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| Above: An illustration of Sita placing a garland around Rama's neck in choosing him as her husband |
Sita, the wife of Rama, lives and dies as the ideal woman. She is known in the Hindu epic the Ramayana for her unfettered faith in her husband despite Rama's rejection of her at the end of all their troubles. Sita displays for the audience the dharma of an ideal wife. She illustrates her "purity" in a variety of ways throughout the saga, from dutifully obeying her husband throughout, to not touching another man, and much more.
But before accepting her he asked her to give the Agni Pariksha. She had to immerse herself in burning flames and come out unscathed in order to prove that she was unsullied. This has created a controversy and given ammunition to Hindu baiters.
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| Above: Various depictions of Sita performing agnipariksha (fire test) to prove her purity |
Rama asking Sita to undergo the Agni Pariksha is one of the controversial episodes in Hinduism that evokes strong emotions. This article provides a dispassionate view.
Agni Pariksha translates as "trial by fire." Ravana abducted Sita and held her captive for several months in his kingdom of Lanka. This forced Rama to invade Lanka, kill Ravan and free his wife.But before accepting her he asked her to give the Agni Pariksha. She had to immerse herself in burning flames and come out unscathed in order to prove that she was unsullied. This has created a controversy and given ammunition to Hindu baiters.
