(Photo courtesy by Desaraju Lakshmi)

One of the rites in the marriage ceremony in India is Thalambraalu the act of pouring rice on the head of the bride-groom by the bride. Since Janaka, the father of Sita, was immensely rich, he arranged for the pouring of pearls instead of rice. Sita held a palmful of pearls in her hand over Rama’s head. The white pearls in the palms of Sita shone with reddish splendour as her palms were of reddish hue. When she poured the pearls on the white turban Rama wore for the occasion, the pearls shone with the white hue of the turban. The pearls rolling down the body of Shri Rama assumed a dark colour reflecting the bluish colour of Shri Rama.

The pearls shinning with reddish hue in the hands of Sita are symbolic of the Rajo guna, conveying the message that one is of Rajasika nature in the company of Prakriti. The pearls shining with whitish splendour are symbolic of the Sattva guna, indicating the fact that one acquires the Sattvika nature in the company of God. The nature of persons who belonged neither to Prakriti nor God will be Tamasika persons like the colour of the pearls that rolled down from Rama’s head. People of divine orientation shine with Sattvika serenity and purity. People with a worldly outlook display Rajasika quality while those who are neither worldly not Godly are Tamasika. (SSS Vol.25, pp.182-183)