The Padma Purana

 

The Padma Purana, carries about 55,000 verses, some of which have mentions of important events that actually happened in Ramayana, in the absence of Sita (after her abduction); contradicting some beliefs that have been deep-rooted until know.

If the fragment of information mentioned in Padma Purana is to be quoted than the real reason behind Mata Sita’s Agni Pariksha comes to the surface. According to it, there were two Sitas; one real and one maya.

We all know how Lanka King Ravana tricked Sita under the guise of a sage and forcefully abducted her and how she was kept in Ashok Vatika in Sri Lanka, until Lord Rama fought and defeated Ravana to release his beloved Sita.

But the event, where Lord Rama asks Mata Sita to prove her purity and loyalty, by undergoing the Agni Pariksha (the fire test); and why despite proving her pious self publicly, she was banished from Ayodhya and Lord Rama’s life, till date remains unexplained.

If the texts from Padma Purana are to be believed, then there is no relation to Maa Sita’s Agni Pariksha and her abandonment by Lord Rama. In fact, it suggests that Lord Rama knew about the Maya Sita.

The story goes like this; Treta Yuga was an era, where no harm could come to a person who is righteous. Ravana disguised as a sage, came to abduct Sita; he didn’t know that Sita was an human incarnation of Goddess Laxmi, who already knew of his intentions. Knowing that both her husband and brother-in-law would not make it to save her on time, she repeatedly prayed to Lord Agni, the god of fire to immolate herself.

Moved by Sita’s loyalty and her devotion, Lord Agni instead produced an illusion of Sita out of fire, replacing the real Sita; who was kept safe within the flame of fire. With no knowledge of it, Ravana Abducted Sita and took her with him to Lanka.

Even though Lord Rama, the incarnation of Shri Vishnu was aware of this, the entire period he fought with Ravana as a ruler and he did what he had to as a ruler and upholder of Dharma, and also relieving Ravana of the curse from his previous life.

After Mata Sita was safely rescued, Lord Rama requested Maya Sita to return to fire and bring back the real Sita. During the Agni Pariksha, the real Sita emerged, who remained untainted by Ravana’s touch.

Several references of Maya Sita and the story related to it can be seen in Brahmavaivarta Purana and many others scriptures.

Several philosophers and scholars who have an in-depth understanding of the epic refuse to consider Agni Pariksha as a part of the original Ramayana. According to them, the actual Ramayana has been adulterated to a great extent, and several episodes did not take place.

The concept of ‘trial by fire’ existed for centuries and was found in the epic Mahabharata as well. Unfortunately, or maybe it was destined, and since Maa Sita was a no ordinary woman, she accepted it with sheer grace and dignity.!

Jai Maa Sita ~ Jai Shri Ram