Devi Sita is a well known Hindu Goddess acknowledged for her courage, purity, dedication, loyalty, and sacrifice. She is the silent figure of strength in the Hindu epic, Ramayana. She is the epitome of devotion as a wife, daughter, and a mother Sita is known by many epithets. She is called Jānaki as the daughter of Janaka and Maithili as the princess of Mithila. As the wife of Rama, she is called Rama. Her father Janaka had earned the sobriquet Videha due to his ability to transcend body consciousness; Sita is therefore also known as Vaidehi Sita is an incarnation of Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth and prosperity.
King Janaka found her while ploughing as part of the Vedic ritual that he was performing, as a gift from the Earth goddess and adopted her as his daughter. He named her Sita, a word in Sanskrit which means the furrow.Janaki, in Hinduism, the consort of the god Rama. Her abduction by the demon king Ravana and subsequent rescue are the central incidents in the great Hindu epic Ramayana Sita, as described by Surpanakha, had a slender waist, skin that glistened, and eyes that sparkled. Legend reveals that Sita is rebirth of Vedavati and she is Daughter of Ravana and his wife Mandodari. Vedavati was a pious woman who wanted to marry Lord Vishnu. To marry him, she gave up worldly life and became a hermit and built an ashram on a riverbank.Sita proves her purity by undergoing a fire ordeal, as seen in a mural detail at the Emerald Buddha Temple. Sita stands calmly in a gated area with flames burning around the lotus blossom platform on which she stands.After marrying Sita ,Ram returned to Ayodhya. They stayed in Ayodhya for 12 long years, filled with happiness and joy, with the family.Rama, prince of Ayodhya, won the hand of the beautiful princess Sita (seen here), but was exiled with her and his brother Laksmana for 14 years through the plotting of his stepmother. In the forest Sita was abducted by Ravana, and Rama gathered an army of monkeys and bears to search for her.Their story is recounted in the Hindu epic Ramayana, and its other versions. Kusha, one of the twin sons of Rama and Sita.She is a woman enchanted by an image of herself.” Throughout the Ramayana, Sita is described as “doe-eyed” and “golden-skinned” and the “golden deer is an image of her beauty and her forest wildness”.Known as the capital of Province 2 today, Janakpur the birthplace of Janaki or Sita, the consort of Lord Ram, is an important religious pilgrimage site in the Terai plains, in south central Nepal.Ravana arranged for his servant Maricha to disguise himself as a golden deer and tempt Rama and Lakshman away from Sita. Lakshman drew a circle in the dust around Sita to protect her and told her not to step out of the circle.Sita and her sisters were imparted education inside palace.
Devi Sita is a well known Hindu Goddess acknowledged for her courage, purity, dedication, loyalty, and sacrifice. She is the silent figure of strength in the Hindu epic, Ramayana. She is the epitome of devotion as a wife, daughter, and a mother. She led a life full of trials and tribulations with strength and courage
Vedavati: A tapasvini (female ascetic), devotee of Lord Vishnu in previous birth who entered blazing fire when Ravana tried to molest her.Kaushika Sutra of Atharva Veda mentions Sita as wife of Parjanya (Lord Indra, the god associated with rain)Paraskara Griha Sutra of Shukla Yajur Veda mentions Sita as wife of Indra (the god associated with rain)She is also worshipped as an agricultural and fertility deity, prayed to for bountiful crops.“Auspicious Sita, come thou near: we venerate and worship thee that thou mayst bless and prosper us and bring us fruits abundantly.” – Rig Veda 4.57.6
Udbhavasthitisamharakarinim Kalesaharinim |
sarvasreyaskarim Sitam Natoham Ramavallabham ||
I bow to Sita, the beloved consort of Sri Rama, who is responsible for the creation, sustenance, and dissolution (of the universe), removes afflictions and begets all blessings. — ShriRamcharitmanas, Balkand, Manglacharan, Shloka 5
Daaridrya-Ranna-Samhartriim Bhaktaana-Abhisstta-Daayiniim |
Videha-Raaja-Tanayaam Raaghava-[A]ananda-Kaarinniim ||
Devi Sita you are the destroyer of poverty and bestower of wishes on the devotees. I salute you : you are the daughter of Videha Raja and cause of joy of Raghava (Sri Ram)Bhuumer-Duhitaram Vidyaan Namaami Prakrtim Shivaam |
Paulastya-[A]ishvarya-Samhatriim Bhakti-Abhiissttaam Sarasvatiim ||
Devi Sita I salute you: You are the daughter of Earth and embodiment of knowledge; You are the auspicious Prakriti (nature)
You are the destroyer of power and supremacy of oppressor and fulfiller of the wishes of Devotees. You are an embodiment of Maa Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge)Aahlaada-Ruupinniim Siddhim Shivaam Shivakariim Satiim|Namaami Vishal-Jananiim Raamacandre [a-l]sstta-Vallabhaam ||Sitaam Sarvaan-Avadya-Anggiim Bhajaami Satatam Hrdaa |||Your different forms are a source of joy to all, You are the Sati (a devoted wife) whose presence is auspicious and confers Siddhi (attainment) and Liberation,I Salute the Mother of the Universe, Who is the beloved of Lord Rama, Vedavati: A tapasvini (female ascetic), devotee of Lord Vishnu in previous birth who entered blazing fire when Ravana tried to molest her.Kaushika Sutra of Atharva Veda mentions Sita as wife of Parjanya (Lord Indra, the god associated with rain)Paraskara Griha Sutra of Shukla Yajur Veda mentions Sita as wife of Indra (the god associated with rain)She is also worshipped as an agricultural and fertility deity, prayed to for bountiful crops.“Auspicious Sita, come thou near: we venerate and worship thee that thou mayst bless and prosper us and bring us fruits abundantly.” – Rig Veda 4.57.6Udbhavasthitisamharakarinim Kalesaharinim |
sarvasreyaskarim Sitam Natoham Ramavallabham ||
I bow to Sita, the beloved consort of Sri Rama, who is responsible for the creation, sustenance, and dissolution (of the universe), removes afflictions and begets all blessings. — ShriRamcharitmanas, Balkand, Manglacharan, Shloka 5
Daaridrya-Ranna-Samhartriim Bhaktaana-Abhisstta-Daayiniim |
Videha-Raaja-Tanayaam Raaghava-[A]ananda-Kaarinniim ||
Devi Sita you are the destroyer of poverty and bestower of wishes on the devotees. I salute you : you are the daughter of Videha Raja and cause of joy of Raghava (Sri Ram)
Bhuumer-Duhitaram Vidyaan Namaami Prakrtim Shivaam |
Paulastya-[A]ishvarya-Samhatriim Bhakti-Abhiissttaam Sarasvatiim ||
Devi Sita I salute you: You are the daughter of Earth and embodiment of knowledge; You are the auspicious Prakriti (nature)
You are the destroyer of power and supremacy of oppressor and fulfiller of the wishes of Devotees. You are an embodiment of Maa Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge)
Aahlaada-Ruupinniim Siddhim Shivaam Shivakariim Satiim|
Namaami Vishal-Jananiim Raamacandre [a-l]sstta-Vallabhaam ||
Sitaam Sarvaan-Avadya-Anggiim Bhajaami Satatam Hrdaa |||
Your different forms are a source of joy to all, You are the Sati (a devoted wife) whose presence is auspicious and confers Siddhi (attainment) and Liberation,
I Salute the Mother of the Universe, Who is the beloved of Lord Rama, Vedavati: A tapasvini (female ascetic), devotee of Lord Vishnu in previous birth who entered blazing fire when Ravana tried to molest her.
Kaushika Sutra of Atharva Veda mentions Sita as wife of Parjanya (Lord Indra, the god associated with rain)
Paraskara Griha Sutra of Shukla Yajur Veda mentions Sita as wife of Indra (the god associated with rain)
She is also worshipped as an agricultural and fertility deity, prayed to for bountiful crops.
“Auspicious Sita, come thou near: we venerate and worship thee that thou mayst bless and prosper us and bring us fruits abundantly.” – Rig Veda 4.57.6
Udbhavasthitisamharakarinim Kalesaharinim |
sarvasreyaskarim Sitam Natoham Ramavallabham ||
I bow to Sita, the beloved consort of Sri Rama, who is responsible for the creation, sustenance, and dissolution (of the universe), removes afflictions and begets all blessings. — ShriRamcharitmanas, Balkand, Manglacharan, Shloka 5
Daaridrya-Ranna-Samhartriim Bhaktaana-Abhisstta-Daayiniim |
Videha-Raaja-Tanayaam Raaghava-[A]ananda-Kaarinniim ||
Devi Sita you are the destroyer of poverty and bestower of wishes on the devotees. I salute you : you are the daughter of Videha Raja and cause of joy of Raghava (Sri Ram)
Bhuumer-Duhitaram Vidyaan Namaami Prakrtim Shivaam |Paulastya-[A]ishvarya-Samhatriim Bhakti-Abhiissttaam Sarasvatiim ||Devi Sita I salute you: You are the daughter of Earth and embodiment of knowledge; You are the auspicious Prakriti (nature)You are the destroyer of power and supremacy of oppressor and fulfiller of the wishes of Devotees. You are an embodiment of Maa Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge)
Aahlaada-Ruupinniim Siddhim Shivaam Shivakariim Satiim|
Namaami Vishal-Jananiim Raamacandre [a-l]sstta-Vallabhaam ||
Sitaam Sarvaan-Avadya-Anggiim Bhajaami Satatam Hrdaa |||Your different forms are a source of joy to all, You are the Sati (a devoted wife) whose presence is auspicious and confers Siddhi (attainment) and Liberation,I Salute the Mother of the Universe, Who is the beloved of Lord Rama,
I always worship You in my heart Who is beautiful in entirety and you are beautiful beyond words.
The legend behind Devi Sita’s birth is divine and supernatural. She did not emerged from a mothers’s womb, rather she appeared miraculously in a furrow, while king Janaka was ploughing the field as part of Vedic ritual in the kingdom of Videhas (also known as Mithila), an ancient Indian kingdom in late Vedic India.This site is now located in present day district, Bihar, India. She was discovered and brought up by king Janaka, the king of Mithila and his wife Sunaina (Valmiki Ramayana).Janakpur, which is located in the present-day Province No. 2, Nepal, is also described as Devi Sita’s birthplace.According to Sanghadasa Jain version of Ramayana and Adbhut Ramayana Sita was born as a daughter of Ravana, the astrologers predicted that the first child of Vidyadhara Maya (Ravana’s wife) will destroy his lineage thus Ravana abandons her and orders the infant to be buried in a distant land where she is later discovered and adopted by King Janaka sita— from the Sanskrit word ‘Seet’ meaning furrow
Vaidehi — daughter of Vaideh, a sobriquet of Janak due to his ability to transcend body consciousness.
Janaki/Janaknandini — daughter of king Janak
Maithili — princess of Mithila
Sia — in local Hindi dialect like Braj or Awadhi
Bhoomija — daughter of Bhoomi (Earth)
Janakatmata — part of Janak’s soul (combination of Janak and Atmaja, a Sanskrit word meaning part of soul)
Bhusuta — a combination of two words Bhu, which stands for prithvi (earth), and Suta means daughter.
When Sita had come of marriageable age, king Janaka arranged her a swayamvar (a ceremony where the prospective bride chooses her own groom from among a group of suitors who attend the ceremony).
The condition was whosoever strings Pinaka (Siva’s bow) will get Sita’s hand.
However, there is an associated legend to this condition, as per the Tulsidas Ramayan. When Lord Parshuram witnessed Devi Sita playing with the mighty bow (Pinaka) in a very tender age, he was stunned by her strength as even the Gods could not lift that bow. Witnessing this, Valmiki advised King Janak that when the time arrives Sita should be married to the one who had the courage to string the mighty bow. Only Lord Rama amongst all the suitors could string Lord Shiva’s bow and hence won the swayamvar.
Kaikeyi, Rama’s stepmother, compelled King Dashratha (Rama’s father) to make Bharata (Rama’s step brother) king and forced Rama to go into exile for fourteen years.
Devi Sita had the courage to renounce the comforts of the palace and join Rama in a fourteen year exile in the forests of Dandak and later Panchvati.Choosing exile was her own personal decision and she was firm and outspoken about it. She did not find the forest exile fearful. Sita was later abducted from Panchvati by the demon king Ravana.
Chapter 5 Some versions of Ramayana describe Sita taking refuge with the fire god (Agni), while Maya Sita (illusionary double) was abducted by Ravana. (Source: Skanda Purana).
During her captivity days she even challenged Ravana to cross the strand of straw placed between them. This shows she was a woman of substance. In the captivity of Ravana in Ashoka Vatika when Hanuman came looking for her, she chose Hanuman not to carry her back to her husband, Lord Rama. She was optimistic that her husband would rescue her.
After getting rescued by Lord Rama, this divine Goddess decided to give Agni-pareeksha (an ordeal of fire) to prove her chastity. She is very clear about her position as giving Agni-pareeksha was a very powerful stance and not an act of weakness. This was the courage and grace of Devi Sita.
Lord Rama was forced to heed the words of his praja (local residents of Ayodhya) and in order to protect the moral fabric of his kingdom he asked Sita to leave the palace on account of spending months in the territory of another man (Ravana).
Devi Sita makes the point that it is not only humiliating to her but the entire female community to justify her purity yet again. Devi Sita here is presented as an embodiment of courage, wisdom, and perseverance.
Now Devi Sita faces yet another exile but this time she was all alone. She took refuge in the hermitage of Rishi Valmiki where she delivered twin boys named Luv and Kusha. She raised her sons as a single mother and the boys grew up to be vigilant and bright. It was the immense love and dedication of a mother which got reflected in her son’s aura.
When Luva and Kusha got united with their father (Lord Rama), Sita refused to return to the kingdom of Ayodhya. Devi Sita took final refuge in the arms of her Mother Earth. Mother Earth dramatically split open and took Devi Sita away.
Sita Navami / Sita Jayanti — Sita navami is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Sita Mata. It falls on Navami tithi (ninth day) during Shukla Paksha (white bright lunar fortnight) in the month of Vaisakh. On this day women keep fast for their husband’s long life. This day is celebrated with great pomp and show in Sita Samahit Sthal in Bihar, Ayodhya (birth space of Lord Rama), Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu and Bhadrachalam in Andhra Pradesh, India.
Vivah Punchami — This festival commemorates the wedding anniversary of Ram and Sita and is observed on the fifth day of Shukla Paksh (the waxing phase of moon, Hindu calendar month of Agrahayana, December-January). The celebrations are notable in temples of Lord Rama all over India, particularly in Mithila (Devi Sita’s birth place) and some parts of north India especially Ayodhaya (Lord Rama’s birth place)
Sita
Sita Kund — Punaura Dham, District Sitamarhi, Bihar, India
Seetha Devi Temple — Pulpally, Kerala, District Wayanad, India
Sita Temple — Phaiswari, District Pauli, Uttarakhand, India
Seetha Amman Temple — Nane Nauwara Eliya, SriLanka
Sita Mai Temple — Sitamarhi village, District Karnak, Haryana, India
Janaki Mandir — Janakpur, Nepal
Ramayam by Sage Valmiki (24000 Shalokas, 500 upkhand and 7 kandaas) Ramcharitmanas by Goswami Tulsidas (7 kandaas, 9 Shalokaas, 688 Dohas, 55 Sortas, 118 Chhand and 1060 Chaupai)
Sita also called as Janaki and Vaidehi is a Hindu goddess and the female protagonist of the Hindu epic, Ramayana. She is the consort of Rama, the avatar of the god Vishnu, and is regarded as a form of Vishnu’s consort, Lakshmi. She is also the chief goddess of Rama-centric Hindu traditions. Sita is known for her dedication, self-sacrifice, courage, and purity. She is one of the seventeen national heroes (rastriya bibhuti) of Nepal.
Described as the daughter of Bhūmi (the earth), Sita is brought up as the adopted daughter of King Janaka of Videha. Sita, in her youth, chooses Rama, the prince of Ayodhya as her husband in a swayamvara. After the swayamvara, she accompanies her husband to his kingdom, but later chooses to accompany her husband, along with her brother-in-law Lakshmana, in his exile. While in exile, the trio settles in the Dandaka forest from where she is abducted by Ravana, the Rakshasa king of Lanka. She is imprisoned in the garden of Ashoka Vatika, in Lanka, until she is rescued by Rama, who slays her captor. After the war, in some versions of the epic, Rama asks Sita to undergo Agni Pariksha (an ordeal of fire), by which she proves her purity, before she is accepted by Rama, which for the first time makes his brother Lakshmana get angry at him.In some versions of the epic, Maya Sita, an illusion created by Agni, takes Sita’s place and is abducted by Ravana and suffers his captivity, while the real Sita hides in the fire. Some scriptures also mention her previous birth being Vedavati, a woman Ravana tries to molest. After proving her purity, Rama and Sita return to Ayodhya, where they are crowned as king and queen. One day, a man questions Sita’s purity and in order to prove her innocence and maintain his own and the kingdom’s dignity, Rama sends Sita into the forest near the sage Valmiki’s ashram. Years later, Sita returns to the womb of her mother, the Earth, for release from a cruel world and as a testimony of her purity, after she reunites her two sons Kusha and Lava with their father Rama The goddess is best known by the name “Sita”, derived from the Sanskrit word sīta, furrow
According to Ramayana, Janaka found her while ploughing as a part of a yagna and adopted her. The word Sīta was a poetic term, which signified fertility and the many blessings coming from settled agriculture. The Sita of the Ramayana may have been named after a more ancient Vedic goddess Sita, who is mentioned once in the Rigveda as an earth goddess who blesses the land with good crops. In the Vedic period, she was one of the goddesses associated with fertility.
The Kausik-sutra and the Paraskara-sutra associate her repeatedly as the wife of Parjanya (a god associated with rains) and Indra.
Sita is known by many epithets. She is called Jānaki as the daughter of Janaka and Maithili as the princess of Mithila.As the wife of Rama, she is called Ramā. Her father Janaka had earned the sobriquet Videha due to his ability to transcend body consciousness; Sita is therefore also known as Vaidehi.
In Valmiki’s Ramayana, Sita is said to have been discovered in a furrow in a ploughed field, believed to be Sitamarhi in Mithila region of present-day Bihar, and for that reason is regarded as a daughter of Bhūmi Devi[18] (the goddess earth). She was discovered, adopted and brought up by Janaka, king of Mithila and his wife Sunaina. This story is adapted into Kamban’s Ramavataram, a Tamil version of the Ramayana.
