Characterizing Sita in Ramayana

The Hindu epic Ramayana describes the character of Ram as selfless, well mannered, devoted and disciplined character. He knows his responsibilities and put them ahead of his own life and personal duties. Being a King, he is owned by the Kingdom and his people first and his preference for his own life and family falls behind. Everyone familiar with the story knows how respected and holy he was who set an example of true Leader. However, it’s not him and his qualities this article discusses about but the prejudice his better half Sita had to suffer.

Born to a Royal family, she never knew what need or problem was. Being married to a Crown Prince, her life was blessed by the God himself. However, future had different things in store for her. When her husband was ordered exile from the Kingdom for fourteen years, she volunteered to join him as a devoted wife would do. Maybe that was a wrong decision she made that completely changed her life for worst. Had she stayed at the palace, she wouldn’t have ended up throwing herself alive into the lap of mother Earth.
While on exile, she was kidnapped by the Ravan, a powerful and villainous King of Demons. Her only mistake was crossing the Laxman Rekha that her brother-in-law had drawn around the house to keep her safe. Disobeying her brother-in-law Laxman’s request became the biggest mistake of her life. Everyone seem to see that mistake of hers and blame her for committing it without thinking about the reason for her doing so. She loved and worshipped her husband and the fear of losing him was so great that she did not give thought to how brave and unbeatable her husband was. No challenger could stand in front of him which is one reason why Ravan had to kidnap her by misleading and cheating them. She accused Laxman of loving her and trying to get his brother killed when he didn’t go for rescue of his brother in the forest (which wasn’t required after all). He drew the circle around the house and asked her never, under any circumstances, cross the line as he had cast spell in it for her safety. She, however, could not comply with his request as the Ravan in disguise of a Sage threatened to curse her husband if she didn’t bring the alms to where he was seated (away from the Laxman Rekha). It was because of the fear of her husband’s safety she crossed the line which is also interpreted as the Line of Honor for women in present day. When in the hour of fear, one happens to lose their sanity and could not think straight. It is perfectly understandable why she send Laxman after her husband when she heard a cry for help and also her crossing the line to give alms to the Sage. Her only mistake was to love her husband too much that the fear of him getting hurt took over her senses.

Despite of being held captive in a strange land surrounded and tortured by the Demons who threatened to kill her if she did not accept the offer made by Ravan, she fearlessly managed to keep her dignity and honor. Even the God of Fire (Agni Dev) could not burn her and she remained unhurt amidst the fire during her Agni Parikshya (Fire Test). However, all her love and devotion were forgotten at once when a fisherman questioned her honor.

She was left out alone in the middle of the forest with nothing to go on except her love and devotion towards her husband. Raising two sons on her own was difficult for the princess who never had to face any troubles before she accompanied her husband in his exile. She ended her life requesting the mother Earth to take her into her shelter, she went back to where she had come from.

We call Sita’s name before Ram for her devotion and pure love towards her husband. Except that she only faces prejudice for making one mistake in her life. And even today, the example of Sita is given to stop the females who want to cross their bounds of tradition, in search of their own identity. In the countries like Nepal which is rather based on traditional values, the belief still lies afresh that if a woman crosses the boundary of her house, she is certain to fail and cease to self-destruction. This is one of the major reasons why women are not allowed the freedom and equality that a man enjoys.