“Ramayana Through Sita’s Eyes”
Tarun Badghaiya | Apr 17, 2025, 22:42 IST
"Ramayana Through Sita's Eyes" reimagines the epic by focussing on Sita's voice—her power, quiet, and struggle. From her birth on Earth to her final return, the article examines crucial occasions from Sita's point of view: her decision to go into exile, her tenacity in Lanka, the fire agony, and her self-liberation. Far from being a passive figure, Sita becomes a potent emblem of dignity, initiative, and subtle revolt. The work questions established narratives, pushing readers to view Sita as the Ramayana's emotional and moral axis rather than a supporting figure.
The Ramayana, written by the scholar Valmiki, is one of India's greatest epics—a story of dharma, dedication, and duty. However, as we flip the pages of this treasured classic through Sita's eyes, the story evolves. It is no longer merely Lord Rama's epic story; it has evolved into an intimate journey of resilience, silence, and strength for a woman caught between heavenly purpose and human judgements.
Sita, the daughter of King Janaka of Mithila, was not born from a womb but discovered in a furrow—Bhūmi-putri, the daughter of the Earth itself. Her very birth establishes the tone for her character: grounded, pure, and deeply connected to nature. In many retellings, she is known to have grown up with a sense of independence, wisdom, and quiet strength.
At her swayamvara, she saw princes attempt and fail to string Lord Shiva's great bow. When Rama broke it effortlessly, it was not just a physical feat—it was symbolic of an equal match. However, did Sita truly have a choice in this union? Her agreement is presumed in most traditional accounts, including Valmiki's Ramayana, but is not explicitly stated. A feminist lens can question whether this was the first time Sita's voice was overwhelmed by greater forces.
Sita chooses to accompany Rama on his 14-year exile to the jungle, despite the fact that Queen Kaikeyi's curse does not apply to her. This decision is frequently praised as the pinnacle of conjugal devotion, but in Sita's opinion, it may also be viewed as a reclamation of agency. She was not a passive consort; she insisted on sharing Rama's fate, choosing uncertainty above the comfort of the palace.
The years spent in the forest reveal a lot about her character. She lives among sages, appreciates natural rhythms, and tackles risks calmly. Her captivity by Ravana is a watershed moment—not because it makes her defenceless, but because it demonstrates her moral strength.
She rejects Ravana’s advances for months, staying under the Ashoka tree, praying and trusting Rama would come—not to rescue her, but to fulfil his dharma.
After Lanka is conquered and Ravana defeated, Sita’s story takes a darker turn. In Yuddha Kanda of Valmiki’s Ramayana, Rama demands that she prove her chastity before returning to Ayodhya. Sita agrees to an Agni Pariksha—a fire trial—not because she doubts herself but to demonstrate her purity in front of others.
How did she feel at that point? The text remains emotionally restrained, but her act was more than submission—it was resistance through fire. She reclaims her dignity not via arguing but by striding into flames with calm confidence. The fire god Agni himself returns her unscathed, a divine testament to her truth.
After returning to Ayodhya and giving birth to twins, Lava and Kusha, Sita’s life could have found peace. But society’s whispers—doubts about her purity—return. Rama rejects her because he prefers the kingship to companionship. Once again, Sita accepts exile, this time in sage Valmiki’s ashram.
As a mother, she instills ideals of fairness and truth in her sons. She teaches kids courage, not hatred. The Uttarakanda of Valmiki’s Ramayana shows her enduring pain not with bitterness but with resolve. When Rama finally reunites with her and asks her once more to prove her purity, she refuses.
Instead, Sita addresses her mother, the Earth. In an impressive effort of self-liberation, she says, "If I have remained pure in thought, word, and deed, O Mother Earth, receive me into your bosom!" And then the Earth opens. Sita vanishes into the dirt from which she originated.
To read the Ramayana through Sita's eyes is to comprehend sorrow endured with dignity, decisions made in silence, and power that surpasses spectacle. She was not merely a supporting role in Rama's divine mission; she was integral to it. Every pivotal event in the epic—exile, combat, and return—centres on her. In modern retellings, such as Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's The Forest of Enchantments and Amish Tripathi's Sita: Warrior of Mithila, Sita is recast as a symbol of inner strength rather than obedience. These perspectives are based on the same basic text, but they provide a reinterpretation that addresses contemporary issues of gender, identity, and voice.
Sita's journey is more than just a tale of difficulties; it is also a meditation on endurance. In a society when women's voices are frequently silenced, her existence encourages us to reconsider. Not to alter the Ramayana, but to read it differently. Sita is a subtle revolution in the centre of an epic, from her birth on earth to her homecoming.
Explore the latest trends and tips in Health and Fitness, , Travel, Life Hacks, Fashion & Beauty, and Relationships at Times Life
The Princess Who Chooses Her Path
At her swayamvara, she saw princes attempt and fail to string Lord Shiva's great bow. When Rama broke it effortlessly, it was not just a physical feat—it was symbolic of an equal match. However, did Sita truly have a choice in this union? Her agreement is presumed in most traditional accounts, including Valmiki's Ramayana, but is not explicitly stated. A feminist lens can question whether this was the first time Sita's voice was overwhelmed by greater forces.
RAM
The Forest: A Space of Freedom and Suffering.
The years spent in the forest reveal a lot about her character. She lives among sages, appreciates natural rhythms, and tackles risks calmly. Her captivity by Ravana is a watershed moment—not because it makes her defenceless, but because it demonstrates her moral strength.
She rejects Ravana’s advances for months, staying under the Ashoka tree, praying and trusting Rama would come—not to rescue her, but to fulfil his dharma.
The Fire Trial: A Silent Protest.
How did she feel at that point? The text remains emotionally restrained, but her act was more than submission—it was resistance through fire. She reclaims her dignity not via arguing but by striding into flames with calm confidence. The fire god Agni himself returns her unscathed, a divine testament to her truth.
Abandonment and Exile: A Mother’s Solitude
As a mother, she instills ideals of fairness and truth in her sons. She teaches kids courage, not hatred. The Uttarakanda of Valmiki’s Ramayana shows her enduring pain not with bitterness but with resolve. When Rama finally reunites with her and asks her once more to prove her purity, she refuses.
Instead, Sita addresses her mother, the Earth. In an impressive effort of self-liberation, she says, "If I have remained pure in thought, word, and deed, O Mother Earth, receive me into your bosom!" And then the Earth opens. Sita vanishes into the dirt from which she originated.
Sita's Legacy: Not Just Patience, but Power
Sita's journey is more than just a tale of difficulties; it is also a meditation on endurance. In a society when women's voices are frequently silenced, her existence encourages us to reconsider. Not to alter the Ramayana, but to read it differently. Sita is a subtle revolution in the centre of an epic, from her birth on earth to her homecoming.
Explore the latest trends and tips in Health and Fitness, , Travel, Life Hacks, Fashion & Beauty, and Relationships at Times Life