The birthplace of Sita Is disputed. The Sita Kund pilgrimage site which is located in present-day Sitamarhi district,Bihar, India is viewed as the birthplace of Sita. Apart from Sitamarhi, Janakpur, which is located in the present-day Nepal is also described as Sita’s birthplace When Sita reaches adulthood, Janaka organizes a Swayamvara in Janakpurdham with the condition that Sita would marry only that person who would be able to string Pinaka, the bow of the god Shiva. Janaka knew that the bow of Shiva was not even liftable, let alone stringable for ordinary mortals, and for selfish people it was not even approachable. Devi Sita while playing with her sisters in childhood had unknowingly lifted the table over which the bow had been placed; this was something that no one in Mithila could do. This incident was however observed by Janaka and he decided to make it a backdrop for Swayamvara because he wanted a son-in-law who was as strong as his daughter
At this time, Vishvamitra had brought Rama and his brother Lakshmana to the forest for the protection of sacrifice. Hearing about this swayamvara, Vishvamitra asks Rama to participate in it and takes Rama and Lakshmana to the palace of Janaka in Janakpur. Janaka is greatly pleased to learn that Rama and Lakshmana are sons of Dasharatha. Next morning, in the middle of the hall, Rama lifts up the bow of Shiva with his left hand, fastens the string taut and breaks the bow in the process. However, another avatar of Vishnu, Parashurama, became really angry as the bow of Shiva was broken. However, he does not realize that Rama is also an avatar of Vishnu, therefore after being informed of this, he apologizes for getting angry. Thus, Rama fulfills Janaka’s condition to marry Sita. Later on Vivaha Panchami, a marriage ceremony is conducted under the guidance of Satananda. Rama marries Sita, Bharata marries Mandavi, Lakshmana marries Urmila and Shatrughna marries Shrutakirti.
Some time after the wedding, Kaikeyi, Rama’s stepmother, compelled Dasharatha to make Bharata king, prompted by the coaxing of her maid Manthara, and forced Rama to leave Ayodhya and spend a period of exile in the forests of Dandaka and later Panchavati. Sita and Lakshmana willingly renounced the comforts of the palace and joined Rama in exile. The Panchavati forest became the scene for Sita’s abduction by Ravana, King of Lanka. The scene started with Shurpanakha’s love for Rama. However Rama refused her, stating that he was devoted to Sita. This enraged the demoness and she tried to kill Sita. Lakshmana cut Shurpanakha’s nose and sent her back. Ravana, to kidnap Sita, made a plan. Maricha, his uncle, disguised himself as a magnificent deer to lure Sita. Sita, attracted to its golden glow asked her husband to make it her pet. When Rama and Lakshmana went far away from the hut, Ravana kidnapped Sita, disguising himself as a mendicant. Some versions of the Ramayana describe Sita taking refuge with the fire-god Agni, while Maya Sita, her illusionary double, is kidnapped by the demon-king. Jatayu, the vulture-king, tried to protect Sita but Ravana chopped off his wings. Jatayu survived long enough to inform Rama of what had happened Ravana took Sita back to his kingdom in Lanka and she was held as a prisoner in one of his palaces. During her captivity for a year in Lanka, Ravana expressed his desire for her; however, Sita refused his advances and struggled to maintain her chastity. Hanuman was sent by Rama to seek Sita and eventually succeeded in discovering Sita’s whereabouts. Sita gave Hanuman her jewellery and asked him to give it to her husband. Hanuman returned across the sea to Rama
Sita was finally rescued by Rama, who waged a war to defeat Ravana. Upon rescue, Rama makes Sita undergo a trial by fire to prove her chastity. In some versions of the Ramayana, during this test the fire-god Agni appears in front of Rama and attests to Sita’s purity, or hands over to him the real Sita and declares it was Maya Sita who was abducted by Ravana. The Thai version of the Ramayana, however, tells of Sita walking on the fire, of her own accord, to feel clean, as opposed to jumping in it. She is not burnt, and the coals turn to lotuses.
This story is not a part of the original Valmiki Ramayan, but a part of later interpolation Uttara Kanda. After the couple came back to Ayodhya, Rama was crowned as the king with Sita by his side. While Rama’s trust and affection for Sita never wavered, it soon became evident that some people in Ayodhya could not accept Sita’s long captivity under Ravana. During Rama’s period of rule, an intemperate washerman, while berating his wayward wife, declared that he was “no pusillanimous Rama who would take his wife back after she had lived in the house of another man”. The common folk started gossiping about Sita and questioned Ram’s decision to make her queen. Rama was extremely distraught on hearing the news, but finally told Lakshmana that as a king, he had to make his citizens pleased and the purity of the queen of Ayodhya has to be above any gossip and rumour. With a heavy heart, he instructed him to take Sita to a forest outside Ayodhya and leave her there. Thus Sita was forced into exile a second time. Sita, who was pregnant, was given refuge in the hermitage of Valmiki, where she delivered twin sons named Kusha and Lava. In the hermitage, Sita raised her sons alone, as a single mother. They grew up to be valiant and intelligent and were eventually united with their father. Once she had witnessed the acceptance of her children by Rama, Sita sought final refuge in the arms of her mother Bhūmi. Hearing her plea for release from an unjust world and from a life that had rarely been happy, the Earth dramatically split open; Bhūmi appeared and took Sita away. According to the Padma-puran, Sita’s exile during her pregnancy was because of a curse during her childhood.Sita had caught a pair of divine parrots, which were from Valmiki’s ashram, when she was young. The birds were talking about a story of Sri Ram heard in Valmiki’s ashram, which intrigued Sita. She has the ability to talk with animals. The female bird was pregnant at that time. She requested Sita to let them go, but Sita only allowed her male companion to fly away, and the female parrot died because of the separation from her companion. As a result, the male bird cursed Sita that she would suffer a similar fate of being separated from her husband during pregnancy. The male bird was reborn as the washerman. While the Ramayana mostly concentrates on Rama’s actions, Sita also speaks many times during the exile. The first time is in the town of Chitrakuta where she narrates an ancient story to Rama, whereby Rama promises to Sita that he will never kill anybody without provocation. Female deity of agricultural fertility by the name Sita was known before Valmiki’s Ramayana, but was overshadowed by better-known goddesses associated with fertility. According to Ramayana, Sita was discovered in a furrow when Janaka was ploughing. Since Janaka was a king, it is likely that ploughing was part of a royal ritual to ensure fertility of the land. Sita is considered to be a child of Mother Earth, produced by union between the king and the land. Sita is a personification of Earth’s fertility, abundance, and well-being
The second time Sita Is shown talking prominently is when she speaks to Ravana. Ravana has come to her in the form of a mendicant and Sita tells him that he does not look like one.
Some of her most prominent speeches are with Hanuman when he reaches Lanka. Hanuman wants an immediate union of Rama and Sita and thus he proposes to Sita to ride on his back. Sita refuses as she does not want to run away like a thief; instead she wants her husband Rama to come and defeat Ravana to save her.Sita is the daughter of King Janak and Queen Videha of Mithalapuri. She has a brother named Bhamandal who is kidnapped soon after his birth by a deity due to animosity in a previous life. He is thrown into a garden of Rathnupur where he is dropped into the arms of King Chandravardhan of Rathnupur. The king and queen bring him Up as their own son. Ram and Sita get married due to Bhamandal and in the course of events Bhamandal realises that Sita is his sister. It is then that he meets his birth parents
Female deity of agricultural fertility by the name Sita was known before Valmiki’s Ramayana, but was overshadowed by better-known goddesses associated with fertility. According to Ramayana, Sita was discovered in a furrow when Janaka was ploughing. Since Janaka was a king, it is likely that ploughing was part of a royal ritual to ensure fertility of the land. Sita is considered to be a child of Mother Earth, produced by union between the king and the land. Sita is a personification of Earth’s fertility, abundance, and well-being Hindu tradition reveres Sita. She has been portrayed as an ideal daughter, an ideal wife and an ideal mother in various texts, stories, illustrations, movies, and modern media. Sita is often worshipped with Rama as his consort.The occasion of her marriage to Rama is celebrated as Vivaha Panchami.The actions, reactions, and instincts manifested by Sita at every juncture in a long and arduous life are deemed exemplary. Her story has been portrayed in the book Sitayanam.The values that she enshrined and adhered to at every point in the course of a demanding life are the values of womanly virtue held sacred by countless generations of Indians.also called Janaki, in Hinduism, the consort of the god Rama. Her abduction by the demon king Ravana and subsequent rescue are the central incidents in the great Hindu epic Ramayana
Sita was raised by King Janaka; she was not his natural daughter but sprang from a furrow when he was ploughing his field. Rama won her as his bride by bending Shiva’s bow, and she accompanied her husband when he went into exile. Though carried away to Lanka by Ravana, she kept herself chaste by concentrating her heart on Rama throughout her long imprisonment. On her return she asserted her purity and also proved it by voluntarily undergoing an ordeal by fire. Rama, however, banished her to the forest in deference to public opinion. There she gave birth to their two children, Kusha and Lava. After they reached maturity and were acknowledged by Rama to be his sons, she called upon her mother, Earth, to swallow her up.
Sita is worshipped as the incarnation of Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu. Though often regarded as the embodiment of wifely devotion and self-sacrifice, she is critical of Rama at times, even in the earliest version of the Ramayana, and in some of the later versions of the story she departs from the idealized, chaste image of the earlier text. She is frequently depicted in Indian miniature paintings of the Ramayana and in South Indian bronzes. These usually form a group, with images of Rama, his brother Lakshmana, and his devotee, the monkey Hanuman. The iconographic texts instruct the artist to show Sita looking at her husband with supreme happiness.
It Is only the wife who actually shares the fortunes of her husband. When you depart this day for the dense forests which are difficult to penetrate, I shall walk ahead of you crushing under my feet, all the thorns that lie on your way.”
This is just one of the many expressions Sita used to convince Shri Rama to take her with him. She considered it her privilege to share in his misfortune and suffered the consequent trials and tribulations in equal measure throughout their sojourn in the forest. However, being exiled in the forests was the least of her troubles.
In fact, not even her kidnapping by Ravana could break Sita’ immense will-power, constantly nourished as it was by the memory of her beloved Rama. Ravana too, fearing the accumulated merits of a chaste woman did not dare touch her; he nevertheless did try to make advances. What was Sita’s reaction to his overtures? The great sage poet Valmiki has captured her wretched condition vividly, through a series of inspired metaphors. For example, on viewing Ravana: “She seemed like a flame wreathed in smoke; a great fame which had dimmed; a lotus pool stripped of its blossoms; like Rohini pursued by Ketu (a metaphor for the eclipsed moon); a traditional text obscured by a dubious interpretation; a faith that has been betrayed; an order that has been flouted; a hope which has been frustrated and an understanding that has grown feeble
Witnessing her appearance, Hanuman says: “For a woman the greatest decoration is her lord, and Sita, though incomparably beautiful, no longer shines in Rama’s absence.”
Although her physical beauty undoubtedly dims on account of the enforced separation; she keeps her mind fixed upon Rama, and thus radiates with an inner beauty as a result of this steadfastness. “Though that blessed one was shorn of her own beauty, yet her own soul did not lose its transcendency, upheld as it was by the thought of Rama’s glory and safeguarded by her own virtue.” Truly she remained chaste in both thought and deed and the various recensions of the epic recall episodes where even the mighty Ravana had to bow before Sita’s piety. Once for example, when the demon approached her, she placed a single strand of straw in between them and challenged him to cross the “proverbial last straw.” Predictably he did not dare to do so. He knew that the chastity of a virtuous woman was like a fire that could reduce to ashes anyone who tried to violate her against her will All of Sita’s miseries in the confinement of Ravana however, pale in comparison to the emotional trauma she was subjected to after Shri Rama’s victory over Ravana. In a bitter irony, what was to be her moment of deliverance, turned out to be the beginning of another trial. Standing before Rama, her eyes raised expectantly to his face, the innocent Sita wept, overwhelmed at the prospect of a joyful reunion with her Lord after his victory. The latter however remained formal and aloof and set out to articulate his heartfelt thoughts (hrdyaantargatam bhavam): “Today I have avenged the insult to my honor and fulfilled my promise. You stand unabashed before me, even though suspicion has arisen with regard to your character. Today you seem extremely disagreeable to me even as a light to one who is suffering from sore eyes. Therefore go wherever you like, O Janaka’s daughter, the ten directions are open to you today. What man born in a noble family would take back with an eager mind a woman who has dwelt in another’s house, simply because she has been kindly disposed towards him in the past? How can I accept you, who were touched by Ravana while being borne away by him and who regarded you with a lustful eye? There is no more attachment for you in my heart. You may therefore go wherever you like.” Harsh words indeed, which pierced Sita’s tender heart like arrows tipped with poison and shrinking within herself, the sensitive lady shed profuse tears, saying: “I was helpless when I came into the contact of Ravana and did not act of my own free will on that occasion. My adverse fate alone is to blame on that score. That which is under my control, viz., my heart, eternally does it abide in you.” Addressing her brother-in law Lakshmana, she says: “Raise for me a pyre, which is the only antidote against this calamity. I no longer desire to survive, smitten as I am with false reproaches.” Lakshmana looked at his brother, half-expecting him to put an end to this bewildering public spectacle. Scrutinizing his elder sibling’s expression, Lakshmana realized, to his horror, that this was exactly what Rama expected will Dharma go the right way, or can this universe survive if she becomes enraged? if she utters a curse, even Brahma on his lotus will die. Rama is overjoyed at the developments and the public display of his wife’s unblemished character: “Sita undoubtedly needed this purificatory ordeal in the eyes of the people inasmuch as this blessed lady had lived for a long time in Ravana’s confinement. The world would have murmured against me saying that my mind was so dominated by desire that I actually accepted the daughter of Janaka without proving her chastity. I too knew Sita to be undivided in her affection to me. Ravana couldn’t violate her, protected as she was by her own moral power. In order, however, to convince the inhabitants of the three worlds, I ignored Sita even while she was entering the fire. She is as inseparable from me as sunlight from the sun.” That Sita herself volunteered for the agni-pariksha speaks for the high volume of understanding between the couple since she understood Rama’s wish without him explicitly stating it. Her action was not a surrender to the unreasonable whims of a husband rather a supreme act of defiance that challenged the aspersions cast on her, by the means of which she highlighted the superficiality of his doubts, so that even the gods had to materialize and point out the apparent fallacy in the trial so unceremoniously cast on her. She emerges as a woman that even Agni – who has the power to reduce to ashes everything he touches – dare not touch or harm. She was the victim twice victimised. Thus reconciled, the contended couple repaired back to Ayodhya and Rama continued to rule as an ideal monarch over his extensive rein. More misfortune however was in store for Sita. No sooner had the couple settled down than rumors started in the capital questioning the propriety of having a queen who had spent a year in a villain’s captivity, putting her chastity under doubt. Surprisingly for a clear-headed individual, Rama took these allegations to heart and asked his younger brother Lakshmana to banish Sita (this time alone), to the forests. Rama did this even though he was well aware that his wife was well advanced into the family way. Thus Lakshmana carried Sita the next morning to the forests. The unknowing, innocent lady cheerfully boarded the chariot. Little did she know what travails lay in store for her. Once they reached the wilderness, her brother-in-law informed her thus: ” You have been forsaken by the king who is afraid of the ill-report circulating among his citizens. You are to be left near this hermitage by me.” Hearing these cruel words the crestfallen Sita fell swooning to the ground. However, it was not long before the valiant lady composed herself and addressed him thus: “This mortal frame of mine was indeed composed by the creator for bearing sorrow only. What sin was committed by me, that though being of good conduct, I should be forsaken by the king? I cannot give up my life since I carry within myself the seed which will carry forward the lineage of my lord. Do then as you are ordered O son of Sumitra (Lakshmana’s mother), forsake me the miserable one, obey the orders of the king, but do tell him this on my behalf: If to preserve your good name among your people, I must be sacrificed, I am content to let it be so. As you serve your subjects, so I serve you.” When these worthy sons entered their teens, tales of their valor spread far and wide, and it was not long before Rama realized that they were his own offspring. This knowledge prompted him to immediately call his beloved Sita and the two boys to his court. In front of the assembled subjects, tributary kings, ministers and merchants from all parts of his empire, he asked her to undertake the fire ordeal again for the benefit of these venerable gentlemen, who had missed the earlier one in Lanka. Sita’s reaction however was different from that earlier occasion. The emotional scar had obviously not healed. This time she did not ask her brother-in-law to prepare a funeral pyre for her. Nor did she circumambulate her husband in meek submission. Rather, with folded hands, she merely uttered the following words: “If I have remained true to Rama in mind, speech and action, may the Mother Earth embrace me in her bosom.” No sooner had she spoken than the ground beneath her feet split wide open, and before anybody had the time to react, she entered the depths. A dejected and helpless Rama was engulfed in grief. Thus did end the exemplary life of Sita, with fate pursuing her to the bitter end. In the televised version of the Ramayana, shown in serialized form on Indian television, the Earth Goddess is shown emerging from the ground seated on a bejeweled throne. Spreading out her arms she beckons Sita saying: “Come my child, this world is not worthy of you.” Sita does as she is told, leaving behind her, the lamenting assembly Sita is the consort of Lord Rama, the seventh avatar of Sri Maha Vishnu, in Hindu mythology. Sita Devi is one of the main characters in the Ramayana, a major Hindu epic. Born in Sitamarhi (Punaura) in Bihar (India), Sita was taken to Janakpur (in the present day Nepal) soon after her birth by her father, Maharaja Janak. Sita is considered to be one of the Sreshta Naris (most chaste women) and is respected as the epitome of all womanly virtues for Hindu women. Devi Sita is also considered an avatar of Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth and the consort of Sri Vishnu during the Treta Yuga. Devi Sita is indeed the ideal example of a woman and possesses all the good qualities that a traditional Indian woman is expected to possess. She was the ideal daughter to her parents, ideal wife to her husband, Rama, and the ideal mother to her twins, Luv and Kush. Devi Sita had to undergo a lot of trials and tribulations in her marital life and it was her courage, chastity and adherence to Dharma (righteousness) that finally made her emerge the ultimate winner. Through her life story, Sita showed how a strong woman should be and that she need never let go of her principles in life. Probably, the whole mission of Sita’s birth on Earth in human form was to destroy the arrogant Ravana, the demon King of Lanka Sita was found as an abandoned child, discovered in a furrow while ploughing in a field. Due to this legend, she is often referred to as the daughter of Bhoomidevi or Mother Earth. As she was adopted by King Janaka, she is also called Janaki. King Janaka was the ruler of Mithila in present day Nepal. Hence, Sita is also referred to by the name of Mythili. Sita’s father, Janaka, was known for his ability to transcend body consciousness. He was therefore popularly referred to as “Videha”. Hence, Sita came to be known as “Vaidehi” (the daughter of Videha). As Rama’s wife, she is also called “Ramaa”. One day, Princess Sita walks on the terrace of her quarters, when she sees Rama standing just below. Their eyes meet and it is love at first sight for both of them, almost as if Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi realize they have met again in their human avatar. Sita shyly runs back inside and silently prays that Rama should end up becoming her husband in her forthcoming Swayamvara When King Janaka realizes that Sita has come of marriageable age, he arranges her swayamvar (a ceremony where the bride is allowed to choose her groom from among the group of men assembled at that place). Many named kings attend the grand event from all over India. The swayamvar mandap is decorated beautifully and shines with the sheer splendour of the princes and kings assembled there. Rama and