Sita walked further into the flames until she was entirely consumed. The heat began to feel more of a familiar warmth than a scorching blaze. As she moved towards the heart of the fire, she saw a luminescent figure making its way towards her. The image was blurred so that she couldn’t make out who it was, but she could feel it. Her heart starting racing before she found the courage to whisper “Lakshmi.”
When she could see her clearly, Sita began to speak with concern in her voice. “Lakshmi, why have you come? Where is Agni?”
“Sita, it has been both a privilege and heartbreak watching you all these years. You knew who I was before even getting a good look at me. I think you know why I’ve come in Agni’s place.” There was a certain eloquence to her tone.
Sita looked down at Lakshmi’s necklace, a beautiful golden lotus, and then back up at her. “I don’t understand,” said Sita. “Agni was supposed to attest to my purity. Will you be doing that in his place?”
Lakshmi chuckled. “No, Sita. Your purity isn’t what’s in question here. It is your relationship with Rama. I know that he loves you just as much as you love him, but you know as well as I that his love does not justify his actions.”
Lakshmi paused so that Sita could digest. “You and I are connected, Sita. I represent wealth and purity, as do you. You also represent feminine virtue. Where I have strength, so do you. Don’t you see? You are my incarnation.”
Sita’s eyes widened. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Why now?” she questioned. “Why have you come?”
“I wanted to help you find the strength you already have. You and Rama love each other. Remind him of that. Let him know how you felt as he publicly criticized you. Let him know it’s not right. He will understand because he loves you.”
Lakshmi tucked a falling strand of hair behind Sita’s ear and lifted her chin. Her touch was as tender and as soft as silk. “You are powerful Sita. Never forget that.
Before Sita could get another word out, Lakshmi vanished, and Sita was left to ponder in her thoughts.
On the other side of the blaze, Rama waited anxiously for Sita’s return. As time passed, the crowd began to disappear until he was left by himself. Moments later, he felt a chill down his neck. He turned quickly to see none other than Vishnu. Rama’s eyes widened. “Vishnu,” he spoke in a low tone. “What are you doing here.”
Vishnu inched closer to Rama before he spoke. “You know who I am, but we’ve never met. Why do you think that is?”
Rama shook his head in confusion, not knowing how to answer Vishnu’s question.
“What do I represent?” said Vishnu
“Absolute consciousness and protection”
“As do you, Rama.” Rama stepped back and looked at Vishnu with a confused gaze. Vishnu continued to speak. “What you did to Sita, calling her out in front of your subjects, it wasn’t right. I have been watching you for a very long time. You are my incarnation. I cannot let you be blinded by your pride. You have a kingdom to rule.”
“I didn’t want my subjects to think less of me, I couldn’t lose that power,” Rama objected.
“You are their king!” Said Vishnu hastily. “They answer to you, and not the other way around. Don’t let your pride get in the way of you and Sita.”
Before Rama could reply, Vishnu quickly vanished. Rama turned to see the flames diminishing as Sita emerged from the low flames. She stepped into Rama’s embrace. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered.
“I forgive you,” said Sita. “But Rama, never again, I am your wife, and you have to treat me as such. I don’t want the people of this kingdom to believe what you did is okay. Our kingdom is strong, and strengthening our relationship will only make it stronger.”
Rama nodded his head, agreeing with her.
From then on, Rama and Sita worked together with every battle they faced. More importantly, they trusted each other, and their bond was ultimately strengthened. When one was low, they had the other to help lift them up. The men and women of Kosola looked at them in awe, inspired by who they’ve become. The women of the kingdom found courage and strength in feminine virtue, and the men found the consciousness to respect them.
Find more about Lakshmi here.
Find more about Vishnu here
Author’s Note:
I knew that this third story had to be something different than the rest of them. Durga and Saraswati both empower Sita with the characteristics they had in themselves. Lakshmi had to be different because Sita is her incarnation. I wanted Lakshmi to show Sita the power she already had by helping her remember who she was and understand what that meant.
I went a step further and added Vishnu into the mix too (special shoutout to our professor, for the great idea), to show Rama who he was as well. In this chapter, their story won’t work unless they have each other for balance. I figured they could only have the potential to be their best and truest self if they realized who they were and what they represent. For their reign to be great, and impactful they both had to go through this moment of self-actualization.