9.9. The character of Sītā

Sītā is the heroine of the Rāmāyaṇa as well as the Hanumannāṭaka and

belongs to the noble companies of ladies like Sāvitrī, Damayantī, Draupadī and others, who have been the Hindu ideals of womanly virtues and who have created womanhood to the height of divine perfection. Whenever one thinks of the glory of Aryan womanhood exhibited in the lives of these ladies, the sorrowful figure of Sītā presents itself prominently before one’s mental eye and evokes one’s heartfelt sympathy and admiration. She is tolerant and bears all pains and sufferings following her husband in all conditions of life. Indeed the happiness of Rāma and maintenance of his reputation are her guiding principles.

According to dramaturgy, the heroine is of three types, viz. Svakīyā, Parakīyā and Sādhāraṇa strī.^[1] Svakīyā nāyikā should be simple and well mannered. According to Dhanañjaya this type is also divided into three. They are mugdhā, madhyā and pragalbhā.^[2]

In the Hanumannāṭaka, Sītā belongs to the svakīya category. Sītā figures in Vālmīki’s Rāmāyaṇa as a ‘pathetic image’.

Sītā is fair to look at. Her matchless beauty deeply attracts Rāvaṇa. He fell in love with Sītā; while he saw her in the house of Janaka for the first time, he exclaimed at her amazing beauty. This beautiful Sītā with her beautiful eyes is created by the lord imbibing all the best material while making woman and has enlisted to Kāmadeva, who dwells in heart and protects her. Her eyes are charming and attract one’s heart and soul. Further Rāvaṇa says, Sītā’s beauty has no parallel in heaven, hell and earth. Her only aim in life consists in sharing the destiny of her husband.

During the emotional ordeals, Sītā’s heart is pierced. At Rāvaṇa’s cruel abduction, pierced by frenzied pangs of agony fraught with tantalizing grief and fear, an agony expressing itself in her despair-ridden cries for Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa’s help^[3], in her pitiful entreaties to the creatures of the forest to tell Rāma of her abduction and in her heart-rending pathetic lamentations over her destiny, with all nature vibrating with her in sorrow and sympathy; an agony, however, blended with an outturst of wild fury and a sadistic desire to find an outlet for her disdain and scorn, which she then, amidst gravest emotional despair and fear, relentlessly heaps upon her self-imposed courtier with provocative, sarcastic and abusing words, carried by a heroic spirit of firmness, strong-mindedness, courage of heart and a staunch pride in her wifely devotion.

Sītā is loyal to her husband and an ideal wife. Her chastity is tested through fire ordeal. After defeat and killing of Rāvaṇa, Rāma won Sītā. But the moment could not be a happy one, as Sītā had to undergo worst test of her life. Rāma refused to accept Sītā on the plea that she was carried by Rāvaṇa on his lap and was beheld with sinful eyes. Sītā expressed her spotless purity and persuades Rāma not to misunderstand her. Rāma responded reluctantly. Sītā entered the burning flame fearlessly and in a dignified manner. Everybody was in deep grief and tension for such a test to be faced by Sītā. Alakā held the view that the moon covered by darkness cannot darken the whiteness and brightness of it. Likewise, living in Laṅkā surrounded by the demon cannot spar purity and chastity.^[4] Again Sītā was sent to the forest by Rāma with Lakṣmaṇa.^[5] Then Lakṣmaṇa left her there in the forest and came back with a very sorrowful mind.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

svānyā sādharaṇastrīti tadguṇā nāyikā tridhā/ Daśarūpaka, II.15

[2]:

mugdhā madhyā pragalbheti svīyā śitarjavādiyuk/ ibid.

[3]:

sa vyāharaddharmini! dehi bhikṣāmalaṅghyallakṣmaṇalakṣmalekhām/
jagrāha tāṃ pāṇitale kṣipantīmākārayantiṃ raghurājaputrou// Hanumannāṭaka, IV.6

[4]:

kāluṣyaheturvaidehyā na rāksaṣagṛhaṣṭhitiḥ/
dhvāntabandī kṛta’pindorna kalā jātu nīlati// Bālarāmāyaṇa, X.V.3

[5]:

vane vimoktuṃ janakasya kanyāṃ śrotuṃ ca tasyāḥ paridevitāni/
sukhena laṅkāsamare hataṃ māmajīvayanmārutirattavairaḥ// Hanumannāṭaka, XIV. 91