his brother, Lakshmana, arrive at the venue too, along with sage Vishwamitra. So does Ravana, the mighty, ten-headed demon King of Lanka.Devi Sita is the consort of Lord Rama, the seventh avatar of Sri Maha Vishnu, in Hindu mythology. Sita Devi is one of the main characters in the Ramayana, a major Hindu epic. Born in Sitamarhi (Punaura) in Bihar (India), Sita was taken to Janakpur (in the present day Nepal) soon after her birth by her father, Maharaja Janak. Sita is considered to be one of the Sreshta Naris (most chaste women) and is respected as the epitome of all womanly virtues for Hindu women. Devi Sita is also considered an avatar of Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth and the consort of Sri Vishnu during the Treta Yuga. Devi Sita is indeed the ideal example of a woman and possesses all the good qualities that a traditional Indian woman is expected to possess. She was the ideal daughter to her parents, ideal wife to her husband, Rama, and the ideal mother to her twins, Luv and Kush. Devi Sita had to undergo a lot of trials and tribulations in her marital life and it was her courage, chastity and adherence to Dharma (righteousness) that finally made her emerge the ultimate winner. Through her life story, Sita showed how a strong woman should be and that she need never let go of her principles in life. Probably, the whole mission of Sita’s birth on Earth in human form was to destroy the arrogant Ravana, the demon King of Lanka. Legend Of Sita’s Birth Sita was found as an abandoned child, discovered in a furrow while ploughing in a field. Due to this legend, she is often referred to as the daughter of Bhoomidevi or Mother Earth. As she was adopted by King Janaka, she is also called Janaki. King Janaka was the ruler of Mithila in present day Nepal. Hence, Sita is also referred to by the name of Mythili. Sita’s father, Janaka, was known for his ability to transcend body consciousness. He was therefore popularly referred to as “Videha”. Hence, Sita came to be known as “Vaidehi” (the daughter of Videha). As Rama’s wife, she is also called “Ramaa”. Sita Meets Rama And They Fall In Love One day, Princess Sita walks on the terrace of her quarters, when she sees Rama standing just below. Their eyes meet and it is love at first sight for both of them, almost as if Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi realize they have met again in their human avatar. Sita shyly runs back inside and silently prays that Rama should end up becoming her husband in her forthcoming Swayamvara. Sita’s Swayamvara When King Janaka realizes that Sita has come of marriageable age, he arranges her swayamvar (a ceremony where the bride is allowed to choose her groom from among the group of men assembled at that place). Many named kings attend the grand event from all over India. The swayamvar mandap is decorated beautifully and shines with the sheer splendour of the princes and kings assembled there. Rama and his brother, Lakshmana, arrive at the venue too, along with sage Vishwamitra. So does Ravana, the mighty, ten-headed demon King of Lanka. Stringing Shiva’s Bow Kept in the center of the mandap is a gigantic bow, gifted to Janaka by Lord Shiva. There is an associated legend, which relates that Lord Parashurama had once been witness to Sita playing with this mighty bow as a child. The Lord had been stunned by the little girl and had then advised Janaka that when the right time arrived, he should marry off his daughter only to the man in The swayamvar ceremony commences and King Janaka welcomes everyone assembled at the venue. He declares that he would give his daughter’s hand in marriage to the person who would be able to lift the bow of Shiva and string it. Many princes and kings try their hand at it in vain. Each one comes forward to the mandap with great pomp, but is forced to retreat in defeat. The egoistic Ravana then decides to take up the challenge, saying that he was so strong that he would be able to lift it with the little finger of his left hand. Having failed in many attempts though, he decides to put all his strength on the bow and tries to lift it with both his hands. But the bow does not budge and Ravana is finally forced to admit defeat. Rama then comes forward to lift the bow at Vishwamitra’s command. He first offers his obeisance to Shiva and the bow and then proceeds to lift it. To the utter surprise of all present there, he lifts the bow with remarkable ease and strings it with a resonant twang. Sita is very pleased that her prayers are answered and coyly garlands Rama with the varamala. The wedding of Rama and Sita takes place with great pomp and show and soon thereafter, Sita leaves for her new marital home at Ayodhya.Ramayana King Dasaratha announces his plans to crown Rama, his eldest son, as Yuvaraja or heir to the throne. This news upsets queen Kaikeyi, whose mind is poisoned by her wicked maid-servant and confidante, Manthara. Kaikeyi, who is initially very happy for Rama, is made to fear for the safety and future of her son Bharata. Kaikeyi had once been granted two boons by Dasaratha, when she had saved his life in battle. She had then said that she would avail the boons when she needed them. Kaikeyi now lays claim on the boons and demands that Dasaratha banish Rama to a forest exile for fourteen years, and that Bharata be crowned in Rama’s place. The king is heartbroken, but realizes how helpless he really is. He is forced to grant the boons to his wife and with a pained heart, bids goodbye to his beloved son, Rama. Rama’s brother, Lakshmana, decides to permanently escort Rama during his Vanavasa (tenure in the forest) Rama tries to discourage Sita from joining him in exile, but she is adamant and says that she would be with him, no matter what, as it was the duty of the wife to be at his side at all times. The people of Ayodhya are angered and saddened at Dasaratha’s decision. Dasaratha, in utter grief and guilt, collapses and dies by the next day. Though Rama is horrified at his father’s demise, he does not want to break his dead father’s word and so, continues with the Vanavasa. Sita, who has been used to living in the lap of luxury, willingly sacrifices everything for the sake of her husband and happily joins her husband on his Vanavasa. This is only the first of the sacrifices she makes for her husband. Rama, in turn, is assiduously protective of his wife, takes good care of her and fulfils her every wish during the time of the Vanavasa. They go on to share many happy and peaceful moments in the wonderful locales of the Dandaka and Panchavati forests.Rama and Sita spend some wonderful days while at Panchavati. But that happiness does not last long. Trouble starts brewing when Sita lays her eyes on the Golden Deer, Mareecha. Mareecha was in actuality, Ravana’s uncle, who was leading an ascetic life in the forest.Ravana requested Mareecha to take the form of a beautiful and attractive Golden Deer in order to lure Rama away from the hermitage, so that he could come into the scene and adbuct Sita while she was by herself in the ashram. Mareecha tried his best to convince Ravana that Rama and Lakshman were divine powers and not just ordinary mortals. But Ravana was insistent with his wish and even threatened to kill Mareecha if he did not co-operate with him and abet him with his plan. Ultimately, Mareecha decided to go to Ravana’s side, thinking that it would be better to attain Moksha (liberation) at the hands of Lord Rama than this terrible demon who happened to be his own nephew. When Sita sees the golden deer, she is totally charmed and asks Rama to capture it and bring it to her. Though not very pleased about it, Rama entrusts her to Lakshmana’s care and goes in search of the deer that had, by then, run away into the forest. He makes Lakshmana promise that he would not leave Sita alone under any circumstance, but still feels uneasy while leaving. Once into the deepest wooded area, Rama is about to hit the deer with an arrow, when Mareecha, still in the form of the deer, loudly cries out, “Oh Lakshmana, Oh Lakshmana”. Mareecha imitates Rama’s voice so well that both Sita and Lakshmana are convinced that it is indeed Rama asking for help. In spite of Lakshmana’s refusal to leave Sita alone, she persuades him to go and aid Rama. Lakshmana tries very hard to explain to Sita that Rama would never ever be in danger and that this must be some trick to
dupe them. Sita, though, gets even more upset by this and accuses Lakshmana of not going to save Rama on purpose. Lakshmana finally has to break the promise given to his brother and decides to go in search of Rama. Before leaving though, Lakshmana takes out an arrow and draws a line just outside their hut, requesting Sita never to step out of the line. This Lakshmana Rekha is drawn in order to protect her and act as a barrier to some outsider wanting to step inside.
Chapter 10
Goddess Sita , is the central female character of the Hindu epic Ramayana and daughter of King Janaka of Videha. She is an avatar of Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth and wife of Vishnu. Sita is the consort of Lord Rama (avatar of Vishnu) and is revered as a paragon of spousal and feminine virtues for all Hindu women. She is renowned for her dedication, self-sacrifice, courage and purity. Goddess Sita embodies all the values that people believe a woman must have in her character and is depicted as a woman of virtue and patience whose devotees equate with intelligence, growth, and increase in prosperity. Attributed as a synonym of fertility and purity, Sita comes across as the ideal daughter, wife and mother. She is revered for her virtues and attributes and symbolizes all that is noble in womanhood. Sita is regarded as the incarnation of Lakshmi and followed her husband Lord Rama to Earth as his consort. Lord Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu descended from Vaikunth to restore peace and harmony on Earth. She is considered as the Earth Goddess who blesses the land with good crops and regarded as a daughter of Bhūmi Devi. Sita is also said to be blessed and reborn as the epic heroine Draupadi, Goddess Padmavati and is also mentioned as Vedavati. After marriage, Goddess Sita goes to exile with her husband, Rama and brother-in-law Lakshmana to settle in the Dandaka forest, from where she is abducted by Ravana, Rakshasa King of Lanka. She is imprisoned in the Ashoka Vatika Garden, until she is rescued by Rama, who slays her captor. After the war, Rama asks Sita to undergo Agni Pariksha (an ordeal of fire) by which she proves her purity before she is accepted by Rama. After proving her purity, Rama and Sita return to Ayodhya, where they are crowned as King and Queen. Goddess Sita was the eldest daughter of King Janak of Mithila, hence she is also called ‘Janaki’. According to Valmiki Ramayana, once King Janak was very upset by the severe drought in Mithila, then to get rid of this problem, a sage suggested him to perform a yajna and run a plow on the earth. On the suggestion of that sage, King Janak got the yajna done and after that King Janak started plowing the earth.
Then he found a beautiful girl wrapped in clay in a golden nugget from the earth. Taking that girl in his hands, King Janak named her ‘Sita’ and adopted her as his daughter. The mystery still remains as to who are Sita’s parents? there is a strong desire to choose the best in the mind, then surely it will happen. Sita Swayamvar was just a play. Actually Sita had chosen Rama and Rama had already chosen Sita. Lord Shri Ram and Janakiputri Janaki (Sita) were married on the Panchami of Shukla Paksha of Margashirsha (Aghan) month, since then this Panchami is celebrated as ‘Vivah Panchami festival Certainly in today’s era it is difficult to find Ram in a man, but not so difficult. One should marry a wife who follows Dharma and who takes 7 vows seriously. Women should marry only such a person, who follows certain rituals and is free from death. If a woman is choosing a modern man instead of an ideal man, then this is not only a risk, but it will also give birth to a new trend in the society. Maybe then life becomes a compromise. is very surprising that Shri Ram got exile but Mother Sita also left all the pleasures, wealth and splendor of the palaces with him. Simply because they had to follow their husband’s dharma. Also because they read 7 verses together. At that time the forest used to be very terrible. It was also very difficult to live there but Mother Sita accepted to stay with Rama. She trusted her husband and never insulted him even at times of his bad moments .
She never wanted wealthy pleasures and so, she accompanied her husband Ram to the forest. She cared for him.
Of course, it is necessary to support the husband in every step of his wife, in the same way it is necessary for the wife to support her husband in every happiness and sorrow. If a woman is unhappy in her husband’s misery and not happy in happiness, then she should think about what she is. Ideal and perfect married life can be like that of Shiva-Parvati and Ram-Sita
When Mother Sita was kidnapped by Ravana and kept her in Ashok Vatika, she followed modesty, tolerance, courage and religion in this difficult situation. During this, Ravana tried to tilt her towards him with the policy of Sama, price, punishment and distinction, but Mother Sita did not bow down, because she had full faith in her husband Shri Ram and his power in front of Ravana’s power and splendor.
Lankadhipati Ravana kidnapped and kept Mother Sita in his captivity for two years. In this captivity, Mother Sita lived under the guard of demons in a cave in a garden.
When Hanuman reached Ashok Vatika in Lanka, he gave the ring of Lord Shri Ram that he had brought to Sita. Sita Mata was very happy. He expressed his anguish and also expressed apprehension and despair that how did it take so long for Rama to come? Nath has not forgotten me somewhere? Knowing such state of mind of Sita, Hanuman said that there is a slight delay in the arrival of Rama, mother, if you are feeling that he will be able to cross the sea or not, then today I will take you to Ramji.
Hanumanji gave him the confidence and introduction of his power. Seeing the power of Hanumanji, Sita became convinced and understood that this monkey can take me to Rama immediately. Even after this, Sitaji said that ‘I cannot touch anyone other than Rama keeping in mind the devotion I have towards Rama, which is complete renunciation, my religion of piety. Now come here Ram, kill Ravana. Kill those who are his people and take us away. Only Ramji should take me with honor and dignity, that would be appropriate.
It is believed that to spread fear and despair in the monkey army and Ram-Lakshman in the battlefield, Ravana’s son Meghnad created an elusive Sita with his power, which looked like Sita. Meghnad started moving that elusive Sita in front of his chariot in the battlefield. The monkeys did not attack her as Sita.
Later Meghnad grabbed the hair of the elusive Sita and pulled it in two pieces in front of everyone. Seeing this scene, despair spread in the monkey army. Everyone started thinking that Sita, for whom they are fighting, has been killed. What’s the use of fighting now? When Rama heard the news of Sita’s death, he too became unconscious.
Seeing the blood spread all around, everyone became mournful. Seeing this, Meghnad went to the place of Nikumbhila Devi and started performing havan. When Rama’s consciousness returned, Lakshmana and Hanuman explained to him in many ways and Vibhishana said that ‘Ravana can never give orders to kill Sita, so it is definitely a display of Meghnad’s illusion. You rest assured.’ After a few days the war went on and finally Ravana was killed.
Did Sita give or not give or not? This question still remains. It is also said that he had passed the ordeal but Rama did not give up Sita. The Sita without whom Ram cannot live even for a moment and for whom he fought the biggest war, what can he leave at the behest of any individual and society?
When Rama brought Sita to Ayodhya after getting rid of Ravana, some time after her coronation, Rama came to know from the mouth of the ministers and a spy named Durmukh that the people were suspicious about the purity of Sita, so there were many arbitrariness about Sita and Ram. Things are being made. Sita was pregnant at that time. Told Sita to Ram and others that things are being made in the society. Everyone says that the test will be given. It is believed that due to suspicion by Rama and the society, Sita, distracted by guilt, humiliation and sorrow, ordered to prepare a pyre
When Sita was pregnant, she expressed her desire to visit Rama once in Tapovan. But to save the dynasty from stigma, Rama asked Lakshmana to leave Sita in Tapovan. Although it is mentioned in some places that in order to maintain the respect of Shri Ram among his subjects, he left the palace of Ayodhya and went to the forest and started living in Valmiki Ashram. She was pregnant and left her home at this stage. Sita gave birth to two twins named Luv and Kush from Valmiki Ashram. Mother Sita lived with her sons in Valmiki’s ashram. Once upon a time Lord Shri Ram organized Ashwamedha Yagya. In that yagya, Valmikiji sent Luv and Kush to narrate the Ramayana. Ram heard this character from both the Kumars. It is said that both of them used to recite twenty cantos every day. On reaching Uttarkand, Rama came to know that both of them are the children of Rama.
Then Rama told Sita that if she is sinless, then come here in the assembly and show her purity. Valmiki went to the meeting with Sita. There was also Vashistha Rishi in the meeting. Vashishthji said- ‘O Ram, I am the 10th son of Varuna. I have never lied in my life. These two are your sons. If I have lied, then I will not get the fruits of my penance. I have seen his purity with divine eyes.’
Sita facing down with folded hands said – ‘O Mother Earth, if I am pure, then the earth may burst and I will be absorbed in it.’ When Sita said this, a throne placed on the serpents came out tearing the earth. Prithvi Devi was sitting on the throne. He took Sita in his lap. As soon as Sita sat down, that throne started sinking into the earth and Sita Mata got absorbed in the earth
Goddess Sita’s name is derived from a Sanskrit word which means “furrow” as she was found by her father King Janak while he was plowing the field. This is the reason why she is also considered the goddess of fertility.
Goddess Sita has many names, she is also known as “Bhumije” which means daughter of earth, “Vaidehi” is another of her names which is because she was Lord Rama’s beloved even when they were in exile.
1. Sita Ma was not born to a mother, rather She was unearthed while the king of Mithila Seerdhwaj Janak (सीरध्वज जनक) was ploughing the ritual field after Yagna. She was born to the Mother Earth, that’s why She is also known as Bhoomija (भूमिजा).
2. Janak’s ancestors bequeathed him a Divine Bow of Lord Shiva called Pinaka. This old giant bow was too heavy to be lifted by any person. Even a dozen of people were not capable of moving it some inches. But Sita was capable of lifting it even with her little finger so casually as a child plays with a little toy.
3. Since from her childhood she was very inquisitive and curious about everything. She used to question everything including prevalent misogynistic traditions in the then male-dominant society of Mithila. In those days, there were temples of Shiva or Male Gods only in Mithila. There was not even a single temple of any goddess. So Sita asked about this to her father Janak, who himself was a very wise, virtuous, ascetic man endowed with lofty ideals of character, progressive mentality, and knowledge of the absolute essence. After listening to her, Janak decided to build temples of Goddess Gauri (Parvati- the female consort of Lord Shiva) in his kingdom. Thus, Sita’s effort was gargantuan in heralding a new tradition of feminine worship and goddess worship in Mithila and in some way in our country.
4. Secondly, there was a custom that only boys were allowed to get the formal education in Ashrams. And girls were not allowed to get the education. Even the teachers (Acharya) in the schools (Ashram) were male brahmins only. No female was allowed to be an Acharya and impart education to disciples. Sita vehemently argued against this misogynistic custom and listening to the insightful arguments of her wise daughter, Janak abolished the eons-old ban on women to get the education and allowed the girls of Mithila to get the formal education in the Ashrams.
5. In those days Mithila was known as the land of Knowledge because she was the abode of great seers and sages like Yajnavalkya, Akshpaad Gautam, Janak, Gargi Vaichaknavi, Ashtavakra, Maitreyi etc. But the sad point was that only male sages were allowed to impart formal education to the disciples. Again Sita opposed this tradition and asked her father to acknowledge the great Vedantin Scholar, great intellectual, one of the greatest debaters of all ages and enlightened FEMALE seer Gargi Vaichaknavi (गार्गी वैचकन्वी) as fit to teach the disciples in the Yajnavalkya Ashram and appoint her a permanent teacher there. Janak again acceeded to her daughter’s wisdom and sensibility and Yajnavalkya agreed to appoint Gargi as a teacher in his ashram.
6. Thus Sita played an instrumental role in Women Empowerment in those ages when most of the prevalent traditions were very patriarchal and male-dominant in nature. Believe me, in those times standing like a flagbearer of women empowerment and shouting for women’s rights, that too in a very male-dominant sphere was not an easy task and it required a lot of courage. And only Sita did it. None of her contemporaries female sages, princesses, intellectual and educated women did even dare to raise voice against those deep rooted anti-feminine customs which were established by the priestly hierarchies. How come such a lady be so meek and docile as depicted in Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana serial?
But unfortunately, most of the Indian minds conjure the image of Sita as a meek, docile, submissive lady endowed with bovine simplicity and innocence as depicted in the Ramanand Sagar’s serial Ramayana. But that is just a blatant distortion. That is just a depiction of an ideal woman as per the demand of a patriarchal society and perhaps Ramanand Sagar did it so well in depicting such kind of docile and languid character of Sita in his serial. In fact, Sita was an epitome of Chastity and Immaculacy but at the same time, She was the embodiment of Courage, Wisdom, Compassion, and Sensibility.
Mata Sita is the goddess of everything she is jagatjanani ( Mother of whole universe ) the whole universe is created by Maa Sita and Shree Ram hence she is goddess of everything animate and inanimate . One needs to have blessing of her to perform any good deed because everything which happens is due to her will only
It is only the wife who actually shares the fortunes of her husband. When you depart this day for the dense forests which are difficult to penetrate, I shall walk ahead of you crushing under my feet, all the thorns that lie on your way.”
