Reading Notes: PDE Ramayana D (Valmiki's Hermitage and Sita Departs)

Valmiki's Hermitage

In this story, Rama seems to be quite vain or rather selfish. He listens to the towns people who do not believe that Sita was faithful when she was captured by Ravana, so Rama exiles her to the forest. She lives with a hermit named Valmiki, who is very kind to her and takes her and later on her two sons. Rama seems to only be worried about cleansing himself of sin because he had slain Ravana. He doesn't mention Sita or seem to think of her until he meets his sons, Lava and Kusha, one day when they were at war. Although I do not think Rama should have exiled Sita, I liked this story because it was so different from how Rama was before. He went through so much to rescue Sita only to exile her once she was back home with him. If I recreate this story I want Rama to have more in depth feelings once Sita leaves and also to be shocked when he realizes that Lava and Kusha are his sons.

Sita Departs

Rama hears the testimony from Valmiki that Sita was truly faithful to Rama and the Gods believe her as well. Before he accepts Sita back, she must first make a testimony herself stating that she was faithful only to Rama when she was away. Rama eventually accepts her back, but a beautiful throne comes from the ground and when Sita sits on it, the throne goes back into the ground and swallows her with it. Rama is in despair and cannot believe that she was taken right before his eyes. If I recreate this story I want Sita to be more angry with Rama for not believing her over the towns people. I want her to come back and state that she was faithful and loves Rama, but chooses to go back to the ground and go to Heaven rather than live again next to Rama. I want to make Sita more independent and strong rather than weeping and apologetic for something that she had no control over.

(Sita returning to Earth. Wikipedia Commons

Bibliography:
Valmiki's Hermitage via PDE Ramayana, Originally from "Indian Myth and Legend" by Donald A. Mackenzie
Sita Departs via PDE Ramayana, Originally from "Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists" by Sister Nivedita.

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