Sita is a character in the Ramayana , a long Indian poem from ancient times. Hindus honor her as a goddess and as the ideal wife and mother. She is the companion of Rama , a form of the god Vishnu . Sita often is considered an incarnation of the goddess Lakshmi and the perfect embodiment of all feminine virtues.
According to some legends, Sita was discovered in a furrow in a plowed field. Sita means furrow. The king and queen of Mithila, an ancient kingdom in what is now India or Nepal , adopted Sita. Rama won the right to marry her in a contest to string the bow of the god Shiva .
Sita’s reputation as an exemplary wife comes from the Ramayana. In this poem, King Ravana of the kingdom of Lanka kidnaps Sita. He takes Sita to his realm, where she remains captive for a year. During this time, Sita remains faithful to Rama, despite Ravana’s efforts to win her affections. With the help of his devoted follower, the monkey god Hanuman , Rama rescues Sita. The couple return to their home in Ayodhya, India, where they become king and queen. In some versions of the story, Rama makes Sita walk through fire to prove her faithfulness, and she passes the test. However, many of Rama and Sita’s subjects remain doubtful of Sita’s faithfulness. Not wanting to lose his authority, Rama sends Sita away. While in exile, she gives birth to twin sons. Sita then appeals to her mother, the earth goddess Bhudevi, who allows Sita to be swallowed into the earth.
Today, Hindus worship Sita together with Rama. She represents faithfulness and devotion.