This is just one of the many expressions Sita used to convince Shri Rama to take her with him. She considered it her privilege to share in his misfortune and suffered the consequent trials and tribulations in equal measure throughout their sojourn in the forest. However, being exiled in the forests was the least of her troubles.
In fact, not even her kidnapping by Ravana could break Sita’ immense will-power, constantly nourished as it was by the memory of her beloved Rama. Ravana too, fearing the accumulated merits of a chaste woman did not dare touch her; he nevertheless did try to make advances. What was Sita’s reaction to his overtures? The great sage poet Valmiki has captured her wretched condition vividly, through a series of inspired metaphors. For example, on viewing Ravana: “She seemed like a flame wreathed in smoke; a great fame which had dimmed; a lotus pool stripped of its blossoms; like Rohini pursued by Ketu (a metaphor for the eclipsed moon); a traditional text obscured by a dubious interpretation; a faith that has been betrayed; an order that has been flouted; a hope which has been frustrated and an understanding that has grown feeble.”
Witnessing her appearance, Hanuman says: “For a woman the greatest decoration is her lord, and Sita, though incomparably beautiful, no longer shines in Rama’s absence.”
Although her physical beauty undoubtedly dims on account of the enforced separation; she keeps her mind fixed upon Rama, and thus radiates with an inner beauty as a result of this steadfastness. “Though that blessed one was shorn of her own beauty, yet her own soul did not lose its transcendency, upheld as it was by the thought of Rama’s glory and safeguarded by her own virtue.” Truly she remained chaste in both thought and deed and the various recensions of the epic recall episodes where even the mighty Ravana had to bow before Sita’s piety. Once for example, when the demon approached her, she placed a single strand of straw in between them and challenged him to cross the “proverbial last straw.” Predictably he did not dare to do so. He knew that the chastity of a virtuous woman was like a fire that could reduce to ashes anyone who tried to violate her against her will.
All of Sita’s miseries in the confinement of Ravana however, pale in comparison to the emotional trauma she was subjected to after Shri Rama’s victory over Ravana. In a bitter irony, what was to be her moment of deliverance, turned out to be the beginning of another trial.
Standing before Rama, her eyes raised expectantly to his face, the innocent Sita wept, overwhelmed at the prospect of a joyful reunion with her Lord after his victory. The latter however remained formal and aloof and set out to articulate his heartfelt thoughts (hrdyaantargatam bhavam): “Today I have avenged the insult to my honor and fulfilled my promise. You stand unabashed before me, even though suspicion has arisen with regard to your character. Today you seem extremely disagreeable to me even as a light to one who is suffering from sore eyes. Therefore go wherever you like, O Janaka’s daughter, the ten directions are open to you today. What man born in a noble family would take back with an eager mind a woman who has dwelt in another’s house, simply because she has been kindly disposed towards him in the past? How can I accept you, who were touched by Ravana while being borne away by him and who regarded you with a lustful eye? There is no more attachment for you in my heart. You may therefore go wherever you like.”
Harsh words indeed, which pierced Sita’s tender heart like arrows tipped with poison and shrinking within herself, the sensitive lady shed profuse tears, saying: “I was helpless when I came into the contact of Ravana and did not act of my own free will on that occasion. My adverse fate alone is to blame on that score. That which is under my control, viz., my heart, eternally does it abide in you.” Addressing her brother-in law Lakshmana, she says: “Raise for me a pyre, which is the only antidote against this calamity. I no longer desire to survive, smitten as I am with false reproaches.” Lakshmana looked at his brother, half-expecting him to put an end to this bewildering public spectacle. Scrutinizing his elder sibling’s expression, Lakshmana realized, to his horror, that this was exactly what Rama expected.
Will the earth bear its burden without splitting in two,
Will Dharma go the right way,
Or can this universe survive
If she becomes enraged?
If she utters a curse,
Even Brahma on his lotus will die.
Rama is overjoyed at the developments and the public display of his wife’s unblemished character: “Sita undoubtedly needed this purificatory ordeal in the eyes of the people inasmuch as this blessed lady had lived for a long time in Ravana’s confinement. The world would have murmured against me saying that my mind was so dominated by desire that I actually accepted the daughter of Janaka without proving her chastity. I too knew Sita to be undivided in her affection to me. Ravana couldn’t violate her, protected as she was by her own moral power. In order, however, to convince the inhabitants of the three worlds, I ignored Sita even while she was entering the fire. She is as inseparable from me as sunlight from the sun.”
Sita sets a high standard as an ideal wife who stays unswerving in her loyalty and righteousness, no matter how unfavourable her husband’s response. Her refusal to perform a second agnipraiksha and her consequent reversion to mother earth is not merely an act of self-annihilation. It is a momentous and dignified rejection. By this act does she emerge supremely triumphant. If the defining scale for quantifying greatness is the amount of suffering one has undergone, it is undoubtedly Sita who is the clear winner. It is her dignified tolerance and self-effacing silence, which may even be termed as weakness by many, that turns out to be her ultimate emotional strength, far valorous than any assertive aggression. Rightly therefore does her name always precede that of Rama (as in Sita-Ram or Jai Siya-Ram). All started after Rama asked his friends – “What are the people of Ayodhya talking about their king? O Bhadra, please tell me everything, good and bad without hesitation.“O Great King, your people are very pleased with you. They praise you for your valour and your victory over Dashagreeva (Ravana). They wish for the prosperity of you and your family. But there are a few things that some of them do not admire about you. They say – “Rama should not have built the bridge and and and pass over the sea god. This has never happened before, nor by the devas neither the asuras. How could he kill Ravana, a Brahmana and perhaps all the monkeys were in his spell, in his control to do that.”
But most of all, they are not pleased with your decision to accept mother Sita after she stayed with Ravana for such a long time.
“How can a person stay with a woman whose purity has been stained? First Ravana forcefully grabbed Sita, kept her in his lap and flew her away in his airplane. He then kept her hostage in Ashoka Vatika along with those maids, he keeps for entertainment. After staying with the asuras for so many years, how does Shree Rama not hate her? From now on, we would also have to tolerate this nonsense from our wives – as citizens have a tendency to follow their king.” Rama was aghast on hearing the perception of his people. He was disappointed and broken, and wished to see his brothers at once. He asked his keepers to send word for them immediately. Maa Sita is Maa Laxmi herself she have all power of Srihari vishnuji or Sri ram. Her powers are infinite , it is not possible to describe Her power in words.
The kurma puran mentions that the sita that ravana had abducted was not the real sita it was maya sita and maya sita was vedavati. When ravana tried to abduct sita she took the protection of agni dev and switched herself with Vedavati so using her mystical powers sita tricked ravana and never even let ravana touch her. This is also the reason why the agni pariksha was performed. Sita is the divine consort of Ram so she gave Vedavati the blessing that she would also marry Ram. Sita is very powerful as she has various mystical powers that only gods possess and she can give the benediction that various gods cant give. falls short of one kala of Sita. When Sita was rescued and came before Shri Rama after many months, Shri Rama spoken outwardly harsh words for the first time ever to anyone and that too to his dearest Sita (as Shri Rama had to bring out the purest divine exalted nature of Sita in front of all the three worlds, so he hid his inner heart how much he loves Sita, so that after knowing Sita is innately pure and divine, people could accept Sita with him with whole heart). And, then Sita on her own independently took decision to enter in pyre, and She ordered Lakshmana to get a pyre ready for her – tears were already rolling down the eyes of Shri Rama, Yet he remained silent and firm, so was also Sita firm in her decision, and inside both were one at heart and supporting each other’s dharma and leela. Shri Rama was well aware inside his heart that his consort Sita is purest and protected by her own divine splendor, however in order to silence the lowly minds of the world, this was necessary on the part of Sita, and Sita did independently on her. Sita and Rama being the best suited to each other, always supported each other’s leela and dharma independently and inconspicuously in the best possible way, even without communicating in the words to each other.
Shri Rama enjoyed with Sita for 10,000 years in Ayodhya , and now the time was near for Sita and Rama for winding up their avatara-leela on the earth and enter in their divine spiritual abode, and disappear from the mortal eyes of the world; the divine couple needed an excuse for this, as Sita and Rama can’t grow old or die like general humans of the mortal world. Therefore, in order to end their incarnations, due to their divine inspiration, story took again a sad turn, a minor section of population started chattering against the character of Sita Ji and her purity, Not just one dhobi (washerman). And Lord had to reluctantly abandon his dearest Sita, and Lord took it as pretext for winding up his avatara-leela on the earth, and He entered in his divine unseen spiritual dhaam with all his subject and Jivas gathered in Ayodhya, after sometime
Shri Sita Ji had given the fire-test in Lanka on her own as per her personal capacity and dharma, no one had asked her to give such severe test, she did on her own to convince all the three worlds, so that none could raise objections on Shri Rama, her husband in future that Shri Rama is some lusty man to accept her. However, if someone else demands such test from Sita or any other women, then it would not be appropriate. If all compassionate Lord Shri Rama on behalf of him puts Sita for another test in Ayodhya, in that case Lord would have to put other women also through such test to maintain discipline in the society, whenever some rascals utter some doubt over the characters of other women. And definitely all merciful and wisest Lord didn’t want this to happen ever, and to be seen as some tyrannical ruler to put women through such test if others cast doubts over the characters of some women. Therefore, Lord thought it is better to sacrifice his personal happiness and send Sita into exile, rather than facing or inviting such horrible situations ever
Shri Sita Ji had given the fire-test in Lanka on her own as per her personal capacity and dharma, no one had asked her to give such severe test, she did on her own to convince all the three worlds, so that none could raise objections on Shri Rama, her husband in future that Shri Rama is some lusty man to accept her. However, if someone else demands such test from Sita or any other women, then it would not be appropriate. If all compassionate Lord Shri Rama on behalf of him puts Sita for another test in Ayodhya, in that case Lord would have to put other women also through such test to maintain discipline in the society, whenever some rascals utter some doubt over the characters of other women. And definitely all merciful and wisest Lord didn’t want this to happen ever, and to be seen as some tyrannical ruler to put women through such test if others cast doubts over the characters of some women. Therefore, Lord thought it is better to sacrifice his personal happiness and send Sita into exile, rather than facing or inviting such horrible situations ever How long did Lord Rama and Sita live together, not considering the time she was in Ravana’s captivity and the time she was abandoned in the woods?Mother Sita is the Godess of Fortune Lakshmi devi. She is the energy of Lord Vishnu and beyond the material modes of nature. There have been many such women in the mythological period whom we consider to be women of ideal and perfect character. But the best among them is Mata Sita. Just as Shri Ram is said to be the best among men, in the same way Mata Sita is also the best among women. There are many reasons for this
Mata Sita represents the ideal wife, daughter and mother to the Hindu people, and is remembered for her fine attributes and revered for having the noblest qualities of women.Many such householders and virtuous women have been written in the scriptures, who are still an ideal and inspiration for every woman. Many people also consider the life of Mata Sita to be full of struggle, but in reality, in such a life, the precious formulas of a better and balanced life for every working or household woman are hidden There is a strong desire to choose the best in the mind, then surely it will happen. Sita Swayamvar was just a play. Actually Sita had chosen Rama and Rama had already chosen Sita. Lord Shri Ram and Janakiputri Janaki (Sita) were married on the Panchami of Shukla Paksha of Margashirsha (Aghan) month, since then this Panchami is celebrated as ‘Vivah Panchami festival’.Certainly in today’s era it is difficult to find Ram in a man, but not so difficult. One should marry a wife who follows Dharma and who takes 7 vows seriously. Women should marry only such a person, who follows certain rituals and is free from death. If a woman is choosing a modern man instead of an ideal man, then this is not only a risk, but it will also give birth to a new trend in the society. Maybe then life becomes a compromise
Is very surprising that Shri Ram got exile but Mother Sita also left all the pleasures, wealth and splendor of the palaces with him. Simply because they had to follow their husband’s dharma. Also because they read 7 verses together. At that time the forest used to be very terrible. It was also very difficult to live there but Mother Sita accepted to stay with Rama. She trusted her husband and never insulted him even at times of his bad moments .
She never wanted wealthy pleasures and so, she accompanied her husband Ram to the forest. She cared for him.Of course, it is necessary to support the husband in every step of his wife, in the same way it is necessary for the wife to support her husband in every happiness and sorrow. If a woman is unhappy in her husband’s misery and not happy in happiness, then she should think about what she is. Ideal and perfect married life can be like that of Shiva-Parvati and Ram-SitaWhen Mother Sita was kidnapped by Ravana and kept her in Ashok Vatika, she followed modesty, tolerance, courage and religion in this difficult situation. During this, Ravana tried to tilt her towards him with the policy of Sama, price, punishment and distinction, but Mother Sita did not bow down, because she had full faith in her husband Shri Ram and his power in front of Ravana’s power and splendor.Lankadhipati Ravana kidnapped and kept Mother Sita in his captivity for two years. In this captivity, Mother Sita lived under the guard of demons in a cave in a garden
When Hanuman reached Ashok Vatika in Lanka, he gave the ring of Lord Shri Ram that he had brought to Sita. Sita Mata was very happy. He expressed his anguish and also expressed apprehension and despair that how did it take so long for Rama to come? Nath has not forgotten me somewhere? Knowing such state of mind of Sita, Hanuman said that there is a slight delay in the arrival of Rama, mother, if you are feeling that he will be able to cross the sea or not, then today I will take you to Ramji.Hanuman gave him the confidence and introduction of his power. Seeing the power of Hanumanji, Sita became convinced and understood that this monkey can take me to Rama immediately. Even after this, Sitaji said that ‘I cannot touch anyone other than Rama keeping in mind the devotion I have towards Rama, which is complete renunciation, my religion of piety. Now come here Ram, kill Ravana. Kill those who are his people and take us away. Only Ramji should take me with honor and dignity, that would be appropriate
Mother Sita is the Godess of Fortune Lakshmi devi. She is the energy of Lord Vishnu and beyond the material modes of nature. There have been many such women in the mythological period whom we consider to be women of ideal and perfect character. But the best among them is Mata Sita. Just as Shri Ram is said to be the best among men, in the same way Mata Sita is also the best among women. There are many reasons for this. Come know 10 secrets about Sita Mata.
Mata Sita represents the ideal wife, daughter and mother to the Hindu people, and is remembered for her fine attributes and revered for having the noblest qualities of women.Many such householders and virtuous women have been written in the scriptures, who are still an ideal and inspiration for every woman. Many people also consider the life of Mata Sita to be full of struggle, but in reality, in such a life, the precious formulas of a better and balanced life for every working or household woman are hidden. Due to her persona and perfection, Sita is considered as an epitome of perfection of womanhood making all the women described above second to her and also making her the most beautiful woman in Hindu Mythology
Devi Sita is a well known Hindu Goddess acknowledged for her courage, purity, dedication, loyalty, and sacrifice. She is the silent figure of strength in the Hindu epic, Ramayana. She is the epitome of devotion as a wife, daughter, and a mother
Therefore, all would agree – Shri Rama had the great love for Sita without any doubt. In fact, Shrimad Valmiki Ramayana is the first book of pure love, with all Rasa-s and human emotions.
Sita Mataji is a Hindu goddess and the female protagonist of the Hindu epic, Ramayana. She is the consort of Rama, the avatar of the god Vishnu, and is regarded as a form of Vishnu’s consort, Lakshmi. She is also the chief goddess of Rama-centric Hindu traditions. Sita is known for her dedication, self-sacrifice, courage, and purity. She is one of the seventeen national heroes of Nepal. According to Ramayana, Janaka found her while ploughing as a part of a yagna and adopted her. The word Sita Mataji was a poetic term, which signified fertility and the many blessings coming from settled agriculture. The Sita of the Ramayana may have been named after a more ancient Vedic goddess Sita Mataji, who is mentioned once in the Rigveda as an earth goddess who blesses the land with good crops.
Sita means furrow, which itself gives a hint of her birth story. It is believed that she was found while somebody was tilling the fields. Let’s go in details of various versions of Ramayana to find the story of her birth.
In Valmiki’s Ramayana and Kamban’s Tamil epic Ramavataram, Sita is said to have discovered in a furrow in a ploughed field, and for that reason is regarded as a daughter of Bhūmi Devi (the goddess earth), Sita Birthstar is Ashlesha Constellation in Chaitra month. She was discovered, adopted and brought up by Janaka, king of Mithila, and his wife Sunayana.
In Ramopkhyana of the Mahabharata and also in Paumachariya of Vimala Suri, Sita has been depicted as Janaka’s real daughter. According to Rev. Fr. C. Bulcke, this motif that Sita was the real daughter of Janaka, as described in Ramopkhyana Mahabharata was based on the authentic version of Valmiki Ramayana. Later the story of Sita miraculously appearing in furrow was inserted in Valmiki Ramayana.
According to Gunabhadra’s Uttara Purana of the ninth century BCE, Ravana disturbs asceticism of Manivati, daughter of Amitavega of Alkapuri, and she pledges to take revenge on Ravana. Manivati is later reborn as the daughter of Ravana and Mandodari. But, astrologers predict ruin of Ravana because of this child. So, Ravana orders to kill the child. Manivati is placed in a casket and buried in the ground of Mithila where she is discovered by some of the farmers of the kingdom. Then Janka, king of that state adopts her.
She is the consort of the Hindu god Rama (avatar of Vishnu) and is an avatar of Lakshmi (Aadi Shakti of Lord Vishnu), goddess of wealth and wife of Vishnu. She is esteemed as a paragon of spousal and feminine virtues for all Hindu women.
Sita is known for her dedication, self-sacrifice, courage and purity.
• The soul of Shri Raghavendra.
• Goddess who has beautiful and radiant countenance like full-moon, on which the eyes of Raghuveer constantly gaze like Chakor Bird.
• The mother of universe.
• The Queen of Param Dhaam Saket lok.
• The Princess of Shri Dhaam Mithila.
• The heart of Videhraaj Janak Ji and Mata Sunaina.
• The one whose lotus feet gives the devotees paramananda for which devotees ignore Infinite no. of mokshas.
• The one whose grace is required to get devotion of Prabhu Shri RamJi.
• The Mother who gave the blessings to their dearest child Shri HanumanJi to become donor of 8 siddhis and 9 niddhis.
• The Queen who gave up the luxurious life without thinking twice when she heard that their husband is going to exile.
• The Goddess who took so many problems on her to set an example of what a true pativrata lady is.
• The one who Brahma, Shiva, Sanakadik sages, Indra, etc… all say glory of her from their own mouths; And (therefore) in their hearts day and night they yearn for a benign look of her over them.
• The Parashakti who had to give mother earth the service to become her mother in their leela as no womb could handle her radinace.
• The Mother whose gave Agni dev the opportunity serve her.
• The Goddess for whose divine darshan even gods yearn.
• The Most compassionate and adorable.
• The one who gives power of creation to Bharama Ji, power of preserving to Vishnu Ji, Power of destruction to Mahadev Ji.
• The compassionate Mother who forgave the son of Indra, Jayant who came as a crow and pecked her lotus feet because she thought that Jayant is also their child as they are jagadamba and if they tell swami( Prabhu Shri RamJi ) regarding it, Prabhu will take his life.
• The Princess by seeing whom even Prabhu Shri RamJi whose beauty is such that infinite number of Kaamdev(cupid) faints just by seeing their shadow, The same Prabhu Shri Ram Ji got sweat just when they saw Shri Kishori Ji for the first time in the garden of Shri Dhaam Mithila.
