Some people tell stories of how Sita left her dedication towards Lord Ram and instead got tempted by the riches of Lanka. This page specifically refutes the myth of Sita's wavering heart.
Sita never stepped into Ravana’s palace. She was taken directly to Ashok Vatika (Ashok Garden) and was constantly guarded by female demons. When Hanuman was searching for Sita, he looked everywhere in the city of Lanka but couldn’t find her. When he finally checked Ashok Vatika, he saw Sita and was instantly depressed on her condition. Despite being the daughter of the king of Mithila and the wife of the scion of Ayodhya, she was dressed in rags. She had become completely thin and weak due to continued fasting and her face was gloomy due to continued crying (Sundara Kanda – Sarga 15).
Ravana enters Ashok Vatika and attempts to persuade Sita to give in, by offering her all the comforts of the world, along with all kinds of riches. He also threatens her and states that none could stand up to him in fight and she should abandon her reluctance. However, Sita turns down all the offers of Ravana and tells him to either gracefully return her to Ram, or face death at the hands of Ram (Sundara Kanda – Sarga 21)
Hearing this, Ravana gives Sita two months to consider the offer. If she still does not accept Ravana at the end of two months, he threatens to kill her and eat her in breakfast (Sundara Kanda – Sarga 22). After Ravana leaves the garden, Sita attempts suicide by strangling herself using her own hair (Sundara Kanda – Sarga 28). After some deliberation, Hanuman decides to confront Sita and inform her about the upcoming invasion on Lanka by Ram. They both have a conversation about Ram and Hanuman convinces Sita that he truly is a messenger from Ram. Hanuman further asks Sita to remain patient and await Ram, who would come to rescue her (Sundara Kanda – Sarga 37). Towards the end of their conversation, Sita informs Hanuman that she will not wait for the whole duration of two months allotted by Ravana and will kill herself if she is not rescued within the next one month (Sundara Kanda – Sarga 38)
Moreover, when Ram finally invades Lanka, before the actual battle even starts, Ravana decides to fool Sita into believing that her husband had perished, by using an illusion. He calls for Vidyujjuha, who was a knower of conjuring tricks and asks him to create a fake replica of Ram’s severed head, along with his bow. Vidyujjuha creates the items and Ravana heads straight for Ashok Vatika. He then throws the fake head of Ram near Sita and tells her to submit to him (Yuddha Kanda – Sarga 31). Sita starts crying and asks Ravana to kill her also and place her severed head next to Ram’s head; and place her remaining body at the spot where Ram’s body lay in the battlefield (Yuddha Kanda – Sarga 32). Meanwhile, Ravana is called by one of his ministers to discuss the battle formation and Ravana leaves Ashok Vatika accompanied by Vidyujjuha . As soon as they leave, the fake head and bow disappear in front of Sita (Yuddha Kanda – Sarga 32).
All the above points are proof that Sita never once felt a change of heart and was ever so devoted to her husband Ram.
Sita never stepped into Ravana’s palace. She was taken directly to Ashok Vatika (Ashok Garden) and was constantly guarded by female demons. When Hanuman was searching for Sita, he looked everywhere in the city of Lanka but couldn’t find her. When he finally checked Ashok Vatika, he saw Sita and was instantly depressed on her condition. Despite being the daughter of the king of Mithila and the wife of the scion of Ayodhya, she was dressed in rags. She had become completely thin and weak due to continued fasting and her face was gloomy due to continued crying (Sundara Kanda – Sarga 15).Ravana enters Ashok Vatika and attempts to persuade Sita to give in, by offering her all the comforts of the world, along with all kinds of riches. He also threatens her and states that none could stand up to him in fight and she should abandon her reluctance. However, Sita turns down all the offers of Ravana and tells him to either gracefully return her to Ram, or face death at the hands of Ram (Sundara Kanda – Sarga 21)
Hearing this, Ravana gives Sita two months to consider the offer. If she still does not accept Ravana at the end of two months, he threatens to kill her and eat her in breakfast (Sundara Kanda – Sarga 22). After Ravana leaves the garden, Sita attempts suicide by strangling herself using her own hair (Sundara Kanda – Sarga 28). After some deliberation, Hanuman decides to confront Sita and inform her about the upcoming invasion on Lanka by Ram. They both have a conversation about Ram and Hanuman convinces Sita that he truly is a messenger from Ram. Hanuman further asks Sita to remain patient and await Ram, who would come to rescue her (Sundara Kanda – Sarga 37). Towards the end of their conversation, Sita informs Hanuman that she will not wait for the whole duration of two months allotted by Ravana and will kill herself if she is not rescued within the next one month (Sundara Kanda – Sarga 38)
Moreover, when Ram finally invades Lanka, before the actual battle even starts, Ravana decides to fool Sita into believing that her husband had perished, by using an illusion. He calls for Vidyujjuha, who was a knower of conjuring tricks and asks him to create a fake replica of Ram’s severed head, along with his bow. Vidyujjuha creates the items and Ravana heads straight for Ashok Vatika. He then throws the fake head of Ram near Sita and tells her to submit to him (Yuddha Kanda – Sarga 31). Sita starts crying and asks Ravana to kill her also and place her severed head next to Ram’s head; and place her remaining body at the spot where Ram’s body lay in the battlefield (Yuddha Kanda – Sarga 32). Meanwhile, Ravana is called by one of his ministers to discuss the battle formation and Ravana leaves Ashok Vatika accompanied by Vidyujjuha . As soon as they leave, the fake head and bow disappear in front of Sita (Yuddha Kanda – Sarga 32).
All the above points are proof that Sita never once felt a change of heart and was ever so devoted to her husband Ram.
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