Identifying The Anklets

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Sai Pearls Of Wisdom By Prof Anil Kumar

This is about a program that took place on the 27th of February 2004. It was a very funny program. There was no dialogue or speaking; there were only gestures and postures. The students were acting. Only by watching their signs and gestures, we were able to make out the exact theme that they wanted to convey.

Perhaps this was the first time this type of program (known as 'pantomime') was taking place in Sai Kulwant Hall. Usually such things are done in a smaller gathering. But they did this program right in front of Swami and in front of so many people.

The students enacted it in front of Swami and then later, after the enactment, they asked the crowd, "Who will tell the message of this?" Then the other students would raise their hands and one of them would tell the message of the whole scene which had been silently enacted. It was quite interesting and Swami keenly watched every episode (skit.)
In the next episode, a few boys walked in first; then a few more boys walked over to them. In this second group, one fellow brought a bundle wrapped up with cloth and opened it. One boy in the first group took the bundle from him and handed it over to yet another boy. This boy saw all the things in the bundle and started pretending to speak to the boy who had handed it to him. (This was all with gestures and actions only.

Question: "What is this all about?"

One boy said, "I will give you the answer. This is an episode from the Ramayana.After Sita was abducted, Rama and Lakshmana were in search of her. At that moment Sugriva, came to Rama with a bundle of jewels and asked,'Do they belong to your wife, Sita?'"

"Rama never knew the jewels of Sita. Like the modern man, who knows about his wife's property? This is one of Swami's jokes! Like the modern fellow, He was not bothered about his wife's property! So Rama gave the bundle of ornaments to his brother Lakshmana saying, 'Brother, you find out whether they belong to Sita.' "

"Lakshmana said, 'Brother, I do not know the earrings of Sita because I never looked at them. I do not know the chain of Sita, as I never looked at it. I do not know the gold waistband of Sita because I never looked at it. But I know the anklets of Sita. Why? It is because every morning, I took her Padanamaskar. So I can identify the anklets. Therefore, these ornaments must belong to Sita.' "

This was the episode enacted. This episode speaks of the character of Lakshmana. Though he lived in the company of Sita for a long time, taking care of his brother Rama and her all that he cared to behold of her was her feet that he worshipped regularly. He faithfully served Rama and Sita It speaks of his excellence and of his exemplary character.

This was the episode enacted.Everyone clapped on hearing this, including Swami!