Sita

Sita, also known as Sita Devi or Janaki, is a central figure in the Ramayana, the ancient Indian epic traditionally attributed to Valmiki. In most traditions she is regarded as the daughter of King Janaka of Mithila and the wife of Prince Rama of Ayodhya. According to the legend, she was found by Janaka in a furrow while he was plowing a field, and she was reared as his daughter, earning the name Janaki.

As Rama’s wife, Sita is celebrated for her steadfastness, virtue, and fidelity. She accompanies Rama through his fourteen-year exile in the forest and endures many hardships with patience and courage. Her character is often cited as an ideal of wifely devotion (pativrata) and moral strength, and she is honored as a model of dharma in many Hindu traditions.

The arc of Sita’s life centers on the abduction by the demon king Ravana and Rama’s subsequent quest to rescue her with the help of Hanuman and an army of monkeys. After the rescue, they return to Rama’s kingdom, where Sita’s purity and loyalty are continually affirmed in the controversy surrounding her, including a trial by fire and, in some tellings, a later banishment or withdrawal to the Earth.

Sita’s legacy extends beyond the Ramayana. She is regarded by many as an incarnation of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and fortune, and she is worshiped across parts of India and Nepal. Festivals such as Sita Navami celebrate her birth, and her story continues to influence literature, theater, and art.