• The Goddess whose complexion is that of melted Gold.
• The most beautiful and the radiance coming from the nail of her toe is called the Parambhrama jyoti.
• The Queen who is in their kishori form( girl of 12 years) at the Param Dhaam Shri Saket lok.
• The mother who is served by Mahaveer Bajrang bali.
• The one who loves her devotees more than infinite number of mothers could love.
• Protector of the ones who have no support.
• The giver of everything.
• The Goddess with the most beautiful and big lotus eyes from which infinite mercy and paramananda flows.
• The Goddess by whose grace Prabhu Shri RamJi is sold to that devotee once a devotee surrenders in the lotus feet of Shri Janaki Ji.
• The mother who takes care of everything of a devotee which comes seeking her shelter and forget all sins of the devotee.
• Greater than the greatest and 2nd to none.
• The one who resides in every atom of this existence, The source of every atom in the existence.
• The cause of all the causes
Infinite number of Sheshnag and Mata Saraswati can also not explain who they really are then how can i with mortal puny brain can explain who Shri Janaki Ji is.
There is one misconceptions related to Shri Kishori Ji that they are “only” an incarnation of Mata Lakshmi but i would like to present some verses which shows the truth:
• श्रीदेवी त्रिविधं रूपं कृत्वा भगवत्सङ्कल्पानु-
गुण्येन लोकरक्षणार्थं रूपं धारयति । (सीता-उपनिषद्)
o meaning: Bhagavati Sita who is Śrī-Devi manifested herself in three forms Lakshmi devi, Bhu devi and Neela devi through her sankalpa.
• वसुधाया हि वसुधां श्रियः श्रीं भर्तृवत्सलाम् ।
सीतां सर्वानवद्याङ्गीमरण्ये विजने शुभाम् ॥ (वाल्मीकि रामायण ६.१११.२४)
o meaning: Bhagavati Sita is the earth of the earth, and the Śrī of Bhagavati Śrī (i.e. original Śrī-devi; śriyaḥ śrīṃ : meaning Sītā is none, but the original divinity herself, the origin of all the goddesses who can be called as Śrī such as Bhagavati Lakshmi, Bhagavati Radha etc and her innumerable manifestations
• सीता लक्ष्मीर्भवान् विष्णुर्देवः कृष्णःप्रजापतिः ॥ (वाल्मीकि रामायण 6.117.28)
o Meaning: O’ Raghava! Your consort Sita’s manifestion is Lakshmi, and You are Vishnu, You are Shri Krishna and You are the Prajapati (the supreme guardian
Goddess Sita’s name is derived from a Sanskrit word which means “furrow” as she was found by her father King Janak while he was plowing the field. This is the reason why she is also considered the goddess of fertility.Goddess Sita has many names, she is also known as “Bhumije” which means daughter of earth, “Vaidehi” is another of her names which is because she was Lord Rama’s beloved even when they were in exile.
1. Sita Ma was not born to a mother, rather She was unearthed while the king of Mithila Seerdhwaj Janak (सीरध्वज जनक) was ploughing the ritual field after Yagna. She was born to the Mother Earth, that’s why She is also known as Bhoomija (भूमिजा).
2. Janak’s ancestors bequeathed him a Divine Bow of Lord Shiva called Pinaka. This old giant bow was too heavy to be lifted by any person. Even a dozen of people were not capable of moving it some inches. But Sita was capable of lifting it even with her little finger so casually as a child plays with a little toy.
3. Since from her childhood she was very inquisitive and curious about everything. She used to question everything including prevalent misogynistic traditions in the then male-dominant society of Mithila. In those days, there were temples of Shiva or Male Gods only in Mithila. There was not even a single temple of any goddess. So Sita asked about this to her father Janak, who himself was a very wise, virtuous, ascetic man endowed with lofty ideals of character, progressive mentality, and knowledge of the absolute essence. After listening to her, Janak decided to build temples of Goddess Gauri (Parvati- the female consort of Lord Shiva) in his kingdom. Thus, Sita’s effort was gargantuan in heralding a new tradition of feminine worship and goddess worship in Mithila and in some way in our country.
4. Secondly, there was a custom that only boys were allowed to get the formal education in Ashrams. And girls were not allowed to get the education. Even the teachers (Acharya) in the schools (Ashram) were male brahmins only. No female was allowed to be an Acharya and impart education to disciples. Sita vehemently argued against this misogynistic custom and listening to the insightful arguments of her wise daughter, Janak abolished the eons-old ban on women to get the education and allowed the girls of Mithila to get the formal education in the Ashrams.
5. In those days Mithila was known as the land of Knowledge because she was the abode of great seers and sages like Yajnavalkya, Akshpaad Gautam, Janak, Gargi Vaichaknavi, Ashtavakra, Maitreyi etc. But the sad point was that only male sages were allowed to impart formal education to the disciples. Again Sita opposed this tradition and asked her father to acknowledge the great Vedantin Scholar, great intellectual, one of the greatest debaters of all ages and enlightened FEMALE seer Gargi Vaichaknavi (गार्गी वैचकन्वी) as fit to teach the disciples in the Yajnavalkya Ashram and appoint her a permanent teacher there. Janak again acceeded to her daughter’s wisdom and sensibility and Yajnavalkya agreed to appoint Gargi as a teacher in his ashram.
6. Thus Sita played an instrumental role in Women Empowerment in those ages when most of the prevalent traditions were very patriarchal and male-dominant in nature. Believe me, in those times standing like a flagbearer of women empowerment and shouting for women’s rights, that too in a very male-dominant sphere was not an easy task and it required a lot of courage. And only Sita did it. None of her contemporaries female sages, princesses, intellectual and educated women did even dare to raise voice against those deep rooted anti-feminine customs which were established by the priestly hierarchies. How come such a lady be so meek and docile as depicted in Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana serial?
But unfortunately, most of the Indian minds conjure the image of Sita as a meek, docile, submissive lady endowed with bovine simplicity and innocence as depicted in the Ramanand Sagar’s serial Ramayana. But that is just a blatant distortion. That is just a depiction of an ideal woman as per the demand of a patriarchal society and perhaps Ramanand Sagar did it so well in depicting such kind of docile and languid character of Sita in his serial. In fact, Sita was an epitome of Chastity and Immaculacy but at the same time, She was the embodiment of Courage, Wisdom, Compassion, and Sensibility.
Mata Sita is the goddess of everything she is jagatjanani ( Mother of whole universe ) the whole universe is created by Maa Sita and Shree Ram hence she is goddess of everything animate and inanimate . One needs to have blessing of her to perform any good deed because everything which happens is due to her will only It is only the wife who actually shares the fortunes of her husband. When you depart this day for the dense forests which are difficult to penetrate, I shall walk ahead of you crushing under my feet, all the thorns that lie on your way.”This is just one of the many expressions Sita used to convince Shri Rama to take her with him. She considered it her privilege to share in his misfortune and suffered the consequent trials and tribulations in equal measure throughout their sojourn in the forest. However, being exiled in the forests was the least of her troubles.In fact, not even her kidnapping by Ravana could break Sita’ immense will-power, constantly nourished as it was by the memory of her beloved Rama. Ravana too, fearing the accumulated merits of a chaste woman did not dare touch her; he nevertheless did try to make advances. What was Sita’s reaction to his overtures? The great sage poet Valmiki has captured her wretched condition vividly, through a series of inspired metaphors. For example, on viewing Ravana: “She seemed like a flame wreathed in smoke; a great fame which had dimmed; a lotus pool stripped of its blossoms; like Rohini pursued by Ketu (a metaphor for the eclipsed moon); a traditional text obscured by a dubious interpretation; a faith that has been betrayed; an order that has been flouted; a hope which has been frustrated and an understanding that has grown feeble.”Witnessing her appearance, Hanuman says: “For a woman the greatest decoration is her lord, and Sita, though incomparably beautiful, no longer shines in Rama’s absence.”Although her physical beauty undoubtedly dims on account of the enforced separation; she keeps her mind fixed upon Rama, and thus radiates with an inner beauty as a result of this steadfastness. “Though that blessed one was shorn of her own beauty, yet her own soul did not lose its transcendency, upheld as it was by the thought of Rama’s glory and safeguarded by her own virtue.” Truly she remained chaste in both thought and deed and the various recensions of the epic recall episodes where even the mighty Ravana had to bow before Sita’s piety. Once for example, when the demon approached her, she placed a single strand of straw in between them and challenged him to cross the “proverbial last straw.” Predictably he did not dare to do so. He knew that the chastity of a virtuous woman was like a fire that could reduce to ashes anyone who tried to violate her against her will.All of Sita’s miseries in the confinement of Ravana however, pale in comparison to the emotional trauma she was subjected to after Shri Rama’s victory over Ravana. In a bitter irony, what was to be her moment of deliverance, turned out to be the beginning of another trial.Standing before Rama, her eyes raised expectantly to his face, the innocent Sita wept, overwhelmed at the prospect of a joyful reunion with her Lord after his victory. The latter however remained formal and aloof and set out to articulate his heartfelt thoughts (hrdyaantargatam bhavam): “Today I have avenged the insult to my honor and fulfilled my promise. You stand unabashed before me, even though suspicion has arisen with regard to your character. Today you seem extremely disagreeable to me even as a light to one who is suffering from sore eyes. Therefore go wherever you like, O Janaka’s daughter, the ten directions are open to you today. What man born in a noble family would take back with an eager mind a woman who has dwelt in another’s house, simply because she has been kindly disposed towards him in the past? How can I accept you, who were touched by Ravana while being borne away by him and who regarded you with a lustful eye? There is no more attachment for you in my heart. You may therefore go wherever you like.”Harsh words indeed, which pierced Sita’s tender heart like arrows tipped with poison and shrinking within herself, the sensitive lady shed profuse tears, saying: “I was helpless when I came into the contact of Ravana and did not act of my own free will on that occasion. My adverse fate alone is to blame on that score. That which is under my control, viz., my heart, eternally does it abide in you.” Addressing her brother-in law Lakshmana, she says: “Raise for me a pyre, which is the only antidote against this calamity. I no longer desire to survive, smitten as I am with false reproaches.” Lakshmana looked at his brother, half-expecting him to put an end to this bewildering public spectacle. Scrutinizing his elder sibling’s expression, Lakshmana realized, to his horror, that this was exactly what Rama expected.
Will the earth bear its burden without splitting in two,
Will Dharma go the right way,
Or can this universe survive
If she becomes enraged?
If she utters a curse,
Even Brahma on his lotus will die.
Rama is overjoyed at the developments and the public display of his wife’s unblemished character: “Sita undoubtedly needed this purificatory ordeal in the eyes of the people inasmuch as this blessed lady had lived for a long time in Ravana’s confinement. The world would have murmured against me saying that my mind was so dominated by desire that I actually accepted the daughter of Janaka without proving her chastity. I too knew Sita to be undivided in her affection to me. Ravana couldn’t violate her, protected as she was by her own moral power. In order, however, to convince the inhabitants of the three worlds, I ignored Sita even while she was entering the fire. She is as inseparable from me as sunlight from the sun.”Sita sets a high standard as an ideal wife who stays unswerving in her loyalty and righteousness, no matter how unfavourable her husband’s response. Her refusal to perform a second agnipraiksha and her consequent reversion to mother earth is not merely an act of self-annihilation. It is a momentous and dignified rejection. By this act does she emerge supremely triumphant. If the defining scale for quantifying greatness is the amount of suffering one has undergone, it is undoubtedly Sita who is the clear winner. It is her dignified tolerance and self-effacing silence, which may even be termed as weakness by many, that turns out to be her ultimate emotional strength, far valorous than any assertive aggression. Rightly therefore does her name always precede that of Rama (as in Sita-Ram or Jai Siya-Ram).
All started after Rama asked his friends – “What are the people of Ayodhya talking about their king? O Bhadra, please tell me everything, good and bad without hesitation.“O Great King, your people are very pleased with you. They praise you for your valour and your victory over Dashagreeva (Ravana). They wish for the prosperity of you and your family. But there are a few things that some of them do not admire about you. They say –Rama should not have built the bridge and and and pass over the sea god. This has never happened before, nor by the devas neither the asuras. How could he kill Ravana, a Brahmana and perhaps all the monkeys were in his spell, in his control to do that.”But most of all, they are not pleased with your decision to accept mother Sita after she stayed with Ravana for such a long time.“How can a person stay with a woman whose purity has been stained? First Ravana forcefully grabbed Sita, kept her in his lap and flew her away in his airplane. He then kept her hostage in Ashoka Vatika along with those maids, he keeps for entertainment. After staying with the asuras for so many years, how does Shree Rama not hate her? From now on, we would also have to tolerate this nonsense from our wives – as citizens have a tendency to follow their king.”Rama was aghast on hearing the perception of his people. He was disappointed and broken, and wished to see his brothers at once. He asked his keepers to send word for them immediately.Maa Sita is Maa Laxmi herself she have all power of Srihari vishnuji or Sri ram. Her powers are infinite , it is not possible to describe Her power in words.The kurma puran mentions that the sita that ravana had abducted was not the real sita it was maya sita and maya sita was vedavati. When ravana tried to abduct sita she took the protection of agni dev and switched herself with Vedavati so using her mystical powers sita tricked ravana and never even let ravana touch her. This is also the reason why the agni pariksha was performed. Sita is the divine consort of Ram so she gave Vedavati the blessing that she would also marry Ram. Sita is very powerful as she has various mystical powers that only gods possess and she can give the benediction that various gods cant give. It is only the wife who actually shares the fortunes of her husband. When you depart this day for the dense forests which are difficult to penetrate, I shall walk ahead of you crushing under my feet, all the thorns that lie on your way.”
This is just one of the many expressions Sita used to convince Shri Rama to take her with him. She considered it her privilege to share in his misfortune and suffered the consequent trials and tribulations in equal measure throughout their sojourn in the forest. However, being exiled in the forests was the least of her troubles.
In fact, not even her kidnapping by Ravana could break Sita’ immense will-power, constantly nourished as it was by the memory of her beloved Rama. Ravana too, fearing the accumulated merits of a chaste woman did not dare touch her; he nevertheless did try to make advances. What was Sita’s reaction to his overtures? The great sage poet Valmiki has captured her wretched condition vividly, through a series of inspired metaphors. For example, on viewing Ravana: “She seemed like a flame wreathed in smoke; a great fame which had dimmed; a lotus pool stripped of its blossoms; like Rohini pursued by Ketu (a metaphor for the eclipsed moon); a traditional text obscured by a dubious interpretation; a faith that has been betrayed; an order that has been flouted; a hope which has been frustrated and an understanding that has grown feeble.”
Witnessing her appearance, Hanuman says: “For a woman the greatest decoration is her lord, and Sita, though incomparably beautiful, no longer shines in Rama’s absence.”
Although her physical beauty undoubtedly dims on account of the enforced separation; she keeps her mind fixed upon Rama, and thus radiates with an inner beauty as a result of this steadfastness. “Though that blessed one was shorn of her own beauty, yet her own soul did not lose its transcendency, upheld as it was by the thought of Rama’s glory and safeguarded by her own virtue.” Truly she remained chaste in both thought and deed and the various recensions of the epic recall episodes where even the mighty Ravana had to bow before Sita’s piety. Once for example, when the demon approached her, she placed a single strand of straw in between them and challenged him to cross the “proverbial last straw.” Predictably he did not dare to do so. He knew that the chastity of a virtuous woman was like a fire that could reduce to ashes anyone who tried to violate her against her will.
All of Sita’s miseries in the confinement of Ravana however, pale in comparison to the emotional trauma she was subjected to after Shri Rama’s victory over Ravana. In a bitter irony, what was to be her moment of deliverance, turned out to be the beginning of another trial.
Standing before Rama, her eyes raised expectantly to his face, the innocent Sita wept, overwhelmed at the prospect of a joyful reunion with her Lord after his victory. The latter however remained formal and aloof and set out to articulate his heartfelt thoughts (hrdyaantargatam bhavam): “Today I have avenged the insult to my honor and fulfilled my promise. You stand unabashed before me, even though suspicion has arisen with regard to your character. Today you seem extremely disagreeable to me even as a light to one who is suffering from sore eyes. Therefore go wherever you like, O Janaka’s daughter, the ten directions are open to you today. What man born in a noble family would take back with an eager mind a woman who has dwelt in another’s house, simply because she has been kindly disposed towards him in the past? How can I accept you, who were touched by Ravana while being borne away by him and who regarded you with a lustful eye? There is no more attachment for you in my heart. You may therefore go wherever you like.”
Harsh words indeed, which pierced Sita’s tender heart like arrows tipped with poison and shrinking within herself, the sensitive lady shed profuse tears, saying: “I was helpless when I came into the contact of Ravana and did not act of my own free will on that occasion. My adverse fate alone is to blame on that score. That which is under my control, viz., my heart, eternally does it abide in you.” Addressing her brother-in law Lakshmana, she says: “Raise for me a pyre, which is the only antidote against this calamity. I no longer desire to survive, smitten as I am with false reproaches.” Lakshmana looked at his brother, half-expecting him to put an end to this bewildering public spectacle. Scrutinizing his elder sibling’s expression, Lakshmana realized, to his horror, that this was
exactly what Rama expected.
Not one of the assembled warriors, who just moments before had proved their mettle in the battlefield, had the courage to dare open his mouth opposing the grave injustice being perpetrated. The obedient Lakshmana set out to prepare the pyre. As a mark of respect, Sita Ji circumambulated Rama, who, as the ancient texts put it – stood with his head bent low. As she approached the blazing fires, the world went into a crisis: the immortal gods and living beings, the cosmic elements, the four Vedas and Dharma, all cried out in horror. Then:
As if she were going home to her place on the lotus that rises up from the flooding waters, she jumped in; and as she entered, that fire was scorched by her burning faithfulness.
The lotus here refers to Sita being an incarnation of the great goddess Lakshmi, who is typically associated with this auspicious flower.
Here, to highlight the extremely pure bearing of Sita, the poet has depicted the moment as being one of an excruciating, fiery torment. Fire is burnt by the heat Sita holds within herself; generated by a lifetime of chastity, self control, faithfulness, suffering and sacrifice, which are represented here not as abstract ethical virtues but rather as part of the substantial and dynamic reality that suffuses the inner being of a faultless woman like Sita
That Sita herself volunteered for the agni-pariksha speaks for the high volume of understanding between the couple since she understood Rama’s wish without him explicitly stating it. Her action was not a surrender to the unreasonable whims of a husband rather a supreme act of defiance that challenged the aspersions cast on her, by the means of which she highlighted the superficiality of his doubts, so that even the gods had to materialize and point out the apparent fallacy in the trial so unceremoniously cast on her. She emerges as a woman that even Agni – who has the power to reduce to ashes everything he touches – dare not touch or harm. She was the victim twice victimised.
Thus reconciled, the contended couple repaired back to Ayodhya and Rama continued to rule as an ideal monarch over his extensive rein.
More misfortune however was in store for Sita. No sooner had the couple settled down than rumors started in the capital questioning the propriety of having a queen who had spent a year in a villain’s captivity, putting her chastity under doubt. Surprisingly for a clear-headed individual, Rama took these allegations to heart and asked his younger brother Lakshmana to banish Sita (this time alone), to the forests. Rama did this even though he was well aware that his wife was well advanced into the family way. Thus Lakshmana carried Sita the next morning to the forests. The unknowing, innocent lady cheerfully boarded the chariot. Little did she know what travails lay in store for her. Once they reached the wilderness, her brother-in-law informed her thus: ” You have been forsaken by the king who is afraid of the ill-report circulating among his citizens. You are to be left near this hermitage by me.”
