Sita, the princess of Mithila, daughter of King Janaka, daughter-in-law of Raghu Vansha, wife of Rama, queen of Ayodhya, and mother of Luv-Kush, is much more than a goddess worshipped in Hindu families. In my view, Sita is the pride of many women and the ideal of true womanhood. It’s not an exaggeration to call her the epitome of chastity and purity. It’s no more than a wonder that there lived a queen once who wore purity, devotion, strength, knowledge, courage and dharma (roughly translates to duties and responsibilities) as her ornament.
Raised in a traditional family, one thing that I am grateful for is the dharmic knowledge that my family imparted in me since my very childhood. The ideals and principles of the great characters of The Ramayana and The Mahabharata are still alive in the hearts of people. The best thing we can do for the next generation is to pass those ideals to them.
Of all the scriptures and religious texts, The Ramayana, or the Mahakavya, is the classiest literature work. It is the Kohinoor of Indian Literature. The events and lessons in this legendary epic are enough to show the path to an ideal, peaceful life for mankind. It is more than just about the life of Lord Rama and his battle against the demons. It is the story of the gem among human beings. Is there even a word in the dictionary that can praise ‘Maryada Purshottama Shree Rama’ and ‘Stree Shiromani Mahapativrata Shakti Swaroopini Devi Sita’? Peerless among the men and women are Rama and Sita.
But, is it enough to sing in the praise of these two, without looking deeply into their characters? Well, no. After reading The Ramayana more than once and analysing the characters of Shree Rama and Devi Sita, one can easily understand why they are considered as the ideal man and woman.
I am recalling the context where Shurpanakha says to Rama:
तुम्ह सम पुरुष न मो सम नारी। यह सँजोग बिधि रचा बिचारी।।
Although Shurpanakha is trying to propose Rama for marriage, she is saying the undeniable truth “There is no man like you”. The Supreme among the men is Rama, and so in women is Sita. The life of the divine and righteous king and queen shows not only the path of dharma, but the way we all should live.
Many people consider Sita a victim and Rama as not-an-ideal-husband. However, when you dig deeper into the life of two, the only thing that you find is immense love, huge sacrifice, unshakable devotion and firmness on the principles.
Why Is Sita The Ideal Woman?
- She Never Plays The Victim Card
अब कहु कुसल जाउँ बलिहारी। अनुज सहित सुख भवन खरारी॥
कोमलचित कृपाल रघुराई। कपि केहि हेतु धरी निठुराई॥ (conversation between Hanuman and Devi Sita)
When Hanuman tells the entire story and wins the trust of Sita about being the devotee of Shree Rama, she didn’t start narrating her struggles and problems in the kingdom of a demon. She asks about the well-being of Lakshman and Shree Rama, and expresses her pain of being away from her beloved, rather than telling about the devil acts and torture that she has been facing for so long.
- Sacrifice And Sita
When Sita heard about Rama’s exile, she decided not to stay back in the palace and enjoy the luxuries of her royal life. The woman, who had been raised with so much love and care and is the royal daughter-in-law of great Raghuvansha, without any delay, decides to face the hardships of a forest life with her husband.
- Chastity And Sita
The life of Sita is so pure and pious that even if you forget about her, you can’t forget about her chastity. There is only one man that resides in the heart of Sita. Even when Ravana lured her with all pleasures of life in his palace in Lanka, she is unmoved. You can move a mountain with strength, but not a woman of great character.
- The Epitome Of Love And Devotion
The love of Rama and Sita is so deep that you can’t decide who loves whom more. The truest form of love is devotion for your beloved, and that’s what Sita has for Rama. Great is the love of Sita, greatest is the love of Rama. The life of Rama and Sita isn’t a fairy tale. It’s about dharma. They don’t seek pleasures of life, they follow the path of righteousness and responsibilities.
- Motherhood And Sita
Sita treats all of Rama’s brothers, as well as Hanuman and his devotees as her own child. She is motherhood personified.
- Pativrata (devotion to husband)
सुनु सीता तव नाम सुमिरि नारि पतिब्रत करहिं।
तोहि प्रानप्रिय राम कहिउँ कथा संसार हित॥
This was said by Devi Anusuya, the wife of Sage Atri. Devi Anusuya is herself the greatest pativrata, and when Sita meets her, she gives her a lesson on pativrata dharma. However, she later says, “O Sita! Listen, women will follow Pativrata Dharma just by taking your name. You love Lord Rama like your life, I have told this story (of Pativrata Dharma) for the benefit of the world”.
Sita is a chaste woman, strong and courageous. An obedient and dutiful wife of a courageous warrior, righteous man, and a dutiful, loving and caring husband. Her obedience, loyalty, chastity, love and care towards the man who is Supreme among the men is not a sign of patriarchy, it’s the sign of a right woman for the right man.
My love for Sita and Rama is not because they are an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. It’s because they followed their dharma even in the toughest of times. It’s like a warrior on the battlefield who fights for their motherland without fearing enemies and death, and never runs away from his duties. Even if you consider Sita and Rama as ordinary human beings, you’ll never find them deviate from their duties and responsibilities, and that’s why they are our ideal.