Rama was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Sita’s ‘Seedhi Baat’ and her salvation proved that sometimes even gods can err.