Hearing these cruel words the crestfallen Sita fell swooning to the ground. However, it was not long before the valiant lady composed herself and addressed him thus: “This mortal frame of mine was indeed composed by the creator for bearing sorrow only. What sin was committed by me, that though being of good conduct, I should be forsaken by the king? I cannot give up my life since I carry within myself the seed which will carry forward the lineage of my lord. Do then as you are ordered O son of Sumitra (Lakshmana’s mother), forsake me the miserable one, obey the orders of the king, but do tell him this on my behalf: If to preserve your good name among your people, I must be sacrificed, I am content to let it be so. As you serve your subjects, so I serve you.”
Sita is a Hindu goddess and consort of Lord Rama who is associated with wifely virtue and the most noble qualities of womanhood. She is one of the most revered deities in Hinduism. Her name is a Sanskrit word meaning “furrow.” In Hindu mythology, King Janaka discovered Sita in a furrow – abandoned by Bhumi (Mother Earth) – while he was plowing a field, so he raised her as his daughter. She is, therefore, often associated with agricultural fertility.
Sita is also considered to be an incarnation of Lakshmi, the goddess of abundance and Vishnu’s consort. She is one of the main characters in the epic Hindu poem, “Ramayana,” which describes the life and adventures of Rama.Sita represents shakti, the divine feminine cosmic energy of the universe, while Rama represents masculine energy. Hindus worship Sita and Rama by chanting their names, while yogis recite the mantra, “Sita Ram,” to invoke the qualities associated with each deity. Chanting this mantra is believed to balance both sides of the brain and boost self-awareness.Sita also symbolizes the energy of the root (muladhara) chakra, which is associated with grounding, stability and security, and is believed to calm the mind. It is believed that Goddess Sita appeared on the ninth day of the Shukla Paksha of the Vaishakh month. According to mythology, Goddess Sita was found by King Janak in the fields. Mithila’s king Janak was ploughing the fields when Goddess Sita appeared in the form of a child in the field. According to the Hindu epic Ramayana, Goddess Sita later married Lord Rama and had two sons – Luv and KushSita, the princess of Mithila, daughter of King Janaka, daughter-in-law of Raghu Vansha, wife of Rama, queen of Ayodhya, and mother of Luv-Kush, is much more than a goddess worshipped in Hindu families. In my view, Sita is the pride of many women and the ideal of true womanhood. It’s not an exaggeration to call her the epitome of chastity and purity. It’s no more than a wonder that there lived a queen once who wore purity, devotion, strength, knowledge, courage and dharma (roughly translates to duties and responsibilities) as her ornament.
Raised in a traditional family, one thing that I am grateful for is the dharmic knowledge that my family imparted in me since my very childhood. The ideals and principles of the great characters of The Ramayana and The Mahabharata are still alive in the hearts of people. The best thing we can do for the next generation is to pass those ideals to them.
Of all the scriptures and religious texts, The Ramayana, or the Mahakavya, is the classiest literature work. It is the Kohinoor of Indian Literature. The events and lessons in this legendary epic are enough to show the path to an ideal, peaceful life for mankind. It is more than just about the life of Lord Rama and his battle against the demons. It is the story of the gem among human beings. Is there even a word in the dictionary that can praise ‘Maryada Purshottama Shree Rama’ and ‘Stree Shiromani Mahapativrata Shakti Swaroopini Devi Sita’? Peerless among the men and women are Rama and Sita.
When Hanuman tells the entire story and wins the trust of Sita about being the devotee of Shree Rama, she didn’t start narrating her struggles and problems in the kingdom of a demon. She asks about the well-being of Lakshman and Shree Rama, and expresses her pain of being away from her beloved, rather than telling about the devil acts and torture that she has been facing for so long
Sita is a chaste woman, strong and courageous. An obedient and dutiful wife of a courageous warrior, righteous man, and a dutiful, loving and caring husband. Her obedience, loyalty, chastity, love and care towards the man who is Supreme among the men is not a sign of patriarchy, it’s the sign of a right woman for the right man.
My love for Sita and Rama is not because they are an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. It’s because they followed their dharma even in the toughest of times. It’s like a warrior on the battlefield who fights for their motherland without fearing enemies and death, and never runs away from his duties. Even if you consider Sita and Rama as ordinary human beings, you’ll never find them deviate from their duties and responsibilities, and that’s why they are our ideal.
Sita also known as Siya, Maithali, Janaki and Bhoomija, was the leading character portrayed in the hindu epic Ramayana. She is addressed as Devi Sita, foster daughter of King Janak and Queen Sunaina. She is the wife of Lord Rama, the main character of Ramayana. She is known for her dedication towards her husband, Rama, her purity, her chastity, her sacrifices and her courage. She is the incarnation of Goddess Laxmi (consort of Lord Vishnu) on earth. While ploughing, King Janak and Queen Sunaina found Sita, the new born in a furrow in the field. The childless couple immediately pick up the new born girl and adopt her as their own child. After that King Janak is blessed with another daughter, Urmila. She is also called Bhoomija as she appeared from the Bhoomi or earth. Devi Sita married Lord Rama, after which Lord Rama is exiled to Banwaas (forest exile) for 14 years. Lord Rama is accompanied by his brother Laxamana and his wife Sita forest. The highly diligent and Lord Shiva’s prime devotee, Demon Ravana kidnaps Sita in order to take revenge of his sister’s insult by Laxmana. Ravana brings Sita to his Lanka mansion and decides to marry her. But with the help of Lord Hanuman, Lord Rama is able to kill Ravana and returns back to ayodhya with wife Sita and brother Laxmana.
In Ayodhya, Sita is questioned upon her chastity as she lived for a year in Ravana’s Lanka. Sita in order to prove her purity sits in the lap of fire (agni pariksha) only to come out safely with the blessings of Lord Agni. After that, Lord Rama and Devi Sita are crowned King and Queen of Ayodhya. But the unending questions on Sita forces her to change her abode to a forest in which she gives birth to twin sons, Luv and Kush. When they grow up, they unite with their father, Lord Rama but Devi Sita returns back to the womb of the earth to find solace from the cruel world where purity needs proof from women.
The temples dedicated to honour Devi Sita are Janaki Mandir in Nepal, Sita Mai temple in Haryana, Sita kund in Bihar, Seetha Devi temple in Kerala, Seetha Amman temple in Sri Lanka.1-she proved her purity setting an example for the society and they understood the point that woman is not always to be blamed.
2-her children got the family and respect.
3-her family n husband got the children
4-last but most important,she didn’t return.She silently conveyed that it is better to die rather than to return to such society or relationship.She conveyed that doubting a women character is unforgivable crime.
When Sita was rescued and came before Shri Rama after many months, Shri Rama spoken outwardly harsh words for the first time ever to anyone and that too to his dearest Sita (as Shri Rama had to bring out the purest divine exalted nature of Sita in front of all the three worlds, so he hid his inner heart how much he loves Sita, so that after knowing Sita is innately pure and divine, people could accept Sita with him with whole heart). And, then Sita on her own independently took decision to enter in pyre, and She ordered Lakshmana to get a pyre ready for her – tears were already rolling down the eyes of Shri Rama, Yet he remained silent and firm, so was also Sita firm in her decision, and inside both were one at heart and supporting each other’s dharma and leela. Shri Rama was well aware inside his heart that his consort Sita is purest and protected by her own divine splendor, however in order to silence the lowly minds of the world, this was necessary on the part of Sita, and Sita did independently on her. Sita and Rama being the best suited to each other, always supported each other’s leela and dharma independently and inconspicuously in the best possible way, even without communicating in the words to each other. And thus, Sita’s divine nature was revealed, when she entered in the fire in order to end her life; the fire-god couldn’t bear the divine-splendor of Sita as She herself is the fire of fire, Sita suppressed the original nature of the fire which burns everything; all the three worlds saw this divine leela unfolded independenly by Sita and silently supported by her consort, whole world was convinced about her purity and innately pure noblest character and divine nature, that she was protected by her own splendor and she was always devoted to Rama in by action, speech, mind and soul in everyway even when she was in separation of her husband due to adverse fate met to her.When Sita emerged unscathed from fire, and fire couldn’t burn Sita, all the three worlds was convinced of her divinity, Sita had her own splendor and divinity, from which she protected her dignity and purity from Ravana, without any weapon, by mere holding a blade of grass, which even mighty Ravana couldn’t transgress. Being a devi herself, She really didn’t need Shri Rama to rescue her from Ravana, She said to Ravana if She wishes she can reduce him into ashes anytime, but as She has no inclination of Shri Rama (her Bhagavan) for this, so she is not willing to do so, which shows her all time Paartantryam to Bhagavan in his association as well as while being without association of Bhagavan. She had to exhibit the quality of Paartantryam (being always dependent on Bhagavan) for all devotees, and being Purushkara of Bhagavan, it was all her grace and causeless mercy only over demons that she allowed herself in the captive of Ravana to preach him and other demons to take refuge of Shri Rama. Shri Rama enjoyed with Sita for 10,000 years in Ayodhya , and now the time was near for Sita and Rama for winding up their avatara-leela on the earth and enter in their divine spiritual abode, and disappear from the mortal eyes of the world; the divine couple needed an excuse for this, as Sita and Rama can’t grow old or die like general humans of the mortal world. Therefore, in order to end their incarnations, due to their divine inspiration, story took again a sad turn, a minor section of population started chattering against the character of Sita Ji and her purity, Shri Sita Ji had given the fire-test in Lanka on her own as per her personal capacity and dharma, no one had asked her to give such severe test, she did on her own to convince all the three worlds, so that none could raise objections on Shri Rama, her husband in future that Shri Rama is some lusty man to accept her. However, if someone else demands such test from Sita or any other women, then it would not be appropriate. If all compassionate Lord Shri Rama on behalf of him puts Sita for another test in Ayodhya, in that case Lord would have to put other women also through such test to maintain discipline in the society, whenever some rascals utter some doubt over the characters of other women. And definitely all merciful and wisest Lord didn’t want this to happen ever, and to be seen as some tyrannical ruler to put women through such test if others cast doubts over the characters of some women. Therefore, Lord thought it is better to sacrifice his personal happiness and send Sita into exile, rather than facing or inviting such horrible situations everDevi Sita, the divine heavenly goddess and wife of Lord Rama, is one of the most popular goddesses in the Hindu religion. She is the incarnation of LakshmiHer husband Rama is the avatar of Lord Vishnu, his seventh incarnation. Sita represents the ideal wife, daughter and mother to the Hindu people, and is remembered for her fine attributes and revered for having the noblest qualities of women. Sita is the female protagonist in the Epic of Ramayana. The adopted child of King Janaka and Queen Sunaina, the young goddess married Lord Rama and devotedly accompanied him when he was exiled to the forest. She was later captured, imprisoned and eventually rescued. Sita remained honorable throughout the tribulations of her life and finally escaped the cruelty of the world by returning to the arms of Mother EarthThe jealous and evil Ravana disguised his uncle by transforming him into a golden deer and sending him into the forest. Sita, enchanted with the pretty animal, asked Rama to capture the deer and bring it to her. Hesitantly he went, but made his brother promise to stay by Sita’s side.Rama headed deeper into the forest, found the deer and readied his bow, but the deer called out, imitating the voice of Rama, “Lakshmana, Oh Lakshmana” – a cry for help. When she heard the crying out of her husband, Sita begged her brother–in-law to go the aid of Rama, and he was eventually convinced to do it, even though he had promised not to leave her side.Now alone, Sita was easy prey, and Ravana arrived disguised as a beggar. When she attempted to help him, he grabbed her and put her in his chariot, to take her away. The two men returned to find her missing and began to desperately search the forest. They found a friend, Jatayu, an eagle, bleeding with his wings cut off. Jatayu tried to fight Ravana and save Sita but he was rendered helpless by the monster. He did point the men in the right direction before he took his very last breath.Sita was held captive in a garden guarded by demons. Ravana instructed them to help persuade her into marrying him, but even after a year had passed, she refused his advances. According to the Hindu texts, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, Hanuman, the supernatural monkey and his army of monkeys, Vanara Sena helped Rama to save Sita. After a long battle, Rama slayed the demon and Sita was released from captivity.They returned to the kingdom, and the people demanded proof of her chastity since she had been held for a year by Ravana. To prove herself, she walked through a fire and the coals turned to lotus blossoms beneath her feet.
Rama was crowned king, and Sita ruled with him for a short while until the people once again doubted her chastity. To appease them, Rama sent her back to exile, despite the fact that he was certain of her chastity and loyalty. He had his brother take her deep in to the forest and leave her there alone. By this time she was already pregnant and particularly vulnerable.A kind sage named Valmiki found Sita, and took her Into his ashram where he cared for her. She eventually delivered twin boys, Luv and Kush. They learned to be great warriors under the tutelage of the sage, with a particular talent for archery.Rama, on the other hand, missed his family terribly. To further prove his imperial authority, he began the Ashvamedha. This was a ritualistic sacrifice involving a horse released to roam the kingdom and surrounding areas for an entire year accompanied by the king’s soldiers. If no enemy killed or captured the horse, or won a battle with the warriors during that time, supreme sovereignty would be declared, may no longer be challenged, and the horse would be led back home to be sacrificed.The horse wandered Into the forest and Luv and Kush quickly captured it. Rama sent his brothers to fight the twins and they returned defeated so Rama stepped in to confront them himself. He expected to win easily, but it didn’t happen quite that way, and Rama was so impressed with the twins’ abilities, he invited them back to his palace. At that point, their identity was revealed and Rama was reunited with his own twin sons.
• Mata Sita is regarded as the incarnation of Goddess Laxmi. It is believed that Laxmi Maa, as Sita, followed her husband Lord Vishnu, as Rama, to Earth as his partner.
• According to the Sanghadasa Jain version of the Ramayana and the Adbhut Ramayana, Sita was born to Vidyadhara Maya or Ravana’s wife, as his first child. Astrologers predicted that she would end his lineage, and thus Ravana ordered her burial in a distant land.
• The former legend suggests that the distant land was the kingdom of King Janaka, who found her while ploughing the ground and named her Sita after the Sanskrit word ‘Seet’, meaning furrow.
• When Sita reached marriageable age, her father, King Janaka, arranged a swayamvar to get her married. The potential groom had to string Pinaka, Shiva’s bow, to marry her. Lord Rama, being a supreme being himself, was able to string the bow and was thus given Sita’s hand in marriage.
• However, there is an additional legend surrounding the swayamvar. As per the Tulsidas Ramayana, when Lord Parshuram had seen Sita playing with Pinaka at a young age, he was taken aback by her strength as even the mightiest heroes and Gods were unable to pi k it up. Therefore, he advised King Janaka that Goddess Sita should only be married to one who would be her equal, in short, someone who would be able to pick up the bow.
• After marriage, she gets abducted by Ravana while in exile besides Rama and Laxmana. Following a brutal war, Lord Rama rescued her from the Ashoka Vatika, where she was imprisoned. However, due to rising questions about her purity, she had to undergo an Agni Pariksha.
• After returning to Ayodhya, she is exiled by Lord Rama, who heeded the words of the people of his kingdom on the account that she spent months in another man’s territory. People once again questioned her on her purity. Therefore, humiliated, she promised never to return and took shelter under Sage Valmiki. There she gives birth to Rama’s twin sons, Luv and Kush.
• After a life of struggle and pain, the Daughter of Earth returned to her mother as a testimony of her purity after reuniting her sons with their father.
• Janaka maharaj was ploughing a piece of land and then to prepare it for conducting a Yajna (spiritual sacrifice). He unearthed a golden casket in which he found a beautiful girl and was overjoyed. A land ploughed by the yoke is called ‘Sita’, and so he named the baby as Sita. With the arrival of the baby, the king’s good luck appeared to soar up. His queen also gave birth to a daughter who was named Urmila. The royal couple brought up the children with great affection. They gave them a good education. The two beautiful girls, by their noble qualities, good behavior and intelligence, endeared themselves to one and all and grew to become ideal princesses.
• Sita grew up and played in the palace of Janakaraj. She became well known for her beauty as well as her devotion. She could often be seen absorbed in the Deity of the Lord of the Surya-vamsa. She would when on her own, sometimes lovingly enact the pastimes of the various forms of the Lord and relish His pastimes. In this way she revealed to those close to her that she was no ordinary young girl.
• Her fame like her beauty became well known, and soon it was time for her to be betrothed and then married. As with kshatriya kings of those days Janakaraj organised that all the worthy kings and princes would come, there would be a challenge for her hand, and the victor would become her husband.
• The story goes that one day, revered sage Parashurama came to visit king Janaka. He carried a bow with him. He left it at the doorstep of the royal hall and went inside. Sita saw the bow, ran to it and began playing with it as if it was a play-horse. Only those with great physical strength and daring could lift and handle the ‘Vaishnava’ bow. When Parashurama came out, the bow was missing. Ordinary persons could not lift it with ease and he, curiously looking around, spotted Sita playing with it as if it was a play-horse. The sage and the king were astonished
• The great Sage Parashurama, who is a partial incarnation (shaktyavesha avatara) of Vishnu then blessed Sita and said to king Janaka: “My dear king, only a great, and strong person can wed this girl of such capacity. Arrange a ‘Swayamvara’ (where the brides choose their spouses for their prowess) for her and let the most suitable person in the three worlds the marry her.”
• In course of time, Sita and Urmila attained maturity.
• King Janaka possessed a bow said to have been blessed by Lord Shiva. It was a great bow and the king decided to marry off his daughter to one who could lift it and charge its arrow. He prepared for a Swayamvara.
• The challenge is sent out, “The Man Who Conquers the ‘Shiva, Bow’ Weds Sita”, and so all manner of qualified princes and “wannabe’s” came from all over the world. But how to find such a heroic young man to wed such a girl?
• Many noble princes from several kingdoms came aspiring for the hand of the beautiful damsel Sita. But they were awed by the mighty bow and, saluting it turned away.
• Sage Vishwamitra, accompanied by his disciples Rama and Lakshmana, arrived at Mithila. The princes, sons of renowned king Dasharatha, had conquered many demons (‘rakshasas’). King Janaka felt glad at their arrival.
• Vishwamitra told Rama:”Dear Ramachandra, pray to Lord Shiva and take to the bow.” Sri Rama bowed to Vishwamitra and offered his respects. He then prayed for the grace of Lord Shiva, went and raised the bow with ease and thrust an arrow. As he bent the bow, it broke. Sitadevi came and garlanded him and accepted him as her husband. The news reached king Dasharatha who rushed to Mithila with his entourage. The marriage
• The marriage of Rama and Sita Devi was solemnized in a grand manner.
• After this event, Dasharatha spent many happy years ruling the kingdom. Old age gradually crept on, and he decided to retire. He naturally thought of handing over the reigns of the kingdom to his eldest son Rama. He wanted to spend the rest of his life in meditation, away from the worries of physical life. He consulted his elderly priests and decided on the day of Sri Rama’s installation on the royal throne.
• The king was very joyful on the auspicious day. His senior consort Kausalya Devi was engaged in worship and serving the elders and priests. People in the kingdom were rejoicing and eagerly looked forward to the coming coronation.
