Sita’s Agni Pariksha

The Hindu epic Ramayana has always been a great inspiration for people of different age groups. It is the story of an ideal human being ( Maryada Purushottam ) who overcame every obstacle on his way and set an example to his people. The incident of Sita’s Agni Pariksha is one such incident where Lord Rama has laid down another standard to the way of life. This took place post the war at Lanka, with Ravana, mentioned in the Yuddha Kanda of the Valmiki Ramayana.

Although there are mentions in the other versions of Ramayana that narrate yet another interesting story behind the Agni Pariksha performed by Sita. It is believed that when Ravana abducted Sita, it was not the real form the divine mother but just an illusion (Maya). Ravana is said to have taken Vedavati instead of Sita to Lanka. Vedavati was a character takes rebirth as Sita, the soul of Vedavati had the mission of marrying Lord Vishnu which she achieves by marrying Vishnu’s incarnation – Lord Rama. This Maya Sita is said to have been captivated by Ravana and been tortured by his women. It is believed that this Maya Sita entered into the pyre of fire for the Agni pariksha, and went underground. There she met the real Sita and they exchanged roles. Through this Agni Pariksha, the real Sita could get back to her beloved Rama. Although, many versions of the Ramayana argue that Lord Rama knew about this and hence he remained silent while Sita voluntarily performed the Agni Pariksha.

The separation of Lord Rama with his beloved wife is said to be the effects of a curse. This curse was given by Sage Bhrigu to lord Vishnu. The story was that lord Vishnu once killed the wife of Sage Bhrigu. It was because she stood between him and demons, while he was going to kill them. Witnessing this event, Sage Bhrigu thus cursed him, that he would have to bear the grief of separation of wife for years as he is going to have. This curse is said to have shown his effect when Vishnu took birth as Rama.

We bring to you the story as though why Sita self-willingly took the Agni Pariksha and what were its consequences. The scene is set to post the war with the Ravana, after his defeat with Lord Rama.

Post War Scene

Post the war with King Ravana, Lord Rama once sends Vibhishana to bring Mother Sita to his presence. Lord Rama informs Sita that the dishonor meted out to him and the misdeeds committed by Ravana have then been cleared out. He adds saying that this victory of his was only possible with assistance of Hanuman, Sugreeva, Vibhishana and the other vanaras.

Lord Rama then refuses to embrace his beloved wife, Sita and he makes a harsh declaration to Sita in front of the other warriors present there. He says that he fought this battle, not for her but to establish Dharma. By those very standards of dharma, he adds saying that he has decided that since his wife, Sita has lived under the shelter of another man for a long time, as the king of the dynasty of Raghu, of the dynasty of Ikshavaku, it would be improper for him to accept her as his wife again. He says that Sita was free to accept anyone from the great warriors present there as her husband.

प्राप्तचारित्रसंदेह मम प्रतिमुखे स्थिता |
दीपो नेत्रातुरस्येव प्रतिकूलासि मे दृढम् ||
तद्गच्छ त्वानुजानेऽद्य यथेष्टं जनकात्मजे |
एता दश दिशो भद्रे कार्यमस्ति न मे त्वया ||
Translated to: Lord Rama says, “You, with a suspicion arisen on your character, standing in front of me, are extremely disagreeable to me, even as a light to one, who is suffering from a poor eye-sight. O Seetha! That is why, I am permitting you now. Go wherever you like. All these ten directions are open to you, my dear lady! There is no work to be done to me, by you.”

However, Sita who was delighted at the very sight of her husband was devastated hearing the words of r

किं मामसदृशं वाक्यमीदृशं श्रोत्रदारुणम् |
रूक्षं श्रावयसे वीर प्राकृतः प्राकृताम् इव ||
न तथास्मि महाबाहो यथा त्वमवगच्छसि |
प्रत्ययं गच्छ मे स्वेन चारित्रेणैव ते शपे ||
Translating to: Sita says, “O valiant Rama! Why are you speaking such harsh words, which are violent to hear for me, like a common man speaking to a common woman? O the long-armed one! I am not the one in the way you understand me. Have a faith in me. I swear to you by my own character.”

Sita’s Agni Pariksha

Sita pleads Rama to not speak such words. She says that it was not according to her own will that she was abducted by the demon and held captive. Though she stayed at Lanka, she remained devoted to her beloved husband, Lord Rama. She questions Lord Rama as though why he did not abandon her at the time when Hanuman visited Lanka. Later on, she asks Lakshmana to arrange for fire. She adds saying that this was the only remedy to this disaster created. She no longer wished to survive with the burden of these false blames, by her own husband.

अप्रीतेन गुणैर्भर्त्रा त्यक्ता या जनसंसदि |
या क्षमा मे गतिर्गन्तुं प्रवेक्ष्ये हव्यवाहनम् ||
Translating to: Sita says, ”I will enter a fire, to obtain the only course appropriate for me, who has been abandoned amidst an assembly of men, by my husband who was not satisfied with my traits.”

It was Sita’s decision to take the Agni Pariksha herself. She wanted to prove her purity to her husband who questioned her character, in front of the others. Lakshmana upon understanding the intentions of his brother, set up as a pyre. The ones who witnessed this event stood shocked and uttered no words. Sita then worships the brahmins and other Gods and joined her hands in the vicinity of fire. She says that it was Agni deva (God of fire) who will now protect her. With the presence of many others, Sita entered the blazing fire. All the gods, Gandharvas and the others witnessed Sita entering the pyre from Heaven in a state of shock.

