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Authors Note: I felt a lot of feelings for the way Sita was treated after all the hard work Rama did to get her back. He fought so hard with Ravana to get SIta, and he worried so much for her safety. Rama was seen as uneasy, sad, angry, and helpless in the search of SIta. It seemed as if he would take her in his arms and never let her go the moment he would see her. As if the heavens and Earth would celebrate the reunion of Rama and Sita. I thought they would go back to the palace, grow old, have kids and continue to have adventures together in their kingdom. That there exile would end and everything would go back as it should have been. I wanted a fairytale ending. I had invested so much time and energy into their story. However, things do not go the way we plan and I was just as shocked as she was. I want to give justice to her character in my own words and finally show her powerful side. Sita was more than a woman who let the world happen to her like a damsel in distress. I tried to bring out another side of her in my own words, and to rewrite her story in my own words. I hope you guys enjoy it :)
Sita is called upon by Rama and is asked to bathe before coming to him. She is full of joy for the first time in months. She is finally free! Sita looks cheerfully at Rama but his feelings have changed for her. Rama tells her he killed off the man who stained his honor but she was stained as she lived with another man and he has to renounce her. Rama offered Sita to live with Lakshman, Sugriva, Bharata, or Vibishna. Sita is enraged and hurt.
Sita speaks:
"I am surprised at your tone and choice of words for me Rama. How could you be so unkind and bitter? Do you think I am like other women? You may be Rama but I am Sita as well, and I am enough witness for my purity. Where I lived was not in my power but my heart and actions were, and they have always been nothing but loyal to you. You act as if you still don't know the kind of women I am. Why didn't you ask Hanuman to tell me this when he came to get me? Why even send him at all? Were you worried about me or your honor dear Rama? Ravana offered to kill me and I would have happily taken the choice to die. I am the daughter of King Janaka, and I am the Goddess of the Earth! Dear Lakshmana, build me a fire. Rama needs proof of me being pure, so be it!"
The Gods came from the heavens seeing the view to defend SIta. They could not bear to hear the words of SIta. Rama was defiant and hurt. He wanted proof for him and for the people who would gossip. The fire rose up Sita into the sky shining her brightly in its lap and said
"I, the fire attest that this Sita whom a man has never touched besides Rama. Sita has spoken the truth and pure of all evil. Not for a moment did she love Ravana or get lured by him. Do you take her back O Rama?"
After hearing the speech of the fire (Agni) Rama stayed quiet for some time and finally spoke.
"My wife Sita is a fair and young woman. She was forcefully taken and lived with another man for a long time. She needed proof of purity infront of the people so they do not scorn or gossip about her. I know that she loves me alone, and I know that she is mine. Of-course, I take her back."
On the way back from Puskpaka Rama is speaking lovingly to Sita and talking about all the adventures and places they visited in the past fourteen years of exile. They are happily back together. Rama's exile term had ended and he returned to Ayodha with Laskhman, Sita, and Hanuman. Bharata welcomed his brother and gave him his sandal's that he used as a blessing before making decisions about the kingdom. Rama was finally pronounced king by Bharata. The city is full of joy and filled with celebrations and the wrong that had been done years ago was finally corrected.
People in the city gossiped about Sita and how she lived with a man. Hearing all of this Rama banished her from the kingdom. Laskhmana took her to Valmiki and counseled her with tears to stay there with her for protection and care. There she gave birth to two sons Lava and Kusha. After 16 years , and Rama's mind was still troubled because he had slain Ravana, the son of Pulastya, the rishi. So he performed the Ashwamedha , the horse sacrifice, to cleanse his soul of sin. The horse wandered in the forest and Lava and Kusha took off the horse. They defeated Shatrughna and even wounded Lakshmana for the horse.
Rama heard of the young boys and came to wage war to get back his horse. He was surprised how such young men could hurt Lakshmana. He saw the two boys and stood in awe. They looked just like himself, and he asked them whose children they were to which they responded:
"Our mothers name is Sita, and our father is a man who we never met!"
Bibliography
Laura, Gibbs. Reading Part A: King Dasharatha. Ramayana Online: Public Domain Edition
http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/search/label/PDE%20Ramayana
Laura, Gibbs. Reading Part A: King Dasharatha. Ramayana Online: Public Domain Edition
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