• King Dasharatha’s third consort was Kaikeyi. She too was very affectionate towards Rama. But carried away by the advice of her maid Manthara, she claimed that her son Bharata should Succeed as the next king, and that Rama should go to forest for fourteen years. Dasharatha was shocked to hear this. All his pleadings with Kaikeyi to change her mind proved in vain.
• A long time ago, the King had promised her that he would fulfil two wishes of hers. Now, as a fulfillment, she demanded that the king install Bharata as the Crown Prince and that Rama should go to forest for fourteen years.
• Rama came to know about this, consoled his father and said he would go to the forest to fulfil his pledge. Rama immediately discarded his royal robes and ornaments and wearing sack-clothes, prepared to leave for the woods. Kausalya was grief-stricken. Rama pacified her and obtained her permission to leave.
• After meeting his mother, Rama went to his wife Sita. She was then bubbling with joy at the impending coronation of her husband and was performing worship for his good; she was giving away doles and offerings.
• Looking at Sita’s joy and celebration, Rama felt it painful to inform her that he would not be crowned and that he would be leaving for the jungle. He knows she would be shocked. Looking at his worried face, Sita asked: “You appear to be worried at such a joyous moment. What is the matter? Did anything untoward happen?” She gently wiped the sweat on his face with the edge of her saree
• Rama said: “Dear Janaki, do not feel grieved at what I am going to tell you. I have to leave the capital for a distant place. You should see me off without tears.” He told her about the king’s dilemma and said: I will go to the forest for fourteen years and return. You should remain without anger or sorrow. Be calm. The parents are old. Look after them. Be good and courteous towards Bharata also. Permit me to leave.”
• Sita was saddened. She was not sorry either at the canceling of her husband’s coronation or at the demanded crowning of Bharata. But she felt angry that Rama should leave her behind and go to the forest alone. She declared: “My Lord, I can’t stay for a moment in a place without you. In your absence, this Ayodhya will be a jungle to me. The forest wherein you stay will be my kingdom. My life runs under your shadow. It is not becoming of you to leave me behind.”
• Rama explained to her the rigours of life in the woods. “Sita, you do not know about jungle-life. It is not a cosy, royal garden; cruel wild animals and evil demons (rakshasas) infest it. You hear ferocious voices. You have to live on roots and wild fruits. A tender lady like you cannot withstand these hazards.You have to pass every day in fear of some impending danger. After all, fourteen years is not a long period.”
• Sita would not listen to his pleadings. She insisted: “Whether it is jungle or town, it is my. duty to be with you. I do not care for comforts here. I am not afraid of the difficulties we may encounter in the forest. You are such a lion of a man. Can’t you protect me there?” Tears rolled down her eyes.
• Rama eventually had to agree with her: “Sita if you are with me, any jungle is heaven. Let it be, as you desire. Prepare to leave.” Sita happily made preparations for the sojourn.
• Rama’s younger brother Lakshmana also insisted that he would accompany them. Rama had to acquiesce.
• Deciding to stay at Chitrakoota Mountain, the three-some left and reached their destination.
• It was a picturesque area. Many sages had built their ashrams (hermitages) there. They warmly welcomed Rama, Sita and Lakshmana. Rama and Lakshmana built a hermitage for themselves.
• After a time, Bharata, with his entourage, came to visit them. He wanted to plead with Rama to return to Ayodhya and assume kingship. He mournfully informed them about king Dasharatha’s passing away. Rama, Sita and Lakshmana were overcome with grief.
• All the pleadings of Bharata to Rama were in vain. Rama did not change his mind. At last, Bharata requested Rama to give him his sandals so that he could place them on the throne and rule in the name of Rama. He also decided to reside in the village Nandi as
• They told Rama that evil rakshasas and wild animals had
been harassing them and sought his help to relieve them of these troubles and protect them. Rama, by nature, was compassionate; he promised them he would free them from the menace of rakshasas.
• Sitadevi was worried. At an appropriate time she told Rama: “Aryaputra, let me submit to you a few of my thoughts. Please do not think I am more learned than you. The sages narrated their problems and you promised them you would annihilate the rakshasas and wild animals. You have now forsaken all the royal paraphernalia and have come to the forest. Now you have to live like an ascetic and should not carry weapons. You have a bow and arrows for self-protection. By your promise to the sages, the rakshasas will become your enemies. I am worded about this. We cannot say what danger might hit us at any time. And also, is it just to kill wild animals and rakshasas who have not harmed us in any way? Hatred without reason may result in danger. Please think it over.”
• Rama patiently listened to Sita’s words and said: “Devi, listen. We are Kshatriyas by birth and no time is objectionable for us to punish the evil doers. Can the rakshasas attack innocent sages and devour them? Punishing them and protecting theinnocent is our dharma (sacred duty). Your thoughts deserve consideration. You have thought about this matter seriously. I will go about this very carefully.” Sita was relieved at his explanation.
• As Rama, Sita and Lakshmana were approaching a spot called Panchavati, they came across a huge banyan tree. Atop it sat a large-sized eagle. They thought it might also be a rakshasas in disguise. But it said: “Raghurama, I am a friend of your father Dasharatha. My name is Jatayu. When you and Lakshmana go out, I will be here with Sita and keep guard. I will try to be of some help to you. “They felt happy that they met a friendly soul in the jungle.
• They built a hermitage and lived comfortably for sometime. Close by was the Godavari river. The area was dotted with hills. The jungle trees and plants provided fruits and flowers in abundance. With majestic trees, various plants, chirping birds and attractive animals like the deer, the spot was a feast to the eye
• demoness, Shurpanakha,was wandering about in that area in search of food. She scented some human beings staying there and came to Rama’s hermitage and peeped in.
• She was instantly struck by the graceful personalities of Rama and Lakshmana and wished to marry one of them. She assumed the appearance of a beautiful damsel and asked Rama to marry her.
• Rama said: “I am married and my wife is with me here. I cannot bring in” another wife. My younger brother Lakshmana is alone and he is also good-looking. Go to him.”
• Shurpanakha then approached Lakshmana and asked him to marry her. He said: “I am Rama’s devout attendant. If you marry me, you will also become a servant and have to be subserviant to Sita. Go back and ask Rama.”
• It was a sport between the brothers. She was made to go from one to the other several times and became fed up with this game. She angrily said: “it is because Rama’s wife is here that things are happening this way. I am going to finish her off.” So saying, she came to pounce upon Sita.
• Rama told Lakshmana: “No point in being too light-hearted with evil people. Punish her and drive her away.” Thereupon, Lakshmana went and cut off her ears, nose and breasts and thus drove her away.
• Shurpanakha, apart from the physical pain, felt humiliated and ran away growling loudly. She was the sister of Ravana, the king of Lanka, a man endowed with immense prowess. Another demon, Khara, who ruled over Janasthana, where Rama’s hermitage was located, was Ravana’s younger brother. Shurpanakha went to Khara and told him of her humiliation. He became wild with anger and, accompanied by a large army, came to attack Rama and Lakshmana. But Rama’s powerful arrows annihilated the enemy force. The sages of the forest extolled Rama. Sita also felt happy, but a nagging worry continued to haunt her.
• Shurpanakha then went to Lanka and wailed before Ravana. She narrated her humiliation and the defeat of Khara and his army. She also told him about Sita’s beauty.
• Ravana felt sad; anger welled up in him. Should a sister of such a hero as himself suffer such humiliation? Hearing her description of Sita’s beauty, an evil thought entered his mind – that he should abduct Sita!
• Ravana thought of many ways and finally decided to seek the assistance of Mareecha, who was his relative. Mareecha shivered at the mention of Rama. He explained to Ravana about the fury of Rama’s arrows. He advised Ravana: “To abduct Sita is a bad idea. Forget it.”
• But Ravana was insistent. “If you do not listen to me, your life is finished,” he threatened Mareecha, who then realized that any amount of advice to Ravana would be futile.
• Ravana’s plan was to see that Rama and Lakshmana would be lured away from the hermitage; he could then go there and kidnap Sita. He conceived a plan and Mareecha was asked to execute it.
• Mareecha assumed the guise of a lovely golden deer and moved about in the presence of Sita. Sighting it, Sita told Rama: “Look at this beautiful deer. If we can catch it, will it not be an ornament to Ayodhya?”
• Lakshmana said: “It is not a real deer. It looks artificial. Let us not be fooled by some tricks of the rakshasas.”
• But Rama wished to fulfil Sita’s desire and proceeded to follow the golden deer.
• However, Rama could not easily catch the deer. In pursuit, it took him far away from their residence. Finally, tired and angry Rama struck it with an arrow. As he lay dying, Mareecha cried out: “Ha, Lakshmana! Ha Sita!” was imitating Rama’s voice.
• Sita was worried at Rama’s not returning early when heard this cry. She entreated Lakshmana to go and find out whether Rama was in danger and needed protection.
• Lakshmana tried to console her and said: “My brother is the protector of the world. What danger can affect him*? There is no need for anyone to go to his aid. These are all the rakshasas’ tricks.”
• But Sita did not think so. She became angry and denounced Lakshmana thus: “You have come with us with some object of personal benefit. When your elder brother is facing danger you are wasting time here. I do not approve of your designs.”
• Lakshmana could not tolerate this insinuation. He was worried about the welfare of Sita if he went away leaving her alone. He invoked the demigods (devas) of the forest, and protracted the ashram by placign the Rekha line around it. Then offering respects before Sita he reluctantly left the place.
Meanwhile, taking advantage of Lakshaman and Rama’s absence a ‘Sannyasi’ (monk) arrived at Rama’s hut. He wore saffron robes, had tied his hair into a top-knot and chanted Vedic hymns like any other ascetic.Sita looked at him and he asked her: “Why are you, such a beautiful damsel staying in this jungle suffering misery?”Thinking that a respectable sage had come, Sita treated him with reverence and told him about her life-story. She did not comprehend that Ravana ‘had come in disguise.The Sannyasi said: “I am Ravaneshwara. All the three worlds shudder at the mention of my name.I have never seen a more beautiful woman like you. Come and be my queen and lead a happy life.”Sitadevi, hearing these words, was see thing with anger and said: “You wretched man! I am the wife of lionhearted Rama. If you touch me, you will be touching fire!”In spite of her entreaties, Ravana would not relent. He carried her to his chariot even as she was denouncing him and praying for her protection.Jatayu, who was sleeping atop a tree, was awakened by Sita’s cries. He immediately jumped forward and attacked Ravana’s chariot, killed the driver and damaged it considerably.Enraged, Ravana lashed at Jatayu and cut off his wings. Sita was saddened to see Jatayu fall to the ground mortally wounded. Carrying Sita, Ravana flew away in the skies towards Lanka.As soon as Rama heard Mareecha’s cries, he felt that something was wrong. He hurriedly retreated and met Lakshmana on the way back. Rama’s suspicions grew and sensing something bad, asked Lakshmana: “Brother, What is this? Why did you come?
What about Sita’s welfare? What could happen to her by the time we get back to our place? May we see her again alive?”They rushed to the hermitage and Rama cried out: “Devi, Janaki, where are you?” There was no answer. The ashram was empty. Rama searched around to no avail. He wandered uttering Sita’s name all over the place. “0 trees, birds, animals, can’t you tell me about Sita’s whereabouts?” At one spot Rama found a bunch of flowers Sita had worn. Nearby lay Jatayu, injured and in agony. It seemed as if the bird was struggling to keep alive only to inform Sri Rama about the abduction of Sita. It said: “Raghurama, Ravana, the king of Lanka, has abducted Sitadevi. I fought him to protect her but he beat me.” With these words, the bird died.Rama and Lakshmana, full of grief, conducted the last rites of Jatayu in accordance with the tradition. his palace and riches. He showed her his rakshasas army. He told her: “Look here, Rama cannot come here. Forget him. There is no one more heroic and rich than I am. Become my queen and lead a happy life.”
Sita did not want even to talk to him. She held a blade of grass before her and looking at it said: “Ravana, you have carried me to this place stealthily when Rama was not present. If he was there at that time, you would have been destroyed. It looks as if your life is now ended.”
Ravana was enraged. He kept her in the Ashokavana garden and engaged demonizes to guard her.Sita sat under a Shimshupa tree. Pale and weary-looking, and wearing a worn-out saree, she was sitting there on the floor crying. She was pining: “0 Ramachandra! Can’t you see my plight? Can I be so lucky as to see you again?” Ugly looking demonesses around pressed on: “Forget Rama. Marry the heroic, wealthy Ravana. If you please him, you can lead a life of luxury. If you refuse, you will be finished.” But Sita sternly told them: I will never think of another man even in my dreams. “Rich or Poor, My Life is Only with Rama”
I would not touch another being even with my left foot.”
Sitting on the branches of a nearby tree, Anjaneya saw all and heard these words.
In the morning, Ravana accompanied by his harem came there. Ravana said: “Sita, why you are suffering like this without good food and clothing? I am the king of the three worlds. My palace, riches, opulence – everything will be yours. Come to the palace. One does not know whether Rama, living in the jungle like a hermit, is alive or dead. Forget him.”
Addressing the blade of grass before her, Sita said: “I am Rama’s wife. Whether he is rich or poor, my place is with Rama and nowhere else. I do not even want to look at you. By bringing me here, you are ruining yourself and your family.”
Though Ravana continued to persuade Sita, he was insulted by her as a coward and evil man. He was angered and dashed forward with fury saying he would kill her. He was held back by one of his wives Dhanyamalini. He told Sita: “I will give you two months time. If you do not change your mind, I will kill you!” So saying, he went away.
After he left, the demonesses began to harass Sita who was now thinking of almost ending her life, before these devils devoured her. An old demoness Trijata checked her associates and told them about a bad dream she had: “Do not harass Sita. She is the purest wife. Lanka is now faced with great danger. Ask her pardon.” Then, they left off harassing her.
Hanuman came down from the treetop
Mother Sita had spent all her days in worshipping Rama in her mind. She had patiently withstood Ravana’s insults and threats, the how lings of the demonesses and other humiliations. She waited long for Rama to come, conquer Ravana and free her.
Rama won the battle and Ravana died but happiness eluded Sita.
Vibhishana brought Sita in a palanquin.Armies of Sugriva and Vibhishana stood in attendance. Sitadevi stepped down and going to Rama, exclaimed: “Aryaputra!” She was so overcome with emotion that words failed her.
Rama told Sita: “Good woman, you are now freed. As a matter of my duty I came to rescue you. It is not because of my passion towards you. You have been with the rakshasas for a year. I cannot accept you as my wife as before. You are now free. Go anywhere you like and live.”
Rama’s forest sojourn ended by then. He and others reached Ayodhya flying in ‘Pushpaka-vimana’. Bharata and the citizens accorded a grand welcome to Rama. Everybody was filled with happiness. All were talking about Sita. Already, preparations for Rama’s coronation were complete. He was ceremonially crowned the king.
That beautiful Sita devi seemingly entered into the earth though actually she always remains with Lord Rama, just as the sun’s rays are always with the sun.”
• Remembering Sri Rama, true to his vow of ‘ekapatni’, never accepted another woman other than Sita. Next to him on his ‘asana’ he kept a golden deity of Sitadevi for some time, performing sacrifices for thirteen thousand years.
At the end of this period, Agastya Muni and many demigods and sages approached the Lord and reminded him that his pastimes on earth had now been fulfilled and he should now return to Vaikuntha. Lord Rama performed ‘acaman’, sipping water and reciting ‘mantras’, once, twice, thrice, then he resumed his form of Visnu, for it is from that seat of Visnu that his pastimes became manifest.
“Lord Ramacandra returned to his abode, to which ‘bhakti yogis’ are promoted. This is the place to which all the inhabitants of Ayodhya went after they served the Lord in his manifest pastimes by offering him obeisance’s, touching his lotus feet, fully observing him as a father like king, sitting or lying down with him like equals, or even just accompanying him The soul of Shri Raghavendra.
• Goddess who has beautiful and radiant countenance like full-moon, on which the eyes of Raghuveer constantly gaze like Chakor Bird.
• The mother of universe.
• The Queen of Param Dhaam Saket lok.
• The Princess of Shri Dhaam Mithila.
• The heart of Videhraaj Janak Ji and Mata Sunaina.
• The one whose lotus feet gives the devotees paramananda for which devotees ignore Infinite no. of mokshas.
• The one whose grace is required to get devotion of Prabhu Shri RamJi.
• The Mother who gave the blessings to their dearest child Shri HanumanJi to become donor of 8 siddhis and 9 niddhis.
• The Queen who gave up the luxurious life without thinking twice when she heard that their husband is going to exile.
• The Goddess who took so many problems on her to set an example of what a true pativrata lady is.
• The one who Brahma, Shiva, Sanakadik sages, Indra, etc… all say glory of her from their own mouths; And (therefore) in their hearts day and night they yearn for a benign look of her over them.
• The Parashakti who had to give mother earth the service to become her mother in their leela as no womb could handle her radinace.
• The Mother whose gave Agni dev the opportunity serve her.
• The Goddess for whose divine darshan even gods yearn.
• The Most compassionate and adorable.
• The one who gives power of creation to Bharama Ji, power of preserving to Vishnu Ji, Power of destruction to Mahadev Ji.
• The compassionate Mother who forgave the son of Indra, Jayant who came as a crow and pecked her lotus feet because she thought that Jayant is also their child as they are jagadamba and if they tell swami( Prabhu Shri RamJi ) regarding it, Prabhu will take his life.
• The Princess by seeing whom even Prabhu Shri RamJi whose beauty is such that infinite number of Kaamdev(cupid) faints just by seeing their shadow, The same Prabhu Shri Ram Ji got sweat just when they saw Shri Kishori Ji for the first time in the garden of Shri Dhaam Mithila.
• The Goddess whose complexion is that of melted Gold.
• The most beautiful and the radiance coming from the nail of her toe is called the Parambhrama jyoti.
• The Queen who is in their kishori form( girl of 12 years) at the Param Dhaam Shri Saket lok.
• The mother who is served by Mahaveer Bajrang bali.
• The one who loves her devotees more than infinite number of mothers could love.
• Protector of the ones who have no support.
• The giver of everything.
• The Goddess with the most beautiful and big lotus eyes from which infinite mercy and paramananda flows.
• The Goddess by whose grace Prabhu Shri RamJi is sold to that devotee once a devotee surrenders in the lotus feet of Shri Janaki Ji.
• The mother who takes care of everything of a devotee which comes seeking her shelter and forget all sins of the devotee.
• Greater than the greatest and 2nd to none.
• The one who resides in every atom of this existence, The source of every atom in the existence.
• The cause of all the causes.
• Sita is the protagonist of the Hindu epic Ramayana. She is the adopted daughter of Raja Janak and Rani Sunaina. She is considered to be the daughter of soil.
• she is described to be a beautiful woman, and well educated in arts, literature and politics. She has three sisters
• urmila, Mandavi and Shrutkirti.
• she is also called Maithili or Vedihti
• As she reaches a marraigeable age, her father hosts a grand Swayamvar to get her married. She gets married to Ram, the prince of Ayodhya or Kosala.
• she goes into a 14 year long exile with her husband and brother-in-law where she is abducted by the asur king, ravan.
• after a bloody war between ram and ravan’s armies, ravan is killed and sita is freed.
