Please note this version is not in Ramayana Kilippattu or the English translation by Dr Sukumar Canada.

Sita once narrated to Rama the request of Devas. They missed Rama in Vaikunta since Rama was living with his Shakti, Sita, in Ayodhya. The felt that if Sita were to return to Vaikunta Rama will also return. Sita Mata also told Rama that she had already acceded to their demand.

Rama then told Sita that he would create that scenario. Alleging a scandal he would send Sita to the forest where the sons would be born. After that Sita can disappear into the earth and Rama would also follow her.

Additional Source: Adhyatma Ramayana by Lala Baij Nath.

Picture Credit: Dr. K. U. Krishnakumar and Guruvayur Devaswom

Rama was elated at Sita’s pregnancy and asked for her wish. Sita Devi said: "We used to visit and stay at the Ashrams of several sages during our exile. I yearn to stay with those pious ladies and have Satsang with them." Rama promised that Lakshmana will take her immediately to the forest area.

Picture Credit: Swami Raghaveshananda and RK Mutt Publications

Rama asked his royal messengers to share public opinion about the kingdom, governance, brothers and Sita. Bhadra said people praise him wholeheartedly. However, Rama has accepted Sita as the queen even though she was once abducted by Ravana and has stayed at his palace for a while. Is it the right conduct for a king? Is it acceptable because Rama is a king, or will we also have to accept the same in our family.

Picture Credit: Rustagi P.R and Tiny Tot Publications

After Rama's returns and rule from Ayodhya, he asks his friends about the views of citizens. Bhadra, who was an amuser for Rama, tells Rama about the aspersions that citizens cast on Sita. He also tells him that citizens wonder why Rama does not find this reprehensible and that they will also have to tolerate this from their wives. In popular narration, a washerman is mentioned as raising these doubts and aspersions. However, in Valmiki Ramayana it is the citizens at large who make these comments and not any washerman.

This incident occurs in Uttara Kanda. Most scholars agree that Uttara Kanda was a later addition. Both content and style of Uttara Kanda do not match with the other Kandas. The Critical Edition includes some portions of Bala Khanda and Uttara Khanda but many slokas have been omitted in it. This incident is included in the Critical Edition.

You can read more about this episode at Sita Parityaga in Dharma Despatch.

Picture: Sita in VanaVasa by Raja Ravi Varma

Rama asked for the brothers to see him. Rama told them that there has never been a blemish on their dynasty. But unfortunately, there is a rumor about their moral conduct. People are gossiping that it was not right for the king Sri Rama to have accepted Sita Devi as his queen because she has spent almost a year under Ravana's custody. God Agni assured the purity of Sita. Devas, Mahadeva, and Lord Brahma had also declared that Sita was pure. The same Sita Devi is the reason for infamy now. To avoid disrepute, he will abandon anyone including his brothers. Therefore it is his decision to abandon Sita in the forest.

Rama wept profusely and the tears flowed like a river from his eyes as he retired to his chamber that day after ordering Lakshmana to do the unthinkable.

Picture Credit: J Martin and Manoj Publications

When Sita heard Rama’s decision from Lakshmana, she fainted for a while. Then she wailed, “Have you abandoned me? Why did you do that? What is the reason for taking such an action? I have caused pain to many people in the past and those karmas are coming back to me with a vengeance.

If I take my life, there will be no one to carry on the Surya Clan's name. Sri Rama is abandoning me as he fears the ill repute I brought to the kingdom. May the king rule the kingdom worry-free. You, brothers, must serve him well. You can leave now."

She does not question Rama’s conduct during the time they were separated.

Picture Credit: Rustagi P.R and Tiny Tot Publications

Sumanthara narrated the visit of Durvasa to Dasaratha. The sage had said "Rama will reign the kingdom for eleven thousand years and will return to Vaikunta. But he will end up abandoning his wife in the forest. The period of sorrows surpasses that of pleasures in life.”

The sage declared more about the situations. Dasaratha had asked Sumanthara to keep the prediction as a secret.

Sita was taken by Rishi Valmiki to his Ashram. He also told Sita that in his divine vision he understands the reason for Rama’s decision.

Picture Credit: J Martin and Manoj Publications

When Lakshmana came back from the forest, he saw Rama weeping and silently wailing. Lakshmana consoled him that we are all going to be separated at one time or the other. Wise people do not fall prey to these fleeting emotions. Rama told Lakshmana that for a king, any lack of care in governance can invite great consequences.

Rama narrated the story of Nriga, their ancestor. Two Brahmins had a dispute about the ownership of a cow. The issue reached the king but they could not get an audience with the King. They cursed the King that he will become a lizard and live in a well for the neglect of a King’s duty. The king decided to voluntarily endure the effect of the curse. Thus, even for a small mistake, the Raj Dharma demands that the King suffers severe consequences. The implication is that Rama could not have ignored public opinion as a trivial matter.

Rama also said that Karma works in such a way that its effects can be allayed only by experiencing them. Some effects of the karmas are ordained to be experienced and in Nriga's case, he must be experiencing the results of his past karma ordained to be experienced in the present lifetime."

Picture Credit: J Martin and Manoj Publications