Mata Sita: Shri Ram's Consort in the Ramcharitmanas
Mata Sita is the beloved consort of Shri Ram and the Mother of the universe. Goswami Tulsidas opens the Ramcharitmanas by bowing to Her as the source of creation, sustenance and dissolution, who removes suffering and bestows blessings. Her life reveals devotion through prayer, companionship in exile and the anguish of separation from Shri Ram.
The divine Mother prays in Janakpur
Mata Sita's divine nature is established before Her story unfolds. In the Bal Kand invocation, verse 5, Goswami Tulsidas bows to Her as the power responsible for creation, sustenance and dissolution. We should carry this understanding into the tender scenes that follow.
In Bal Kand, doha 228, Mata Sita enters the garden with Her companions and worships Girija, asking for a husband worthy of Her. By doha 257, She repeatedly looks towards Shri Ram and prays with tears of love. Her prayer reveals the depth of Her affection.
Bal Kand, doha 286, describes Her relief and joy after Shri Ram breaks Shiva's bow. Divine greatness and tender feeling appear together. Read Her prayer with both in mind.
Companionship through the hardship of exile
Love remains steadfast when circumstances change. In Ayodhya Kand, doha 60, Shri Ram explains the advantages and difficulties of forest life to Mata Sita. The hardship receives careful attention. By doha 104, She proceeds towards the forest with Him and Lakshman.
The affection surrounding Her also becomes a call to service. In Ayodhya Kand, doha 75, Sumitra instructs Lakshman to care for Shri Ram and Mata Sita so sincerely that they forget the comforts of the city. She blesses him with devotion that remains constant and grows ever fresh.
Ayodhya Kand, doha 141, presents Shri Ram with Mata Sita and Lakshman in a hut of leaves. Their dwelling is simple, yet the description is full of grace. Let their companionship teach us to express love through attentive care.
Separation in Lanka and the Mother's dignity
Mata Sita's suffering in Lanka must be read with care. In Sunderkand, doha 11, She reflects on Ravan's threat to kill Her after a month. The accompanying explanation makes a precise distinction: Her anguish concerns the long interval before the threatened death. Separation from Shri Ram has become unbearable.
Here, one may wonder how the Mother of the universe can experience such sorrow. The Ramcharitmanas places Her divine identity beside the intensity of Her love. In Lanka Kand, doha 62, even Kumbhkaran condemns Ravan for abducting Janaki, the Mother of the universe. The name Janaki here refers to Mata Sita.
By Lanka Kand, doha 112, Indra beholds Her with Shri Ram and Lakshman and offers praise. Keep Her divine dignity in mind while reading every scene of Her distress.
Verses
उद्भवस्थितिसंहारकारिणीं क्लेशहारिणीम्। सर्वश्रेयस्करीं सीतां नतोऽहं रामवल्लभाम्॥ ५ ॥
I bow to Sītā, the beloved consort of Śrī Rāma, who is responsible for the creation, sustenance and dissolution of the universe, removes afflictions and begets all blessings. (5)
Bal Kand, Invocationदेखि देखि रघुबीर तन सुर मनाव धरि धीर। भरे बिलोचन प्रेम जल पुलकावली सरीर॥२५७॥
Gazing repeatedly on the person of Śrī Rāma and gathering courage Sītā prayed to gods. Her eyes were filled with tears of love and the hair on Her body stood on end. (257)
Bal Kand, Doha 257तब गनपति सिव सुमिरि प्रभु नाइ सुरसरिहि माथ। सखा अनुज सिय सहित बन गवनु कीन्ह रघुनाथ॥१०४॥
Then the Lord invoked Śrī Gaṇeśa and Lord Śiva; and bowing His head to the celestial stream Gaṅgā, Śrī Raghunātha proceeded to the woods with His friend Guha, His younger brother Lakṣmaṇa and Sītā. (104)
Ayodhya Kand, Doha 104जहँ तहँ गईं सकल तब सीता कर मन सोच। मास दिवस बीतें मोहि मारिहि निसिचर पोच॥११॥
Then they all dispersed in various directions and Sītā anxiously thought within Herself: ‘At the end of a long month this vile monster will slay me.’† (11) † As appears from what follows, it is not death that Sītā dreads, but the long interval of a month which has to elapse before Her threatened death.
Sunderkand, Doha 11
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Who is Mata Sita in the Ramcharitmanas?
Mata Sita is Shri Ram's beloved consort, whom Goswami Tulsidas reveres as the divine Mother. In the Bal Kand invocation, verse 5, he attributes creation, sustenance and dissolution to Her and bows to Her as the giver of blessings. This opening guides how we read Her prayers, affection and suffering throughout the story.
Did Mata Sita go into exile with Shri Ram?
Yes. Mata Sita accompanies Shri Ram and Lakshman into the forest. Ayodhya Kand, doha 60, records Shri Ram explaining forest life to Her, including its difficulties. Doha 104 describes their departure towards the woods with Guha. Later, doha 141 presents Mata Sita with Shri Ram and Lakshman in their hut of leaves.
Was Mata Sita afraid of dying in Lanka?
Sunderkand, doha 11, records Mata Sita thinking about Ravan's threat to kill Her after a month. The accompanying explanation says that She dreads the long wait before the threatened death. Her anguish expresses the pain of separation from Shri Ram. This distinction helps us understand what troubles Her in that passage.