• she goes through an agni pariksha to prove her morality, she goes in the fire and comes out unharmed and in the royal clothes.
• she returns to ayodhya and becomes queen.
• after some years, she is foresaken by her husband because he doubts her morality
• she is pregnant and gives birth to twins, Luv and Kush
• after many years, she she hands over the children to her husband and is taken in by mother Earth, her real mother.
• She had to live within the forests, wear simple clothes and eat roots and fruits inspite of being a princess.
• -She was kidnapped by the Rakshasa King Ravana and taken away to Lanka in the thirteenth year of their exile.
• -She had to live in Lanka really lonely without her husband, surrounded by female guards for one year.
• -All she did was hope that her husband would come and defeat Ravana and rescue her.
• -After Ravana was slayed by Lord Rama, she was told by Lord Rama that he couldn’t take her back as she had stayed in Lanka for more than one year. These words hurt her but she gave the trial by fire and was accepted by Lord Rama. Lord Rama knew about her purity but due to the people’s suspicions he tried to persuade her to give the trial by fire.
• -After returning to Ayodhya, she became the queen but soon Lord Rama instructed Lakshmana to escort her to the forest because of the people of Ayodhya as some of them were suspicious of their Queen’s character
She is the primary primordial force present even before the creation of the basic Bhuts (elements) of life came into existence2. She is endowed with great, majestic, stupendous and wonderful virtues of powers, strength, potentials and prowess3. She is an embodiment of the rewards obtained by doing Tapa (severe austerities, penances and observing of strict religious vows)4. She embodies success in obtaining heaven (or an exalted stature, both in this world as well as in heaven)5. She is majesty, fame, glory, grandeur, renown, success, accomplishment, good fortunes and potentials personified, and she embodies all of all them in herself6. She is an embodiment and personification of such excellent virtues as chastity, loyalty, immaculacy, righteousness, probity, propriety, nobility and virtuousness7She is universally and uniformally present in both the Brahm (the unmanifest supreme authority of the creation from whom the rest of the creation has manifested) as well as the creation of that Brahm, the ‘Brahmaand’ (i.e., the entire manifested cosmos)1. She is at the root of all causes and reasons in the world2. She is the supreme patron Goddess of both Mother Nature known as ‘Prakriti’ as well as its opposite, the ‘Vikriti’ (i.e., she controls the good and righteous aspects of this creation, the good and virtuous temperaments, natures, habits, inclinations and tendencies of the creature, as well as the bad, evil, sinful and pervert ones respectively)3. She is enlightened, wise and intelligent as well as eternal, infinite and vast
Goddess Sita is sakshat mahalakshmi who is mother of universe and adyashakti. In treta yuga Lord narayana incarnated as sri rama chandra to establish Dharma and to destroy adharma and adharmis like Ravana and kumbhakarna and tataki etc.
So Goddess Mahalakshmi incarnated as sita devi and became wife of sri Rama chandra murthy and without lakshmi Hari is nothing without hari lakshmi can’t do her duty they are eternal couple even devatas can’t separate them so when hari incarnated as sri rama then his shakti and his prana incarnated as Sita so goddess Sita is mahalakshmi who is adyashakti Maheshwari. Sita maa is wife of sri rama.
She has all qualities of a good wife mentioned in scriptures.
1. She follow husband when he has no money kingdom etc.
2. She give Lord Ram good advice and help him follow his Dharma
3. She serve Lord Ram with whatever means she had.
4. She is humble and chaste.
5. She help Lord Ram in every possible way.
6. She is origin of Lakshmi and still follow Lord Ram to his exile just to protect his dharma.
7. She teaches by example to all ladies.
8. She is so powerful that she can destroy entire universe and millions of Ravans in fraction of seconds still she wait for Lord Ram just to give him honour.
She didn’t thought twice Before accompaning Lord Ram to the forest, Irrespective of Countless Threats and hazards Lurking in the Forests, And That too For A span of Fourteen Years. She Bravely admitted That She Had all the ideas about what’s Out there, And she can Very well accompany him and Handle things, as per what her parents taught her. She alone brought Up her Kids, Away from the negativity of the world, And made them A Good and capable human. She was the one who made Luv kush capable warriors, Who had the ability to stand up to Lord Ram and Lord Hanuman in terms of warriorhood. She might be Hailed as the Adi shakti, The supreme cosmic energy, The Unquestioned mistress of the three worlds, But As per her, She lives As long as Lord Ram is with her, He keeps looking at her. Her entire life, Her existence is dedicated to The Lord of the three worlds. She Gave up the comforts Of the Palace, and Readily Went to the exile with Lord Ram. Even During Her stay at ashoka vatika, She Kept chanting the Name of Lord Ram. Sri Ram was the one who occupied Her heart and her attention all the time. She literally butchered The Fearsome demons like Sahastravan, Mulkasur, sahastrashira and Shatanan Ravan, when They Dared to hurt her Lord Ram. Her Devotion towards Lord Ram was So firm that even the Bhu devi herself had to come when She summoned her. Completely pure and innocent in all ways. All her life, She never Wished bad for anyone, She never Misbehaved and Always Thought Good for Others, even if its the worst soul ever. She has a soft heart which is filled with love for everyone, Even for those demonesses who harassed her Over and over again during her stay at ashoka vatika. Lord Hanuman wanted to Thrash those evil demonsesses for Troubling her, but She herself Discouraged The Lord from doing so, and Told him, that Even The Lowest amongst the lowest Soul deserves Kindness. She is a loving mother for her children, She is always around them and Look after them. She was the best in all the Fields, Be It a Wife, Mother, a daughter or, a Daughter in law she excelled everywhere and Everyone Loved her. She is The one who Was The sweetest when it came to her loved ones, and The same Became Mahakali, She became Goddess chandi when Her Loved ones were under threat, to eradicate evil forces. Besides Her position as the Mother Goddess, It was due to Her qualities and Charisma that The Trinity of Gods and even the all powerful Lord Ram, bowed down to Her and worshipped her. Just like Lord Ram is the Maryada Purushottam, He was the most perfect man, Even She is the Most ideal woman everSita’s devotion for Lord Rama was unparalleled. She stood by him like a pillar when he was banished from the kingdom of Ayodhya and followed him like his shadow to the forest, happily abandoning all comforts and luxuries of the palace.
‘Sita’s eyes closed and she dived deep within as the gentle touch of the petals enveloped her being in waves of beauty. And in that inner silence, the soundless vibration of the sacred word ‘Ram’ rose in soft ripples of bliss. A single tear flowed from Sita’s eyes, sweetened by her devotion and longing for her beloved.’
‘Sita’s eyes captured every detail but nothing left an impression on her mind, just as the lotus leaves, though they were in the water, remained untouched by it. There was only one impression in her consciousness, her beloved Rama, and he filled her completely.’
‘She wondered if Rama was looking at the night sky too. The very thought that they might both be gazing together at the same stars sent a rush of joy into her heart. There were many barriers that separated them physically, but these little twinkling relatives of hers connected her instantly to her beloved. She closed her eyes with a smile on her face.
Sita was the beloved princess of Mithila who had been brought up with all the luxuries that a kingdom can afford. Yet, when Lord Rama was banished to the forest she followed suit, with no qualms or complains. It was not merely her love for Rama, but a sense of indomitable courage that allowed her to take such a valiant step.
‘She patiently waited for Rama to complete what he had to say. As soon as he was done, she fell at Kaushalya’s feet. ‘Mother, what use is the lotus without the sun, a flower without nectar, a river without banks or a body without the soul? I have heard in detail the descriptions of all the hardships that you foresee but I assure you that even a moment of separation from my lord is far worse than any of these difficulties. The birds and animals will be my family. The flowers of the wild will add colour and fragrance wherever we are. Sleeping on the earth, I will feel that I am resting on my mother’s lap. A hut of leaves in the company of my lord will be far more comfortable than the heavenly abode of gods. The majestic mountains all around will be akin to the palaces of Ayodhya.’
Be it the way Sita perceived Ravana after he abducted her or the way she treated Kaikeyi when the Queen visited her in Chitrakuta, Sita’s graciousness remained untarnished no matter what the circumstance.‘For Sita, everything beautiful in creation was Rama. She felt the presence of her lord even in the music of the enemy. Ravana was not an opponent or adversary to Rama anymore. He had loomed large in Trijata’s mind when she placed him opposite Rama. But now Ravana seemed very small because she saw him from Sita’s point of view. Rama was bigger than any individual. There was nothing that could come between Sita and Rama because they were not two.’
‘Kaikeyi burst out when Rama came to her, ‘I thought I would never be able to speak to you again! Even if you forgave me, I would never be able to forgive myself. I was wondering what I would even say to you. But that darling wife of yours—she is just like you! She has patiently consoled me ever since our arrival and made me feel so honoured. She has no spite, not even a trace of doubt in her mind. She still treats me like her very own mother! I am sure Kaushalya and Sumitra must be wondering why Sita is spending all her time with me after all that I have done to you and to her!’’
Sita’s love for all of nature’s beings was boundless. The various birds and animals in Ashoka Vatika became her companions in solitude. In turn, these creatures would bring her food and try to uplift her mood, considering themselves lucky to be in the presence of divinity.
‘When the Rakshasis were asleep, little squirrels would run down the trunk of the simsupa tree and drop nuts into her lap. They would wait to see if Sita accepted their offering or not. The sparrows and sunbirds would carry tiny berries in their beaks and place them on the ground near Sita, just as if they were bringing food for their young ones. Sita could not refuse their offerings. She would wash those berries and nuts in the water from the nearby stream and eat them. This was all the food that she consumed throughout her confinement in Ashoka Vatika.
She is known for her dedication towards her husband, Rama, her purity, her chastity, her sacrifices and her courage. She is the incarnation of Goddess Laxmi (consort of Lord Vishnu) on earth. While ploughing, King Janak and Queen Sunaina found Sita, the new born in a furrow in the field. The childless couple immediately pick up the new born girl and adopt her as their own child. After that King Janak is blessed with another daughter, Urmila. She is also called Bhoomija as she appeared from the Bhoomi or earth. Devi Sita married Lord Rama, after which Lord Rama is exiled to Banwaas (forest exile) for 14 years. Lord Rama is accompanied by his brother Laxamana and his wife Sita forest. The highly diligent and Lord Shiva’s prime devotee, Demon Ravana kidnaps Sita in order to take revenge of his sister’s insult by Laxmana. Ravana brings Sita to his Lanka mansion and decides to marry her. But with the help of Lord Hanuman, Lord Rama is able to kill Ravana and returns back to ayodhya with wife Sita and brother Laxmana.
In Ayodhya, Sita is questioned upon her chastity as she lived for a year in Ravana’s Lanka. Sita in order to prove her purity sits in the lap of fire (agni pariksha) only to come out safely with the blessings of Lord Agni. After that, Lord Rama and Devi Sita are crowned King and Queen of Ayodhya. But the unending questions on Sita forces her to change her abode to a forest in which she gives birth to twin sons, Luv and Kush. When they grow up, they unite with their father, Lord Rama but Devi Sita returns back to the womb of the earth to find solace from the cruel world where purity needs proof from women.
Oh Vishnu, please incarnate in this world and help me. Then Vishnu said: Ok, I will incarnate as Rama, and my next avatar will be Rama. Also, Lakshmi will incarnate within you. You two, Lakshmi and Bhumi Devi, will take on a human form together. So Sita was born out of a furrow, for Bhumi Devi was mother earth. Mother Earth gave birth to a baby of her own accord. This baby was a manifestation of Bhumi Devi and, at the same time, of Lakshmi.
Janaka, the king, ushered in the plowing season every year by pulling the plow himself. Back then, farming was essential to be done with divine blessings.
When the time to plow came, a ritual was performed to receive blessings for plowing and the future harvest. The king also took part and pulled the first plow. While Janaka was plowing the field, he found a baby girl in a furrow. Since no one else knew where the child came from, Janaka adopted it and named it Sita, born out of a track. Because of this supernatural way of birth, Sita is called Ayonija
Lord Rama appeared on earth for the good of the world and goodness can happen in the world only through His mercy. Goddess Sita Devi is the embodiment of mercy and without Her, the Lord’s work cannot begin. Goddess Sita told Lord Rama to go on exile only if He would take Her with him. Since the Lord and His consort can never be separated, we perform the Kalyana Utsavam so that we can worship them as a couple denoting marital bliss. t is believed that Sita Devi was born during the Pushya Nakshatra. As per the legends, Lord Rama was also born on the same tithi in the Chaitra month of the Hindu calendar which comes a month before Sita Navami. It is said that King Janaka got Sita when he was plowing his land to perform a Yajna. He found a baby girl in the field and adopted her. A plowed land is hence referred to as “Sita” and Sita Devi is fondly known as “Janaki”- daughter of King JanakSita isn’t the pinnacle of womanhood for nothing. Sita’s life was full of ups and downs, yet she maintained her poise and dignity. Her tale is told in the novel Seethayanam. The ideals she lived by and embodied during her long life have become the values of womanly virtue, revered by all Indian generations past, present, and future.The name “Sita” existed long before Valmiki’s Ramayana. She was a female fertility goddess, although more prominent fertility deities eclipsed her.As stated previously in this essay, Janaka encountered Sita in a furrow while ploughing. In Sanskrit, “Seet” means “furrow”. Janaka was the king. From this, we may deduce that ploughing was a regular royal duty done to guarantee soil fertility.Sita Mata is considered to be the earth’s daughter, born of the sacred union of the king and the land. Devi Sita, therefore, represents earth’s fertility, plenty, peace, and prosperitySita was found in a furrow while ploughing the field. King Janaka has no children of his own so when he saw Sita, he was overwhelmed with love for her and declared her his own daughter.Thus she is considered as daughter of Bhumidevi or Goddess Earth. Also, she was adopted daughter of King Janak so she was also known as Janaki. King Janaka was ruler of Mithila hence Sita was also known as Mythili. King Janak was also known as Videha hence, Sita was also known as Vaidehi. Abandoned Sita was pregnant she wandered in the forest and finally got shelter in the hermitage of sage Valmiki. She gave birth to twins, Kusha and Lava. Sita raised her sons all alone under the guidance of sage Valmiki.
Twins grew into brave and intelligent princes. When Lava and Kusha were united with their father Rama, Sita considered her mission complete and decided to take final refuge in the arms of her mother Bhumi.
Since Sita was kept in captivity by Ravana she had to give a agnipariksha in order to prove her chastity.In some version of Ramayana , during this test Fire God Agni appeared before Rama and handed over him real Sita and said it was Maya Sita who was abducted by Ravana.While other version states that Sita voluntarily enters the fire, and when she stepped in the coal turned into lotuses. When Mother Sita was kidnapped by Ravana and kept her in Ashok Vatika, she followed modesty, tolerance, courage and religion in this difficult situation. During this, Ravana tried to tilt her towards him with the policy of Sama, price, punishment and distinction, but Mother Sita did not bow down, because she had full faith in her husband Shri Ram and his power in front of Ravana’s power and splendor.
Lankadhipati Ravana kidnapped and kept Mother Sita in his captivity for two years. In this captivity, Mother Sita lived under the guard of demons in a cave in a garden.
It is believed that to spread fear and despair in the monkey army and Ram-Lakshman in the battlefield, Ravana’s son Meghnad created an elusive Sita with his power, which looked like Sita. Meghnad started moving that elusive Sita in front of his chariot in the battlefield. The monkeys did not attack her as Sita.
Later Meghnad grabbed the hair of the elusive Sita and pulled it in two pieces in front of everyone. Seeing this scene, despair spread in the monkey army. Everyone started thinking that Sita, for whom they are fighting, has been killed. What’s the use of fighting now? When Rama heard the news of Sita’s death, he too became unconscious.
Seeing the blood spread all around, everyone became mournful. Seeing this, Meghnad went to the place of Nikumbhila Devi and started performing havan. When Rama’s consciousness returned, Lakshmana and Hanuman explained to him in many ways and Vibhishana said that ‘Ravana can never give orders to kill Sita, so it is definitely a display of Meghnad’s illusion. You rest assured.’ After a few days the war went on and finally Ravana was killed.
The Hindu epic, Ramayana, introduces Sita as the epitome of womanhood. Sita plays a prominent role in this ancient epic written by sage Valmiki. Ramayana is considered as the light that guides people in the path of life. And Sita is the lamp that glows for women. She is said to be an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. She is known as the daughter of earth and called Bhoomiputri.
Sita is also known as Maithili because she was the daughter of the king of Mithila. Her father was also known as Videh. That’s why she was also known as Vaidehi.
One day while King Janaka was ploughing a field to ensure the prosperity of his kingdom, he discovered a girl child in the furrow. He accepted the glorious gift of mother earth and nurtured Sita as the princess of Mithila. Amidst the pampering and protection of her father, Sita grew old to be a woman enriched with great virtues.
King Janaka wanted to bless Sita with the best and thus he arranged a swayamvara (a ceremony to select one’s spouse) and chose the prince of Ayodhya, Ram as an ideal husband for his beloved daughter. Within no time Sita ruled over everyone’s heart in Ayodhya. Her humble and responsible behaviour adorned her principled personality and won her appreciation and love. But she didn’t spend much time in the Palace of Ayodhya
Sita supported Ram at every step of this struggle. Exile was challenging but Sita was stoical. The presence and support of each other strengthened them and smoothened the exile. But one unfortunate day everything changed.
Sita saw a golden deer and requested Ram to bring it for her. But the deer was just a plan of evil Ravana. The cry of the deer in the voice of Ram convinced Lakshman to look for his brother and leave Sita alone. Before leaving he drew a boundary outside the hut that is known as the Lakshman Rekha. When Sita was Alone Ravana appeared in the disguise of a sage and cried for alms.
Sita was a generous woman, and she could not refuse a sage. She tried to provide him while standing within the Lakshman Rekha but Ravana tricked her and she stepped out of the boundary. With this step, the disguise disappeared and Ravana revealed his wickedness. But Sita was so chaste that Ravana could not touch her. Thus, he lifted the whole land where Sita stood and abducted her to his Kingdom, Lanka.
Ravana trapped Sita amidst the demonesses in the Ashoka Vatika. Sita’s heart was so pure that she befriended the demoness as well. She refused all the offers of Ravana that promised her luxury and the crown of Lanka. She waited for her husband in ordinary clothes to win over Ravana and rescue her. Even when she had a chance to run away with Hanuman, she chose her dignity and refused to elope as a coward. Eventually, her longing came to end but her suffering didn’t.
After Ram rescued her, she had to pass the Agni Pariksha to prove her chastity. Yet when she went back to Ayodhya no one accepted her as the rightful Queen. Since now Sita kept her patience but when her dignity was questioned, she happily left for another exile and this time without her Husband
Sita was pregnant and alone, yet she never complained about the hardships that life had served her. In the ashram of Valmiki, he preached her twins, Luv and Kush. And once her sons were reunited with their father, she believed her purpose on this earth was fulfilled. The virtuous daughter of Earth returned to her mother and Mother Earth accepted her with all the pleasure.
The story of Sita is painted with the colors of virtues. She was an obedient daughter and sacrificed the materialistic luxuries to support her husband. Sita protected her dignity and chastity against the claws of evil. She never complained and accepted all the sufferings as blessings. And she gracefully fulfilled her duties as a daughter, wife, and mother. Sita, the virtuous woman is an integral part of Indian History who inspires all women to use their strength as a shield that protects their dignity
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