Week 4 Story: Sita's Choice
Sita was taking a mid afternoon walk with her friend, the hermit Valmiki, when a messenger from Rama came running by.
Out of breath, between gulps of air he said,"Oh fair Sita, I've come on behalf of Rama to ask if you are willing to claim your innocence in front of the city and it's people in order to return to Rama and to cleanse you both of any false beliefs. He also asks if you, Valmiki, would support Sita's innocence in giving your own testimony."
Not long after Sita had returned to the city Ayodha, where Rama reclaimed the throne, he banished her due to many citizen's belief that she had not been faithful to Rama when she was captured by the evil Ravana. Sita wondered now why, after all these years, would he ask her to return.
She looked at Valmiki then back at the messenger and slowly nodded her head, "Yes, we shall go."
Once they arrived at Ayodha, they were met with disapproving looks from the town's people. Many turned away, unhappy because they still believed the fair Sita to be unfaithful. Perhaps many were jealous of her beauty and relationship with the powerful Rama.
Once they arrived at the palace where Rama stood, Sita saw her sons, Lava and Kusha, towering beside him. She understood why Rama wanted her to state her innocence. If she did, they could live together again, and he would be able to have heirs for his throne.
Rama gazed at Sita with eyes that held old love, but also insecurities. He spoke, "Dear Sita, you've come at last. Once the wise hermit supports your faithfulness to me and you state your loyalty to me for the town's people, we will live together once more. You can return home, here."
Sita smiled politely, but held steady eyes. She had made up her mind. Listening to Valmiki's last few words on her faithfulness, she looked up, ready to speak to the crowd in front of her.
"It was not my choice to live away from Rama, or live with another man. Throughout my time with Ravana, my mind, my heart, and my soul were still with Rama. I never laid with Ravana or any other except my dear husband. There was not a single night I did not pray to be with him again. I am grateful for my rescuing, and I have made peace with myself that he exiled me and our unborn sons," Sita looked back toward Lava and Kusha, who gave their mother an encouraging smile.
She turned toward the crowd. "Although I could not choose my path then, I can choose my future now."
At that moment, Mother Earth sprang forth a beautiful throne adorned with various jewels and flowers. Sita carefully walked toward the throne. Before sitting, she turned to face the crowd of astonished citizens. She looked over at Rama's wide eyes, and she softened her gaze. She tilted her head and smiled one last time at her lover and sat down. Earth pulled her back into the ground, and she was not seen again.
Rama despaired and weeped over the loss of Sita. His heart was heavy and he no longer knew what he was to do without Sita by his side. He realized then that the only one he wanted in the world was her, but it was his own doing that made her leave. He sent everyone home, and he sat alone for thousands of years, until he was ready to be sent off to Heaven.
AUTHORS NOTE:
This story originally had Sita come to claim both her's and Rama's purity in order for her to return out of exile. Rama believes Sita is pure once Valmiki states she is, but he has her also testify her purity to the people so they can believe her too. She tells everyone that Rama was the only one in her heart and mind, and then she calls upon Vasudhara to take her. The throne comes up and she is swallowed into the ground. Rama is left to despair. I changed Sita's words a bit so she would sound more independent from Rama. She is a strong character and she didn't deserve to be exiled. I wanted it to seem that Sita will always be queen because the God's and Mother Earth accepted her, and that she didn't need Rama's or the citizen's approval to claim that title. I also wanted it to be more clear that Rama could have chosen a different path for both of them, but he chose to be persuaded by the people rather than his wife.
Bibliography: Sita Departs via PDE Ramayana, Originally from "Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists" by Sister Nivedita
Out of breath, between gulps of air he said,"Oh fair Sita, I've come on behalf of Rama to ask if you are willing to claim your innocence in front of the city and it's people in order to return to Rama and to cleanse you both of any false beliefs. He also asks if you, Valmiki, would support Sita's innocence in giving your own testimony."
Not long after Sita had returned to the city Ayodha, where Rama reclaimed the throne, he banished her due to many citizen's belief that she had not been faithful to Rama when she was captured by the evil Ravana. Sita wondered now why, after all these years, would he ask her to return.
She looked at Valmiki then back at the messenger and slowly nodded her head, "Yes, we shall go."
