Week 7 Story: Rama Rejects Sita

Sita and Rama Reunite To Separate

Sita is called by Rama who asked her to bathe and come to him after having been rescued by Ravana who had kidnapped her for several months. Sita is full of joy upon looking at Rama but his feelings had changed for her. He tells her he killed off the man who stained his honor but Sita was stained as she lived with another man and he has to renounce her. He offered her to marry his brother or one of his friends

Sita, while angry and tearful asked Laskhshmana to build her a fire and she went through it to prove her purity. The Gods came from the heavens seeing the view and even they intervened at the sad scene.

"Thou that dost protect the worlds; why dost thou renounce the daughter of Janaka, leaving her to choose the death by fire? How can it be thou knowest not what thyself art? Thou wast in the beginning, and shalt be at the end: thou art first of all the gods, thyself the grandsire and creator. Why dost thou treat Sita after the fashion of a mere man?" said they.

The fire rose up Sita shining brightly in its lap and said

"O Rama, here is thy Sita, whom no stain has touched. Not in word or thought or look has Sita turned aside from thee. Albeit tempted every way, she did not think of Ravana even in her inmost heart. As she is spotless, do thou take her back."

After hearing the speech of the fire (Agni) Rama stayed quiet for some time and finally spoke:

"Because this fair one dwelt long time in Ravana's house, she needed vindication before the assembled folk. Had I taken her unproved, the people would complain that Rama, son of King Dasharatha, was moved by desire, and set at naught social law. I know well that Sita's heart is set on me alone, and that her own virtue was her sufficient refuge from the assaults of Ravana; she is mine as the sun's rays are the sun's. I can no more renounce her, but rather it behoves me to obey your happy words."

People still gossiped about Sita at the Kingdom and this affected Rama very much as he was “a man of honor.” Therefore, Rama banished her from the kingdom. Laskhmana took Sita to Valmiki and counseled her with tears to stay there with her. She gave birth to two sons Lava and Kusha. Lava and Kusha took a horse one day that Rama had set to wander. They defeated Shatrughna and even wounded Lakhshmana. Rama came to wage war and get back his horseHe saw the two boys looked just like himself, he asked them whose children they were to which they responded.

“Sita is our mother, but we know not the name of our sire.”

Rama sent hermits and asked Sita to give an oath for her faithfulness again to which he said she would come.

"Valmiki came forward, and Sita followed him with downcast glance and folded hands and falling tears, and there rose a cry of welcome and a murmuring in the assembly when they saw Sita following Valmiki thus, like the Vedas following Brahma." 

Valmiki spoke for her and asked Rama how he accepted her and let her go for what people thought. So, why should Sita give oath of purity now? And if she wasn't pure, Valmiki the sage himself would leave his hermitage and status of years.

Rama replies:

"O great one, thou art ever virtuous, and thy words convince me of the purity of Sita. I recognize these brothers Kusha and Lava as my sons. Yet Sita shall give testimony herself, for the sake of those that have come here to witness her avowal."

Sita says:

"I have never thought of anyone but Rama even in my heart: as this is true, may the goddess of the earth be my protection. I have always with mind and body and words prayed for Rama's welfare, and by this I pray Vasudharato receive me."

Just then a heavenly throne rose up from within the earth, borne on the heads of mighty nagas, decked in shining jewels, and the Earth stretched out her arms and welcomed Sita and placed her on the throne, and the throne sank down again.

Everyone cheered for Sita including the Earth, but unfortunately it was too late for that. Rama sat stricken with sorrow and with hanging head, and he was torn by grief and anger that Sita had disappeared before his very eyes. 

Brahma said, 

"O Rama of firm vows, thou shouldst not grieve; rather remember thy essential Godhead, and bethink thee thou art Vishnu. Sita is blameless and pure, and for her virtue she has gone to the abode of nagas, but thou shalt be with her in Heaven."

Now Rama was heavy-hearted- finally. The whole world seemed empty without Sita, and he knew no peace- thank God he should feel that way. He gave the monkeys and the kings and hermits gifts, and sent them back to their own homes, and he made a golden image of Sita to share with him in the performance of sacred rites, and a thousand years passed, while all things prospered in the kingdom of Ayodhya.

Authors Note: The above story if of how Rama finds Sita after a long period of waiting, angst, and fighting for her. It shows how Rama's morals overcame his love for Sita and maybe his anger and separation from her was due to his strategy of trying to prove she was innocent. However, later events failed to prove this to me and this is not my story. I am simply rewriting it in my own words.

Image Source:

https://www.quora.com/Why-did-Rama-exile-Sita-even-though-he-conducted-agnipariksha

Bibliography:

Laura, Gibbs. Reading Part A: King Dasharatha. Ramayana Online: Public Domain Edition

http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/search/label/PDE%20Ramayana