Seethayascharitham Mahat:

While writing Ramayana Sage Valmiki has written as it is story of greatest saadhvi Seetha and it contains killing of Paulastya ie., Ravana. Seetha displays exemplary character and shows the way for women of the generations on how to carry one self. This writeup is just an effort to give a glimpse of it with the small little knowledge I have of Ramayana.

Scenario1: Seetha’s Marriage:

Like lot of us misunderstand Seetha’s marriage is not Svayamvara where she has chosen Rama to be her husband. It is King Janaka, Seetha’s father who has announced Seetha as Veeryasulk ie., to get Seetha’s hand as prize for being able to handle Siva’s bow. The moment Rama has done the feat, she is declared as wife of Rama. Rama may be superior prince at that time who is handsome, strong, educated, and rich but Valmiki writes down in Ramayana that Seetha did not love Rama for the above qualities. She just loved him because of only reason that he is her husband.

Scenario2: Rama’s journey to forests:

Seetha’s husband, Rama who is destined to become next king has been instructed to go to forests for long duration of 14 years and to lead life like a sage.

Aspect1: Seetha did not utter any word of displeasure to Rama when his cards are down and has relinquished thrown to travel to dangerous forests. It may be easy to love husband when he is having time of life but how many women do not utter a word of insult when husband’s chips are down? This is what she has to shown to the world on beahviour.

Aspect2: Rama was asked to leave to forest and he has recommended Seetha to stay in the kingdom until he returns. In the choice between struggles of forest and comforts of stayin in palace, Seetha chose the former to stick with her husband during tough times and give him comfort of her company.

Scenario3: Ravana’s torture:

Seetha was kept in Asoka vana and Ravana and his rakshasa guards kept torturing her with words regularly. She has a choice between keeping faith in Rama to comeback and succumb to persuations of Ravana. Ravana’s offer looks tempting to any ordinary women as he has promised her power, luxuries and sense gratification where as Rama’s comeback has lot of elements of doubt associated with like whether he will be able to locate where Seetha is, whether he will be able to gain victory over Rakshasas and their King Ravana. But Seetha showed extrodinary grit and refused Ravana asserting firm belief in her husband.

Scenario4: Hanuma’s offer:

When Seetha was frustrated by the torture being subjected by Ravana, she found relief in the form of Hanuma who has informed her that Rama is safe and will be coming in search of her. At this point in order to relieve her of the torture Hanuma gave her an offer that he will take her at once back to her husband. Seetha simply declined it citing many reasons like she might fall in sea while Hanuma was fighting Rakshasa’s or Hanuma might have to face lot Rakshasa’s challenges while taking her etc., But the major reson she cited was she does not want to touch any other Purusha apart from her husband while in full consciousness. Will there be any other women who in such situation decline the offer holding up pativrata Dharma?

Scenario5: Rama’s Dharma:

Seetha is the wife who has understood her husband Rama thoroughly and his Dharma Vrata. Two occasions Rama was and is continuously under criticism that he has made a mistake testing seetha’s chastity through Agni Pariksha and sending her to Valmiki Ashrama. But on both occasions too Seetha did not make Rama any blame as she knows Rama stands by Dharma and Dharma Sukhma is so difficult for other folks to comprehend. Seetha did not blame Rama on these two occasions or run for support to other people, instead she silently obeyed what her husband asked her to do.She did not question Rama's Dharma despite being at receiving end even though rest of the world questioned it.