________________
CIX
IN THE SPIRITUAL REFUGE OF
THE KEVALJNANI
Sita's determination to receive initiation into the Samyamdharma took Shri Ram and others by surprise. No one thought that she would renounce the samsar. This was an absolutely unexpected event. Sita did not stop at declaring her decision. She at once pulled off her beautiful hair and placed it in Shri Ram's hands and then met the Mahamuni and received the Deeksha. All these things took place in a few moments. When Shri Ram heard her words, he fell down unconscious. His grief knew no bounds. Lakshman, Shatrughna, Vibhishan, Sugriv. Hanuman and the others were filled with anguish.
This was not an ordinary event. No one thought that Sita would take such an unexpected decision. After Sita proved her chastity by means of the fire-ordeal in the presence of Shri Ram and the citizens of Ayodhya, she became totally detached. She discarded all her attachments and hatred. There could be no hatred when all attachments had been discarded.
Shri Ram suddenly became unconscious. Lakshman and the others tried to do whatever they could to help him regain his consciousness, Sugriv, Vibhishan, Bhamandal and others went away with Sita. Sita received the Deeksha from Jayabushan muni in accordance with the scriptural prescriptions. Sugriv and others saluted Sita and returned to Ayodhya.
Soon after recovering his consciousness, Shri Ram looked around and said in an agonized voice :
“Where is my dear Sita? Whither has she gone ?” His eyes searched for Sita but Sita was not there. He saw only a large
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