Sita

Rama Tests Sita by Fire

Over all the bodies and carnage of war, Rama stood victorious over the little fragments of Ravana's army. After over a year of preparation, gathering powerful weapons and allies all in pursuit of the love of his life Sita, now was the time for their beautiful reunion.

Sita, over the past year, had gone through all the hells of captivity. She had feared abandonment and almost lost hope on more than one occasion, yet through all those trials she never yielded to that demon king Ravana. She remained devout in her commitment to Rama, and remained pure in heart.

When she heard the roars and rumbles of war come to a quiet stop, she had awaited with fearful anticipation on who the victor would be. Then, suddenly Hanuman, Rama's right-hand general, had appeared to Sita and bid her to come home to her husband. She had leapt into the monkey's arms, collapsing with relief that her days of torment was over. But instead of taking her directly to Rama, Hanuman told Sita to clean herself and dress in rich clothes to meet Rama.

Although she hated delaying their reunion any longer, Sita complied and dressed in her best clothes. When she was brought before Rama, a large crowd had gathered to watch the heavenly couple reunite. However, despite the festive occasion, Sita could not help but notice Rama's coldness and indifference towards her. She rushed forward, expecting an embrace, but received none. She collapsed at his feet, and then, after no reaction, she slowly picked herself up and took a step back.

Rama waited for a moment, and then declared, "My task is done. I have freed you. My mission, far from achieving any personal glory, was to honor our ancestors' values and restore peace to this world. After all this, I must tell you in front of all present that I cannot accept a woman back into my house who has spent a great deal of time in a stranger's house. There can be no hope of a future relationship between us. Now that I have freed you, know that I expect nothing more of you. You may go and do what you wish."

Upon hearing these words, Sita collapsed to the ground in a crying heap, wailing, "Oh, have my trials not yet ended? I thought that your victory would bring with it our miraculous reunion, yet I am tossed to the side!" And to Lakshmana, Rama's brother and trusted friend, she commanded, "Start a fire immediately, for a life without my love is not one I am able to bear!"

Lakshmana glanced desperately at Rama, but the king betrayed no emotion. Ever the loyal servant, Lakshmana prepared the fire just as Sita asked. As the flames crept higher and higher into the sky, Sita approached the fire, arms held wide, praying, "O Agni, god of fire, be my witness to my purity." And with these final words, she threw herself into the flames.

The crowd held a collective breath, and then watched with amazement as from the heart of the fire rose the god Agni bearing Sita in his arms. Agni presented Sita to Rama with words of blessing. Rama, now satisfied that his wife's purity had been reaffirmed in front of a large crowd, welcomed Sita back into his arms.

Author's Notes: In this story, Sita goes through a variety of trials and tribulations starting with her abduction, yet the story makes it clear that despite her purity, it is Rama's perception that ultimately matters. In a similar way, translators must bear the brunt of the work I have mentioned in previous entries, yet what matters most is how the reader perceives the translated work. How well does one's translation convey the original meaning or was something lost in all the translation? I was originally drawn to this story by how unfair Rama's treatment of Sita is. Reading R. K. Narayan's version of the Ramayana, the author himself casts doubt on Rama, who advised a man to welcome back a wife who had slept with another on two separate occasions, yet Sita, who had not even been touched by Ravana, was too impure to accept! Sita on her own right is the incarnation of a goddess, and an important religious figure for marital life, which is the background for the mantra featured in this entry. This mantra is meant for those who are seeking a good spouse and fulfilling marital life, but it is based off the widely influential Gayatri Mantra from the Hindu sacred scripture, Rig Veda. While the original is dedicated to Savitri, the goddess of knowledge, music, art, wisdom, and learning, the Gayatri Mantra has been adapted for many gods and goddesses throughout all of Hinduism.