Once they arrived at Ayodha, they were met with disapproving looks from the town's people. Many turned away, unhappy because they still believed the fair Sita to be unfaithful. Perhaps many were jealous of her beauty and relationship with the powerful Rama.
Once they arrived at the palace where Rama stood, Sita saw her sons, Lava and Kusha, towering beside him. She understood why Rama wanted her to state her innocence. If she did, they could live together again, and he would be able to have heirs for his throne.
(Lava and Kusha, Wikipedia Commons)
Rama gazed at Sita with eyes that held old love, but also insecurities. He spoke, "Dear Sita, you've come at last. Once the wise hermit supports your faithfulness to me and you state your loyalty to me for the town's people, we will live together once more. You can return home, here."
Sita smiled politely, but held steady eyes. She had made up her mind. Listening to Valmiki's last few words on her faithfulness, she looked up, ready to speak to the crowd in front of her.
"It was not my choice to live away from Rama, or live with another man. Throughout my time with Ravana, my mind, my heart, and my soul were still with Rama. I never laid with Ravana or any other except my dear husband. There was not a single night I did not pray to be with him again. I am grateful for my rescuing, and I have made peace with myself that he exiled me and our unborn sons," Sita looked back toward Lava and Kusha, who gave their mother an encouraging smile.
She turned toward the crowd. "Although I could not choose my path then, I can choose my future now."
At that moment, Mother Earth sprang forth a beautiful throne adorned with various jewels and flowers. Sita carefully walked toward the throne. Before sitting, she turned to face the crowd of astonished citizens. She looked over at Rama's wide eyes, and she softened her gaze. She tilted her head and smiled one last time at her lover and sat down. Earth pulled her back into the ground, and she was not seen again.
Rama despaired and weeped over the loss of Sita. His heart was heavy and he no longer knew what he was to do without Sita by his side. He realized then that the only one he wanted in the world was her, but it was his own doing that made her leave. He sent everyone home, and he sat alone for thousands of years, until he was ready to be sent off to Heaven.
(Sita Returning to the Earth, Wikipedia Commons)
AUTHORS NOTE:
This story originally had Sita come to claim both her's and Rama's purity in order for her to return out of exile. Rama believes Sita is pure once Valmiki states she is, but he has her also testify her purity to the people so they can believe her too. She tells everyone that Rama was the only one in her heart and mind, and then she calls upon Vasudhara to take her. The throne comes up and she is swallowed into the ground. Rama is left to despair. I changed Sita's words a bit so she would sound more independent from Rama. She is a strong character and she didn't deserve to be exiled. I wanted it to seem that Sita will always be queen because the God's and Mother Earth accepted her, and that she didn't need Rama's or the citizen's approval to claim that title. I also wanted it to be more clear that Rama could have chosen a different path for both of them, but he chose to be persuaded by the people rather than his wife.
Bibliography: Sita Departs via PDE Ramayana, Originally from "Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists" by Sister Nivedita
Hi Cheyenne! I really enjoyed your story! When I first began to read your story I wasn't at all expecting what would happen or what it would be about. I think it was a really creative idea to use a "what if" scenario. What if Sita came back to be with Rama? It really made me think about the story. I'm excited to see what other stories you post! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteHey Cheyenne! I am not sure why, but I love stories involving Sita. Everything revolving around her is so dramatic. Sita and Rama have to end up together!! Your writing was very clear and easy to follow. I loved how your story did leave me with wanting more. It will be interesting to see what happens in the later stories. I hope that they are able to make peace and come out of exile.
ReplyDeleteI wanted so badly for Sita to assert her independence in that moment, too! That's a key point in my storybook, and I think many people who have read the epics found that moment a bit uncomfortable. It didn't seem right that she should have to walk through fire to prove anything to him! But, I love the direction you took it. Brilliant writing! Great work.
ReplyDeleteHey again Cheyenne. I just got done reading your story here and I chose it because after reading all of the Ramayana I thought Sita really kind of got thrown out of the picture when she really did nothing wrong at all. In fact all she did was stay loyal to Rama and yet she got rewarded by being forced to exile with here boys. It was nice to see that you chose to go a little bit of a different direction with your story here. Very well done.
ReplyDelete