Diwali: Celebrating The Return of Princess Sita

Update: This article is selected for Tejaswee Rao Blogging Awards
Now you can read this in Hindi too: दीपावली: राजकुमारी सीता का स्वागतोत्सव

Princess Sita
 (The only picture of Sita holding a bow. Modified from a picture on this page)

Diwali, the festival of lights, is intrinsically related to the Hindu epic, Ramayana. According to a newer version* of the epic, called Sita Charita Manas, on this day, Princess Sita returned to Mithila after killing the demon queen Mandodari, and was welcomed by her subjects with lit diyas or tiny earthen lamps amid great festivity.

Continuing this tradition, Hindus in India and abroad celebrate Diwali in the month of October or November according to the lunar calendar by decking out their homes with decorative lights and burning firecrackers. Here is a brief summary of the grand saga as given in Sita Charita Manas.

Princess Sita is born to Queen Sunayana of Videha from one of her three husbands. She is not an ordinary girl, but an incarnation of the supreme Goddess, who has descended from the heavens to wipe out evil from the world. Queen Sunayana was childless for a long time and only after performing a fire sacrifice known as Putri-Kameshti Yagna, was she blessed with four daughters, Sita being the eldest. Sita studies all types of science and arts, including the art of governance and warfare in a gurukula. When she reaches marriageable age, she attends Prince Rama’s swayamvadhu, a ceremony where girls compete with each other to win a groom. On this occasion, Princess Sita, not only fulfills the condition of stringing a mighty bow, but also breaks it. Prince Rama chooses her as his bride. Sita  marries him and takes him to Mithila.

Being the first-born daughter, Princess Sita is the rightful heir to the throne of Videha. To prevent her from inheriting the queenship and to make his own daughter the heir, her jealous stepfather throws a tantrum demanding Sita’s exile for fourteen years.

Though Queen Sunayana doesn’t want to part from her dear daughter, Sita, considering it her duty, leaves the comforts of the palace and departs to the forest. Her devoted and loyal husband Ram Chandra accompanies her, saying "The forest where you dwell is Mithila for me, and Mithila without you is a veritable hell.” Her sister, Lakshita, is so attached to her that she also joins them, leaving her own husband behind.

Back home, Queen Sunayana dies grieving for her daughter, and Bharati, for whose coronation her father had ousted Sita, does not ascend to the throne, but rules only on Princess Sita’s behalf, placing her kangans (bracelets) on the throne.

Sita, Lakshita, and Rama travel towards north and live on the produces of the forest. One day a demon tries to seduce the sisters. Lakshita, the short-tempered one, cuts the nose and ears of the demon. The demon goes and complains to her sister Mandodari, the mighty ten-headed queen of Lanka. To avenge her brother’s mistreatment, the queen abducts Rama Chandra by treachery, and then pressures him to marry her. But the ever-loyal Rama doesn’t even lift his eyes to see her.

Sita and Lakshita try to find Rama. In their venture they befriend a monkey tribe. One member of that tribe named Hanuwati becomes Sita’s lifelong loyal servant. Together they invade the castle of the demon queen. After a lengthy fight, Sita is able to kill Mandodari and free Rama Chandra.

Since Rama had lived in the demon’s captivity, Sita asks him to prove his purity by taking a fire test. Rama willingly jumps into the fire and comes out unharmed.

Rama's Agnipariksha
 (Modified from a picture on this page)

Sita, Lakshita, and Rama now return to Mithila in an aircraft, and the jubilant crowd celebrates the first Diwali ever.

Sita is crowned the queen of Mithila and she lives happily with Rama. But in the coming days, people of Mithila start pointing fingers at Rama’s chastity in spite of his earlier ordeal by fire. To appease her subjects, Queen Sita banishes Rama to the forest. He also takes away their newborn twins with him and lives in the ashram of a holy woman named Valmika.

After many years the grown up twins appear in the court of Queen Sita and recite the story of Rama’s exile before her. On hearing it, Sita is filled with remorse. Valmika then produces her husband before her. But Rama prays to mother earth to take him away, who obliges and he is gone for good. Later Sita realizes that her mission in this world has been accomplished and she too returns to her celestial abode.

This epic tale exemplifies ideal behavior for everyone, especially for men. During their bachelorhood, they should obey their mothers, and after marriage, they should be loyal and subservient to their wives and mothers-in-law.

Everyone should own a copy of Sita Charita Manasa. Just placing it in your temple will purify the surroundings. Reading it twice a day with complete faith and devotion will bring peace, prosperity, and happiness in your lives.

Jai Devi Sita! Wish you all a very happy and prosperous Diwali!

* This newer version called Sita Charita Manas is published by The Grist Mill (All Rights Reserved)
Related Links:
Valmiki Ramayana text with meaning 
Srimad Bhagvadgita, Hanuman Chalisa, and Ram Charita Manas by Gita Press
The other versions of Ramayana
Update1: NINAPALEY.COM: Yes to Sita, No to Ram! by Madhu Kishwar via Indian Homemaker 
Update 2: Sita Sings the Blues A movie (1:21:31) by Nina Paley via rindojustrindo