The great story of the Ramayana tells of the events that occurred when the evil Ravana kidnapped Sita, the beautiful wife of Lord Rama. Before he discovered where she had been taken, Rama grieved for his companion inconsolably.

Seeing the depth of his sorrow, Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva, said to her husband, “How can this be? We chant the name of Sri Ram as a god, but he is behaving like a lost human being, but even more crushed than they. “

Shiva Shankar said, “He is a human being outwardly. Completely human. But within, he is divine.”

“I am not so sure,” Parvati said. “He embraces trees and weeps, ‘Sita, Sita!’ He seems to be losing his mind – not at all like a god.”

“Then test him,” Lord Shiva replied. “Appear before him in the form of Sita, and see how he responds.”

“If I do that,” Parvati said, “he will go mad with joy, and I will have to flee! But I will try it, and we shall see.”

Therefore, Parvati went to where Lord Rama was, and stood before him in the form of Sita – and Rama did not even look at her. She went to one side of him and then the other, jangling her bracelets to get his attention, but no matter what she did he ignored her completely.

“Do you not see Sita in front of you?” she said at last. “How is it that you spurn her?”

The Sri Rama smiled gently and said, “Mother of the world, you are not Sita, you are Adi Maya [the primal energy], I have recognised you. Please leave.”

Then, deeply embarrassed, Parvati said, “Sri Rama, please forgive me. It was Shiva Shankar who proposed this test. Now I understand that you are indeed Lord Vishnu incarnate.”