Nine Ideal Indian Women:Part A

Sita

The King-Farmer named Janaka was childless. One day he came upon a gold pitcher in the ground with a baby girl inside. Everyone rejoiced and welcomed the baby girl. She was incredibly beautiful. A year later, King Janaka's wife gave birth to a daughter and his sister-in-law gave birth to twins. 

Many people wanted to marry Sita. The great Brahamin Parashurama left a bow and told him to grant her hand to who ever breaks it, if someone did before he returned. Prince Rama showed up at about 16 years old. He and Sita fell immediately in love, and he was able to break the bow. A Sun-Prince for a Moon-Princess! Janaka and Mithila were very sad about losing their princess. They would miss her greatly. 

As they were leaving, Parashurama was returning and met the the marriage procession. He wanted to fight Rama for marrying Sita and breaking his bow. Parashurama challenged him to string him another bow, and Rama did it easily, defeating Parashurama without a fight. 

Keykaya, one of Dasaratha's favorite wife, was found in a disorderly fashion. She told the king a terrible statement, that she wanted Rama to be banished and he son Bharata to be crowned. Rama had to go because it was his duty, and Sita and Rama's brother went with him. 

While they were exiled, the pair were in in the woods, away from civilization. A woman, Surpanakha, the sister of Ravana, approached Rama and tried to seduce him. He told her he was already married and to try Lakshmana, he cut off her nose. Maricha pretended to be Rama, dying, but Lakshmana did not leave until he drew protective lines on the ground. An old Yogi approached Sita, who was actually Ravan Sita. The yogi was extremely starving, so Sita gathered him some fruit and pulled her out of the lines by her outstretched arm. Ravan then took Sita on his chariot to Lanka, where he begged her to marry him, but she refused.

Sita asks Rama to get the Golden Deer

Sita while in captivity became friends with Sarama, the wife of Bibbisan, and told her of the plans of the her rescue mission. Sita listened to the entire battle between Rama and Ravana. Rama refused to look at her, and he wanted to know if she was still true to him. He doubted her fidelity, but she passed a test by fire (Agni). 

Rama and Sita returned after 14 years, and Bharata welcomed them. Everyone but Queen KeyKeya welcomed them and Rama forgave her and thanked her for the lessons he learned. 

Rama decided to desert Sita but couldn't do it himself and made his brother do it. She was taken in by the sage  Valmiki and gave birth to Lava and Kusha. The boys were not told who their father was growing up. When her sons defeated their uncle and confronted their father and learned of their royal blood, Rama asked for Sita to returned. Sita did not want any reconciliation and returned to her mother, Mother Earth, because she could give no other proof of her chaste than fire. 

Bibliography 

Nine Ideal Indian Women, By Maharanee Sunity Devee