सा तप्तनवहेमाभा तप्तकाञ्चनभूषणा ||
पपात ज्वलनं दीप्तं सर्वलोकस्य संनिधौ
Translating to: That Seetha, with the shining of fresh refined gold and decked with ornaments of refined gold, plunged into the blazing fire, in the presence of all people.

To question Lord Rama on his silence, the gods have reached the city of Lanka. Gods namely, Kubera – the King of Yakshas, Yama (lord of death) together with the deceased ancestors, Indra (Lord of celestials), Varuna (the lord of waters), the illustrious Lord Shiva – the great deity who bears the device of a bull as his banner and having three eyes, Brahma who was the creator of all the worlds and the best among the knowers of sacred knowledge all these together reaching the City of Lanka in aerial cars, shining like the sun approached then Lord Rama. The together ask Lord Rama as though how he could ignore Sita who jumped into the fire.

Post the Fire Test
Meanwhile the fire god – Agni, showed up and carried Sita in his arms. He hands her over to lord Rama and says that no sin exists in her. He says that her character has been good and she has never been unfaithful to Lord Rama. In the city of Lanka where she was held captive, he informs Lord Rama that she was guarded by rightful female-demons with horrible intellect.

तरुणादित्यसंकाशां तप्तकाञ्चनभूषणाम् |
रक्ताम्बरधरां बालां नीलकुञ्चितमूर्धजाम् ||
अक्लिष्टमाल्याभरणां तथारूपामनिन्दिताम् |
ददौ रामाय वैदेहीमङ्के कृत्वा विभावसुः ||
Translating to: Bearing in his (Agni Deva) arms the youthful Seetha, who was shining brightly as the rising sun, was decked in ornaments of refined gold, attired in a red robe and wore dark curly hair, who was further adorned with ornaments of flowers, which had not abraded (on her entering the fire and coming out of it), who was absolutely beyond reproach and looked just the same (as she did while entering the fire and coming out of it), who was absolutely beyond reproach and looked just the same (as she did while entering the flames), the fire-god restored her to Rama.

Agni deva says that although Sita was allured and tortured in different ways, she never gave up the devotion towards her husband, Lord Rama. He then commands lord Rama to accept her as his wife and that she was not at all sinful.

विशुद्धभावां निष्पापां प्रतिगृह्णीष्व मैथिलीम् |
न किंचिरभिधातव्या अहमाज्ञापयामि ते ||
Translating to: Agni Deva says, “Take back Seetha, who is sinless, with a pure character. She should not be told anything harsh. I hereby command you.”

Hearing to the words of Agni deva, Lord Rama was filled with tear of joy. He then reveals the intention behind his silence. He says that it was due to the talks of the various people in the kingdom that he had to take a step back. Lord Rama knew that Sita had undivided affection towards him. He says that Sita who was the daughter of Janaka, is completely pure in her character, in all the three worlds and can no longer be renounced by me, as a good name cannot be cast aside by a prudent man.
अवश्यं चापि लोकेषु सीता पावनमर्हति |

दीर्घकालोषिता हीयं रावणान्तःपुरे शुभा ||
बालिशो बत कामात्म रामो दशरथात्मजः |
इति वक्ष्यति मां लोको जानकीमविशोध्य हि ||
Translating to: Rama says, “Sita certainly deserves this pure factory ordeal in the eyes of the people in as much as this blessed woman had resided for a long time indeed in the gynaecium of King Ravana. The world would chatter against me, saying that Rama, the son of Dasaratha, was really foolish and that his mind was dominated by lust, if I accept Seetha without examining her with regard to her chastity.”

Appreciating Lord Rama for his thoughtfulness, the Gods then blessed the couple and left to heaven. Just then king Dasaratha meets his beloved son after a long while and is filled with joy. Dasaratha, father of Lord Rama then embraces lord Rama in his arms and congratulates him on his victory. He then addresses Sita as his daughter and appreciates her for her deeds, which no other woman could have done. He explains Sita that this was done by Rama only for her welfare and in order to demonstrate her purity to the rest of the world. After blessing his sons and daughter-in-law, Sita, Dasaratha leaves the scene.

सुदुष्करमिदं पुत्रि तव चारित्रलक्षणम् |
कृतं यत्तेऽन्यनारीणां यशो ह्यभिभविष्यति|
Translating to: Dasaratha says, “This act (of entering into fire) which has been done by you and which reveals your true character, my daughter, is the most difficult task to perform for other ladies and will overshadow their illustriousness.”

This marks an end to the episode of Agni Pariksha in the Valmiki Ramayana. Even when she was held captive, it was not possible for Ravana to even touch the lotus feet of mother Sita. Sita Devi is the representation of an ideal woman, is the mother of the universe and the supreme goddess of fortune. Lord Rama is the Supreme Personality and he knew everything. He was just playing the role of a human. He believed that Sita and he himself were one and both cannot be separated like the Sun and its light. End of the day, Lord Rama embraced Sita and told he never doubted her but it was his duty to satisfy the minds of others and to retain respect as a King. The exile was almost over and on reaching Ayodhya, Rama was crowned, The King of Ayodhya. Hanuman, an ardent devotee of Rama, sat at his feet. Sri Rama ruled over Ayodhya for many years. This explains the fact that Lord Rama set very high standards for human conduct and behavior with His exemplary qualities.