#tapestryofwomen IN INDIAN MYTHOLOGY!
I am blessed to be a part of this book. 
Foreword by eminent mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik
My poem included in this book
RIGHTEOUS MANDODARI
WIFE OF RAVANA
The story of Mandodari
The queen consort of Ravana, king of Sri Lanka
People must know, and bow their heads in respect
Pious and righteous
Most respected woman of Ramayana
Supported her husband Ravana all through her life
Counselling him against his bad deeds
Deeply loved him
Remained loyal to him
But seldom got prominence
Adopted child of Mayasura
The son of Saptarishi Kashyap
Extremely beautiful, slender waisted Mandodari
Extolled as one of the Panchkanyas
The recital of whose names dispel sin
Such is the stature of Mandodari
Ravana visited the house of Mayasura and his wife Hema
Fell in love with Mandodari
Marriage of two performed with Vedic rites
She becomes Ravana’s first and eldest bride
Ravana has many faults
Still Mandodari loves him with all her heart
Proud of his strength Worships goddess Parvati
for his well-being
The pure and righteous queen Mandodari
MANDODARI AND SITA
Ravana disguised as a beggar
Kidnaps Sita, wife of Rama
Brings her to Ashok Vatika in Sri Lanka
Threatens to kill her if she refuses to marry him
Sita refuses offer to marry Ravana
Ravana raises his sword to behead Sita
Mandodari holds his hand, saves Sita’s life
Murder of a woman is a heinous crime
Donot commit this sin
She advises Ravana
The result of this crime not in your favour
Advises him not to subdue the Navagrahas
The nine celestial beings
Governing the destinies of all
Killing Sita will be the cause of his destruction
The right thinking wife of Ravana
Mandodari knows Sita’s devotion to Rama
Compares her to the goddesses Sachi and Rohini
Before the final battle against Rama
Mandodari makes last attempt to dissuade Ravana
To return Sita to Rama
Ravana ignores her advice
Then, she stands by her husband
A faithful and obedient wife
Mandodari the consort queen of Ravana
MANDODARI’S SECOND MARRIAGE
The mighty king Ravana
Falls down in war with Rama
His pride and life all lost forever
Mandodari weeps uncontrollably
So are the other queens and all Rakshas
Body of Ravana lies on the scented wood
Amid chanting Mantras and sacred offerings
Vibhishana lights the funeral pyre
Lost husband, sons and kinsmen
Mandodari In a disarrayed state, laments their death
Last look on the funeral pyre, decides to commit Sati
Rama advises Vibhishana to marry Mandodari
This can save her life
In this matrilineal family
marrying the reigning queen restores the order
And to rule the kingdom becomes his right
Mandodari loved Ravana
But agrees to second marriage with Vibhishana
For prosperity and stability of her kingdom
The marriage purely an act of statesmanship
Not based on mutual sexual interference
And she gets a right to have a say in governance
In an age of impulse, passion and desire
Mandodari had a mind of reasoning and rationality
Unheard, unheeded Mandodari sticks to her path of inward looking
Dutiful wife, frank in counselling Ravana on morals
Turbulent on surface
Deep in her spiritual quest
The righteous queen Mandodari existed on this earth
Chanchal Sarin
Copyright
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