The Untold Story of Seeta

This is Seeta’s Diary; from her unusual appearance to the completion of her duties on this earth Seeta’s life takes many twists and turns. Discovering Seeta’s sharp mind her father the King of Videha Janak encourages her to attend the philosophical debates in his court at Mithila. Through her growing years Seeta comes in contact with Rishi Yaagnavalkya and his wives Katyayani and Maitreyi; and the great Sage Gargi who teaches her great yogic secrets. In later years Seeta has the good fortune of meeting wives of great Rishis – the sagacious Arundhati, Annasuya and Lopamudra who give her sound advice to deal with her life. When Gargi, the daughter of Rishi Vachaknu, got up to speak I couldn’t take my eyes off her, she was so eloquent, so graceful and yet so powerful. Once she even took on Rishi Yaagnavalkya himself, the Rishi had silenced many a speaker in the past, but at one point, even he was at a loss to answer Gargi. In Ayodhya Arundhati the wife of Rishi Vashistha says “……Without the experience, you wouldn’t grow into who you are meant to be. The past has gone, the future is wrapped in mystery, what we have in the present is this instant.” As Seeta grows in a beautiful maiden Janak, realises that his daughter is truly special – My father happened to be passing by, he stopped, “Janaki! What did you just do?” he asked; I was perplexed I just held out the ball. “Where was the ball?” was the next question, I pointed to the place under the box. “How did you reach it?” his voice was urgent. ……… the box contained the bow of Shiva which had been given to the Janaks for safe keeping by Sage Parshuram, while he did penance in the forests. ………………………My father told me that the bow was very heavy and an ordinary mortal could not even move the bow leave alone lift it; Janak now organises a Swayamwar for Seeta where prospective suitors must string Shiva’s bow to win Seeta’s hand in marriage. At first I did not see anybody and so I moved out further into the temple courtyard, the tinkling of the bells on my anklets must have caught the attention of princes and one of them turned around. Just then I caught sight of him………” Ram the son of King Dashrath of Ayodhya wins the challenge at the Swayamwar and is married to Seeta. In Ayodhya Seeta and Ram discover each other and become great friends. Queen Kaikeyi told me that Ram loved mango pickle. I wondered who would tell our husbands what we girls liked, - or was that not important? Life now takes a strange turn. King Dashrath announces his decision to anoint Ram as King after him. Queen Kaikeyi, Dashrath’s favourite queen stakes a claim for her son Bharat. He told me in the same expressionless voice of the day before, “My father wants me to spend fourteen years in the forest and I must leave immediately”. Seeta chooses to accompany Ram into the forest; they are accompanied by Lakshman Ram’s brother. Life in the forest is not uneventful and tests their grit and courage they pass the tests and return to Ayodhya to a rousing welcome. Life seems to be wanting to return to normal, but – One morning he said to me, “Seeta would you like to go and live in Mithila for sometime?” Seeta makes a choice. Queen Kaikeyi once challenged the principle of primogeniture and almost changed the destiny of Ayodhya but of all the players Seeta rises to the challenge and her purpose on earth is over.