Reading Notes: Ramayana Part D
Sita Tested
So Sita and Rama are finally back together, but Rama is not sure of her virtue because she has been gone for so long. For someone who was so upset for her to be gone for so long, he sure treats her poorly upon her return. She is obviously confused that he is being a jerk and explains that if she is so morally corrupt that she rather die than have this reputation. Lakashama thought this was ridiculous, but Rama was totally cool with playing with literal fire and his bride's life so they made a funeral pyre. Sita prayed that she not be burnt if her hurt never strayed from Rama, and she was thankfully okay but all of the people watching the event were distraught that Sita could die. They all begged Rama to let Sita come out of the fire. The God Brahma finally came to the rescue and answered that Sita was true to Rama the entire time she was gone. So Sita came out of the pyre and Rama explained why he let her do it. He claimed that the people needed to see that she was not above the law and was telling the truth.
This part makes me so freaking mad. Rama says that the people needed her to prove that she was still virtuous but they were upset from the beginning that it was happening. I also feel like this is where practices like shaming women for their sexualities and honor killings have their roots and so it is super frustrating to see that Rama was still praised after this even though he was the only one who wanted it done and she was telling the truth the entire time.
Bibliography: Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists by Sister Nivedita (1914). Source
Photo Information: Fire, Wikipedia, Source
So Sita and Rama are finally back together, but Rama is not sure of her virtue because she has been gone for so long. For someone who was so upset for her to be gone for so long, he sure treats her poorly upon her return. She is obviously confused that he is being a jerk and explains that if she is so morally corrupt that she rather die than have this reputation. Lakashama thought this was ridiculous, but Rama was totally cool with playing with literal fire and his bride's life so they made a funeral pyre. Sita prayed that she not be burnt if her hurt never strayed from Rama, and she was thankfully okay but all of the people watching the event were distraught that Sita could die. They all begged Rama to let Sita come out of the fire. The God Brahma finally came to the rescue and answered that Sita was true to Rama the entire time she was gone. So Sita came out of the pyre and Rama explained why he let her do it. He claimed that the people needed to see that she was not above the law and was telling the truth.
This part makes me so freaking mad. Rama says that the people needed her to prove that she was still virtuous but they were upset from the beginning that it was happening. I also feel like this is where practices like shaming women for their sexualities and honor killings have their roots and so it is super frustrating to see that Rama was still praised after this even though he was the only one who wanted it done and she was telling the truth the entire time.
Bibliography: Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists by Sister Nivedita (1914). Source
Photo Information: Fire, Wikipedia, Source
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