Week 2 Storytelling: Sita

Here is my story based on the meeting of Rama and Sita and their engagement. A good description of the original story can be found below (from this reading guide):

Rama and Sita, daughter of King Janaka of Mithila, fall in love with each other at first sight — not surprising, given that Rama is an incarnation of Vishnu and Sita is an incarnation of Vishnu's consort, the goddess Lakshmi. To win Sita's hand in marriage, Rama must lift, bend, and string the enormous bow of the god Shiva, which he does, of course!

Rama presents Sita with a flower crown. By Sunity Devee. (Source)

*          Twist the Story          *

SITA

Rama arrives in Mithila and notices the vast beauty and richness of the city. He ventured to King Janaka’s palace, where upon a balcony he laid eyes on the most beautiful woman his eyes have ever seen. It was Sita, Janaka’s daughter. Sita is actually Vishnu’s spouse Lakshmi, but has been reincarnated at a lovely princess.

Despite their mortal limitations and being complete strangers to one another, their bond was as strong as steel. They both felt a need to be near one another, a need to be married.

Knowing that his daughter was worthy of only the best suitor, King Janaku made a condition that whoever could lift, bend, and string Shiva’s bow would be considered fit to become Sita’s husband. Try as they might, no suitor was worthy of approaching the bow.

She didn’t know how to get around this, but was afraid if she didn’t act fast her soulmate, Rama, would also shy away with this difficult challenge. She needed to take matters into her own hands. She glanced down at her little hands, covered in rings and bangles, and she started to smile. Of course! She would take matters into her own hands.

Filled with the love from Manmatha himself, she walked up to the bow of Shiva. This was no ordinary bow, and as she looked it up and down, she become aware of his enormity. With only the slightest of hesitations, she grasped the mighty bow in her hands, lifted it to her target, bent the string back, and sent an arrow thrice around the world. The god Shiva himself was so impressed by Sita’s inner strength. For it is not the might of one’s arm that guides the arrow, but the might within.

Her father, realizing his mistake in making his daughter's love into some trivial competition apologized to his daughter. In trying to protect her form unworthy suitors, he had actually made her out to be some sort of property or trophy.

Rama, desperate for the chance to marry this dear woman, presented to Sita the most beautiful lotus in the kingdom. He asked if she would marry him.

Sita, being gracious and gentle kindly accepts her father's apology, and also agreed to marry Rama.

Rama decided that he needed a chance to also shoot the mighty bow, so that he can prove to her that he is worthy of her love. Understanding how important this was to her dear beloved she watched from her balcony.

Rama picked up the bow and pulled back the string so hard that the bow cracked with a thunderous sound. Putting away the broken symbol of his promised one’s fate, Rama went before Sita to express his love for her with a simple kiss on the hand.

The two soulmates announced their wedding, and all the kingdom was blissfully joyous.
 

*          *          *

Author's Note:

In the original story, King Janaka had stated that any man who could string Shiva's bow could marry his daughter. Furthermore, it was originally said that Sita - upon setting eyes on Rama - falls madly in love with Rama and turns into some lusting, silly girl. She is described as "tossing in her bed complaining." I didn't like the overall feel of this section in the Ramayana. It portrayed women as property, who cannot control their feelings. Sita should have been given the ability to choose whom she would like to marry - her father shouldn't have made her future into some sort of game. Also, I find it hard to believe that Sita - and incarnation of Vishnu's wife Lakshmi - would stoop to such lows as to throw a tantrum. She would have been calm, cool, and collected.

Feeling that certain changes were necessary to the story, I adapted a "twist the story" type of writing style. I understand that Sita and Rama are destined to be together, but I think Sita could have been depicted in a much better light. So I twisted the middle of the story, but made it so that the ending was the same (Rama and Sita do make a cute couple).



Bibliography:

"The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic" by Narayan (1972). 

Source: Narayan's Ramayana.