The Agni Pariksha of Sita: Why Women Are Still Being Burned by Society

Nidhi | Jan 30, 2025, 14:54 IST

This article delves into the Agni Pariksha of Sita, a pivotal episode in the Ramayana, examining its significance in shaping societal views on women's purity and honor. It draws parallels between this ancient trial and contemporary challenges faced by women, highlighting the enduring nature of societal judgment and the ongoing struggle for gender equality.

The Fire That Burned Sita’s Soul, Not Her Body

The battle was won. Ravana was slain. Dharma was restored.

But for Mata Sita, the real battle had just begun.

Sita: Agni Pariksha

After enduring months of captivity in Lanka, after waiting with unwavering faith for Lord Rama to rescue her, after holding on to the hope that her love and loyalty would be enough—she was met with doubt. The whispers in Ayodhya were louder than her pain. “Had she remained pure?” “Did she still deserve to be Queen?”

To silence the gossip, Rama—her own husband, the very man she had longed for—asked her to walk through fire. The flames danced around her, but they did not burn her skin. The gods themselves bore witness to her purity.

But even gods cannot silence society’s judgment.

Years later, the same doubt resurfaced. This time, there was no trial by fire, only exile. Pregnant and abandoned, Sita was left to fend for herself in the wilderness.

If even a goddess had to prove her worth, suffer humiliation, and be discarded, what hope do ordinary women have in a world that still questions them at every step?

A Woman’s Worth: Defined by Others, Not Herself

Mata Sita

Centuries have passed, yet society’s judgment of women remains unchanged. A woman’s worth is still measured by the narrow lens of purity, honor, and societal expectations.

1. Women Are Always on Trial

Mata Sita’s agni pariksha may have been a test of fire, but modern women face their own trials every day:

A girl wearing a short dress is ‘asking for trouble.’
A woman laughing too loudly is ‘attention-seeking.’
A female leader is ‘too aggressive,’ but a male leader is ‘assertive.’
A divorced woman is ‘damaged goods,’ while a divorced man gets a fresh start.

Sita was expected to be beyond reproach. So are today’s women. And yet, they are still accused, still doubted, still forced to explain themselves.

2. Blaming Women for Their Own Suffering

When Sita was taken to Lanka, it wasn’t by choice. Yet, it was she who had to prove her innocence. Isn’t this the same question we ask women who survive assault today?

“Why was she out late?”
“What was she wearing?”
“Did she drink too much?”
“Was she leading him on?”

Instead of questioning the man who raped her, society interrogates the woman who was violated. Just as Sita had to prove she was untouched by Ravana, victims of sexual violence today are forced to prove they didn’t ‘ask for it.’

3. A Woman’s Pain Is Never Enough

After enduring exile, Sita raised her sons alone. She didn’t ask for sympathy. She didn’t demand justice. She simply lived. And yet, when she finally reunited with Rama, she was asked once again to prove herself.

Tired. Exhausted. Broken.

She refused.

Instead of proving herself again, she called upon Mother Earth to swallow her whole. And just like that, she was gone.

How many women today feel the same suffocation?

The mother who is criticized for working too much but also for staying home.
The daughter who is shamed for not marrying but also for marrying ‘the wrong man.’
The wife who stays in an abusive relationship because she is told ‘adjusting’ is part of marriage.
The rape survivor who ends her life because justice is too far away.

No matter what a woman does, it is never enough. Society always finds a reason to question, to shame, to demand more from her.

If Sita’s Story Happened Today, Would Anything Change?

Imagine if Mata Sita’s ordeal played out in today’s world:

Would she be trending on social media, with people debating whether she ‘deserved’ to be abandoned?
Would news anchors call her ‘controversial’ and speculate about her time in Lanka?
Would she be asked why she didn’t fight Ravana harder?
Would she be accused of ‘playing the victim’?

If the answer is yes, then what has changed?

The Cost of Patriarchy: A Never-Ending Cycle of Judgment

Ramayana

Misogyny isn’t just a mindset—it’s a system designed to control women.

1. Girls Are Taught to Shrink

“Don’t laugh too loudly.”
“Don’t wear that dress.”
“Don’t be too ambitious.”

From childhood, girls are conditioned to make themselves smaller, to avoid drawing attention, to carry the weight of ‘honor’ on their shoulders.

2. Survivors Are Silenced

Women are told to ‘move on’ instead of demanding justice.
They are pressured to forgive their abusers for the sake of ‘family reputation.’
They are warned that speaking up will make them ‘unmarriageable.’

3. Men Walk Free While Women Suffer

A man who cheats is ‘just being a man.’
A man who assaults a woman is given excuses—‘boys will be boys.’
A man who leaves his wife is ‘seeking happiness,’ while a woman who leaves her husband is ‘destroying her home.’

If even Sita, a goddess, could not escape these shackles, how can an ordinary woman?

Breaking the Cycle: The Change We Need

Enough. Women should not have to prove themselves. Not to their families. Not to society. Not to men who believe they have a right to control them.

A Woman’s Worth Is Not Defined by Her ‘Purity’
No woman should be judged by her past, her relationships, or her choices.
Survivors Deserve Justice, Not Shame
Instead of asking what a victim did wrong, ask why a perpetrator thought he had the right to violate her.
Honor and Respect Should Not Be Conditional
Women should be respected for their humanity, not based on whether they meet outdated patriarchal standards.

The Final Question: What Hope Do We Have?

Draupadi

When Mata Sita, a goddess, could not escape judgment, how can an ordinary woman hope to be free?

She can’t—not unless we change the world for her.

Not unless we rewrite the script.

Not unless we break the cycle.

Not unless we finally learn that a woman’s worth is not measured by the fire she is forced to walk through—but by the light she carries within her.

Society asked Sita to prove her purity. She chose instead to walk away forever.

How many more women must disappear before we learn the lesson?