Sita Devi was a pioneer in gender norms, and had a profound impact on feminists and Hindu women. Rama, her husband, was the focus of her epic, The Ramayana. She was a loving, loyal wife. Her role as a Hindu woman was significant. The modern Hinduism does not like the Sita image. This depiction is more modern and represents contemporary values.
Sita’s story is heavily influenced by her appearance and her origin. “Sita was created from the earth as it was ploughed.” Bhu Devi was her mother. She was also the earth. But Janaka of Mithila, his childless son, adopted her. Janaka makes her come into being when she rises from the ground he is digging as part a spring fertility ceremony …”.. Sita is Lakshmi’s manifestation. Indian art depicts Sita as a conventionally beautiful, attractive figure with beautiful facial features. “She has fair skin with long, dark hair. Her head is often covered in elaborate headdresses to show her queenly status. She often wears a Sari to show her purity and virtuousness. She is “anthropomorphic” in that she has only human characteristics. She may occasionally be depicted in images with extra arms to represent her as Lakshmi reincarnation. Sita, Rama’s devoted wife, was married to her after she won a contest where Siva shot an arrow out of his celestial bow and lifted it. Primarily Sita can be described as a character in the Ramayana. This epic is about Rama, seventh avatar of Vishnu and Sita. Rama and the three other brothers grew in the courtroom of King Dasharatha. After several successful missions and a succession of victories, King Dasharatha elected to make Rama the heir. Rama’s stepmother wanted her son to inherit the throne. So she convinced her husband that Rama should be exiled to the forest to live with Lakshman. Sita, a loyal spouse insists that Rama is taken to the forest by Sita. Surpanakha, a princess from the forest, attempts to seduce Rama. Surpanakha tried killing Sita after Rama rejected her. Rama’s brother Lakshman stood by Sita. He cut Surpanakha’s nose & ears. “She [Surpanakha] resolved to exact revenge and returned to King Ravana of Lanka. He then promised to abduct Sita as a punishment for Rama. Ravana was a greater demon and used his uncle Marici in order to distract Sita. By changing his appearance into a gold deer, he led her away form Rama. Rama finds her and is assisted by Hanuman, a monkey god, and his army of monkeys. Rama defeats Ravana and his monkey army in a horrible battle to save Sita. Rama is crowned as ruler by Sita after the battle. Some versions of this epic show Sita returning as a queen and leading a luxurious life. Others describe Rama’s exile. Her chastity was distrusted by the kingdom. They believed that she had an affair in his company while she was under his supervision. Sita had two children and Rama granted his wife and her children permission to return to their palace once they met. He continued to challenge Sita’s chastity. Sita ended up taking her own life, asking her mother for help. Rama followed Sita’s lead and also committed suicide. Rama (Rama) drowned in Sarayu. (It is possible to say that he was purified by water and went to heaven).
Sita is Vishnu’s wife. She is also the incarnation. Ramayana recounts the heroic acts of Rama, his friends and their efforts to save Sita. Sita endured many hardships during the rescue, which took a while. She was then made to be the perfect husband. Sita is a pancakanaya (ideal woman) in Hindu mythology. Her story is one of suffering and sacrifice in order to keep her husband’s ordained duty (dharma) and hers. Sita is the “…ideal High Caste Hindu Wife — one who is humble and modest, faithful, devoted, and diligent in protecting her virtues as defined by stridharmic rules.
Sita und Rama are Hinduism’s perfect couple. They are the divine supreme and divine representatives of the male/female aspects of God. Tulsidas composed Hindu devotionals such as Ramcarit-manas, which made Rama a more revered figure until recently. Modern Hinduism places Sita as a central focus of worship at festivals such as Rama Navami (the ‘Festival of Spring”), Vijayadashami (the ten-day festival) and Diwali (“the Festival of Lights”). This recognition wasn’t always easy for Sita. Accordingly, Sita is rarely found in a temple that is dedicated to her alone. Her idol is more often found in temples to Rama and Hanuman. She is also accompanied by other important Ramayana characters. Her approach was that of a deity who couldn’t give blessings by herself, but could ask her husband for them to bless another person. Indian feminists criticised Sita as “…a submissive wife who killed herself for trusting her husband. The Ramayana and Sita are both historically important for establishing gender roles in Hindu society, and for inspiring modern Hindu beliefs.
