Sage Valmiki’s ‘Ramayana’ portrays Sita as a woman of personal choice. She has been considered the incarnation of Goddess Laxmi, the divine consort of Lord Vishnu, the Preserver of the cosmos! Hindu mythology states that it was the curse of Devarishi Narad which enforced the Lord to incarnate himself as Lord Rama and endure the pangs of separation from his spouse Sita. Sita has always been a figure of controversy in the epic. The reason is as clear as crystal. Like Draupadi, Sita was not born off any mother’s womb. She was discovered by the King Janak of Mithila from the golden corn field during the process of ploughing the field! On the other hand, some mythologists claim that she was born to the King Ravana and his spouse Mandodori. But right after her birth, the much famed astrologers of that time predicted that their newly born daughter would bring about the ruin of Lanka. She would be responsible for the death of Lankesh. Listening to all such forecasts, Ravan’s wrath mounted. He didn’t pay any heed to Mandodori’s appeal. Her prayers to her Lord went in vain and Sita was thrown away to a far off sea by Lankesh. However, she was divinely rescued by the mother earth who hid her inside her and awaited the right time for the right action. And it is a well known stuff how Sita was discovered by King Janaka in an open corn field. Sita was also known as Janaki after his ‘so called’ father’s name Janak.
During the fourteen years of incognito, Sita came across Surpankha, the sister of Lankesh! Being insulted, she went back to Lanka and vividly described the unearthly beauty of Sita. Sita was slim, the eyes spoke of the radiance of the globe. Her eyes could be easily compared with that of the deer’s elegant eyes. Her slim and curved waist pronounced her pristine purity. Her tender hands spoke of an extraordinary elegance. The fingers were soft, supple and had the flawless grace of divinity. She was a heavenly maiden and her gait fascinated each and every mortal being. Ravana became curious and decided to steal Sita. He disguised himself as a Brahman and executed his plan perfectly. But according to a few famed personalities, Sita had a physical intimacy with Ravana before she cried out for help! And this really manages to spark off a debate on her character! Moreover, it has been stated that listening to the plight of her daughter Sita, he decided to bring her to Lanka, imprison her at Ashok Vatika and provide her with the best material comforts! The first incident reminds us of ‘Electra Complex’ in Greek tragedy, while the second one dictates the purity of a father- daughter relationship, though the latter was not acquainted with the bond she once shared with the former one!
Controversy surrounds Sita, especially about her birth and relation with Ravana. Yet she is the divine mother to us. She showers her blessings time and again on us. She is still the embodiment of purity whom the first ray of the Sun God or the first breeze of the Pawan Dev didn’t touch her even skin tone and uniform elegance! But the bitterest irony is she was not spared by her destiny. She was forced to give the proof of her chastity more than once, as the people of Ayodhya had no more faith on her honour and chastity! Tranquility was a far fetched story for her. She was no more a Goddess on the earth. She was a beautiful maiden endowed with divine powers, who was bound by the rules of the mother earth. And she mingled with the dust of the mother earth at the end of the tale!
Sita may not be an inspiration to the modern age. But her name is always uttered with reverence. She is the mother of the universe. Yet she had to pay for her deeds. This is the norm of the earth, where your deeds will measure your cost! After all, all that glitters is not gold- an axiom not only for the poor mortals but also for the Gods and Goddesses! Any explanation?