Sita (goddess)

Country:India

Mother:Bhumi (Earth goddess); adopted mother Sunayana

Father: Adopted father Janaka (sometimes known as Janak)

Siblings:Urmila

Children:Lava; Kusha

Sita is a Hindu goddess best known as an example of the ideal daughter, wife, and mother. Alternate spellings of Sita include Sîta, Seeta or Seetha, all of which mean "furrow." Her name reflects the legend that Sita is the daughter of the earth goddess Bhumi and was discovered by King Janaka of Mithila in a plowed planting furrow, possibly while he was conducting a ritual to improve the fertility of the kingdom’s crops. The king and his wife, Sunayana, raised Sita as their own child.

Sita is Rama’s consort (partner or spouse). Rama is an avatar, or an incarnation, of Vishnu, one of the supreme gods according to Hindu beliefs. Sita is an avatar of Vishnu’s consort, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. The story of Sita and Rama is one of the best-known and most-beloved stories in the Hindu tradition. It is an important part of Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, a five-day holiday celebrated in honor of Lakshmi in the last quarter of the year with fireworks, prayer, and the exchange of gifts. A key celebration includes the lighting of diyas, or special lamps and candles, from which the holiday derives its name.

In Mythology

The story of Rama is one of the most revered stories in India. Rama is the eldest of four sons borne by the three wives of King Dasharatha of Aydohya. Rama was destined to succeed his father in taking the throne. Meanwhile, King Janaka is searching for a husband for his daughter Sita. He requires that her suitors string a bow that is so heavy no mortal can lift it. Rama lifts it, strings it, and then breaks it into two, earning Sita’s hand in marriage. Dasharatha believes the match is a good one and decides that it is time to hand down his kingdom to Rama.

Rama’s stepmother, however, wants her son Bharata to rule the kingdom. She calls in an old promise made by the king to grant her two wishes—and then asks him to banish Rama from the kingdom. Rama must leave for fourteen years and heads into the woods with Sita and his brother, Lakshman.

Because they are following dharma, or the rules of law and order for the universe, Rama, Sita, and Lakshman are very happy despite their circumstances. However, when Lakshman wounds the sister of Ravana, the evil ten-headed emperor of Lanka, the sister seeks revenge by telling Ravana about the beautiful woman Sita who is living in the woods. Ravana desires this beautiful woman and decides to capture her. One day, Rama and Lakshman go hunting after first putting Sita in a magic protective circle for her safety. Ravana appears to her as a beggar. When she steps out of the circle to help him, he abducts her. She leaves a trail of jewelry to help Rama find her and rebukes all Ravana’s attempts to seduce her.

When a heartsick Rama discovers that his wife is missing, some monkeys offer to help him find her. The head of the monkeys, Hanuman, is a son of the wind and can fly. He flies to Lanka and finds Sita. After escaping from Ravana and his men, Hanuman returns to Rama and tells him where to find Sita. Together, the monkeys, Rama, and Laksman build a raised roadway between India and Lanka and travel on it to rescue Sita. After an epic ten-day battle, Rama uses a bow borrowed from the gods to slay Ravana, and he is reunited with Sita. As they return home, the people use lamps (diyas) to light their way. This practice is remembered in the ritual associated with Diwali.

Then Rama declares that he came after Sita only to protect his family’s honor—such a statement casts doubt on whether Sita has been loyal to him while she was with Ravana. Sita is so upset by what Rama has said that she asks the fire god Agni to burn her in a funeral pyre. But Agni cannot do this because Sita is too pure, so he returns her to Rama. Rama is pleased to discover his wife is pure, but quickly comes to doubt her again when the townspeople begin gossiping. He banishes Sita even though she is pregnant with his child. While she is alone in the woods, she gives birth to twin sons, Lava and Kusha.

After several years, Rama decides to bring Sita back and puts her through a public trial to prove her innocence. Sita is so distressed by his lack of faith that she asks the earth to swallow her, which it does, leaving Rama alone for the rest of his life. Because of her actions, Sita is an example of purity and faithfulness and a role model for all.

Origins & Cults

Sita’s origin differs in some version of the story. In the Ramopkhyana version, she is Janaka’s real daughter. In the Ramayana Manjari version, Janaka expresses a wish for a child and is the presented with Sita as his own. Other stories portray Sita as the reincarnation of either Vedavati or Manivati, two females who died because they upset Ravana. Manivati was a child of Ravana whom he ordered killed and buried in a coffin because of a prophecy that she would destroy him. In these stories, Sita is found in the coffin by farmers and adopted by their king, Janaka.

Generations of Hindis have learned the story as an example of faithfulness, chastity, sacrifice, and devotion to virtue and family. In addition to being celebrated in the festival of Diwali, Sita is especially revered at the temples of Seetha Amman Kovil in Sri Lanka, Janaki Mandir in Nepal, as well as the Indian temples of Sita Mai, Sita Kund, and Seetha Devi.

Bibliography

Bhargava, Anju. "Sitayanam: A Woman’s Journey of Strength." Berkeley Center Georgetown University, Nov. 2014. Web. 20 July 2016.

"Diwali." BBC Schools, n.d. Web. 20 July 2016.

Kinsley, David. Hindu Goddesses: Visions of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Tradition. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1988, 65-78.

Johnson, Jean. "Rama and the Ramayana: Lessons in Dharma." New York University, n.d. Web. 20 July 2016.

"The Story of Rama: A Brief Synopsis." Syracuse University Maxwell Center, n.d. Web. 20 July 2016.