1. Truth behind Sita's Agni Pariksha
I can vouch that almost 95% of the Indians at some point in life may have heard or read about the famous Hindu mythological legend, Ramayana; and might be aware of the highlighted events such as Rama’s birth, Rama-Laxman-Sita’s exile, Sita’s abduction, Ram-Ravana war, etc.
2. Valmiki Ramayan
The original Ramayana by Valmiki is written in the form of poetic verse (shlokas), narrating the life of legendary prince of Ayodhya, Lord Rama. It is believed that the scripture was authored based on information provided by Rama’s wife Sita, during her banishment from Ayodhya.
3. Life events of Lord Rama
The information (Sanskrit texts) was translated later in Hindi and other languages, with an aim to spread the ideal values, morals of Treta Yuga amid mankind. Ramayana isn’t the only or exclusive scripture that mentions the life events of Lord Rama, several other sacred texts have mentions of tales and folklores that are linked with the life and journey of Lord Rama and Ayodhya.
4. Padma Purana
One such scripture, 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.
5. Sita's Agni Pariksha
If the fragment of information mention in Padma Purana is to be quoted than the real reason behind Sita’s Agni Pariksha comes to the surface. According to it, there were two Sitas; one real and one maya.
6. Sita's abduction
We all know how Lanka King Ravana, tricked Sita under the disguise of a sage and forcefully abducted her and how she was kept in the Ashok Vatika in Sri Lanka, until Lord Rama fought and defeated Ravana to procure his beloved Sita.
7. Lord Rama asks Sita to prove her purity
But the event, where Lord Rama asks 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.
8. No relation to Sita’s Agni Pariksha and her abandonment
If the texts from Padma Purana are to be believed, then there is no relation to Sita’s Agni Pariksha and her abandonment by Lord Rama. In fact, it suggests that Lord Rama knew about the Maya Sita.
9. Sita prays to Lord Agni
The story goes like this; Treta Yuga was an era, where no harm can 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.
10. Agnidev hides real Sita
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.
11. Lord Rama's righteous decision
Even though Lord Rama, the incarnation of Vishnu was aware of this, the entire time, he fought with Ravana in order to fulfil his ‘karma’ and establish the true ‘dharma’; and also relieving Ravana of the curse from his previous life.
12. The Agni Pariksha
After Sita was safely rescued, Lord Rama, request 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.
13. Other mentions of Maya Sita
Several references of Maya Sita and the story related to it can be seen in Brahmavaivarta Purana and many others.
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