Drik Panchang
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Drik Panchang
Goddess Sita, also known as Mata Sita, is the female protagonist of the prominent Hindu scripture and epic, Ramcharitmanas. According to scripture, when Lord Vishnu incarnated as Lord Rama during the Treta Yuga, Goddess Lakshmi also descended to Earth as Goddess Sita to carry out her responsibilities as Lord Rama's devoted wife. Due to being daughter of King Janaka, Goddess Sita is also known as Janaki, Janakatmaja and Janaksuta.
According to Ramayana, once there was a severe famine in Mithila. The Rajapurohita i.e. royal priest advised King Janaka to perform Vedic Anushthana like Yajnas and suggested him to plough the fields himself to protect the people from this famine. While King Janaka was ploughing the land for Yajna, the plough got stuck in a golden chest buried in the earth.
King Janaka opened the golden chest out of curiosity and saw a beautiful girl inside it. Following the instructions of Maharishi Yajnavalkya, Devi Sunayana raised Devi Sita. Since she emerged from the earth, she is also known as Bhumiputri or Bhusuta which means 'daughter of the earth'. According to the Hindu Panchang, Goddess Sita was born on Vaishakh Shukla Navami in the kingdom of King Janaka, presently known as Sitamarhi, Bihar.
The story of the birth of Goddess Sita is also found in Adbhuta Ramayana. According to the Adbhuta Ramayana, there was a great sage named Gritsamada. He was performing an intense penance to get Goddess Lakshmi as his daughter. One day, in the absence of the sage Gritsamada, the demon king Ravana attacked his Ashrama and killed all the sages present there. After killing all the sages, Ravana collected their blood in a pot. Ravana carried that pot filled with blood back to Lanka and concealed it in His palace.
One day out of curiosity, Mandodari, the wife of Ravana opened that pot and drank the blood. As a result of drinking the blood, Mandodari became pregnant and gave birth to a beautiful girl. Owing to the fear of Ravana, Mandodari placed the newborn girl back into the pot and hid it in the land of Mithila. According to the story, the same girl was later found by King Janaka as Goddess Sita.
King Shiladhwaja Janaka is the father of Goddess Sita and Devi Sunayana is Her mother. Goddess Sita has three sisters named Urmila, Mandavi and Shrutakirti. Goddess Sita is married to Lord Rama. Goddess Sita has two sons, Lava and Kusha. King Janaka had vowed that Goddess Sita would marry the brave man who could string the great bow of Lord Shiva. Despite the attempts of many kings, none succeeded in stringing the bow or even lifting it. Eventually, Lord Rama broke the bow and Goddess Sita got married to Him.
After the marriage between Lord Rama and Goddess Sita was fixed, the marriages of other sisters of Goddess Sita were also arranged with the brothers of Lord Rama. Consequently, Urmila was married to Lakshmana, Mandavi to Bharata and Shrutakirti to Shatrughna.
Goddess Sita is depicted with a very calm, serene and simple demeanour. She is adorned with various types of golden jewellery. One of Her hands is in the Varada Mudra and the other is in the Abhaya Mudra. In the depiction of Goddess Sita, Her complexion and attire resemble to Goddess Lakshmi. She is often portrayed seated on a divine throne alongside Lord Ramachandra.
General Mantra -
Shri Janaki Ramabhyam Namah।
Moola Mantra -
Shri Sitayai Namah।
Goddess Sita Gayatri Mantra -
Om Janakaya Vidmahe Rama Priyaya Dhimahi।
Tanno Sita Prachodayat॥
Sita Navami falls on the Shukla Paksha Navami Tithi of Vaishakha Hindu month. Sita Navami is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Goddess Sita. This day is also known as Sita Jayanti. On this day, married women observe fast for the long life of their husbands.
Names and Mantras of Goddess Sita are given with meaning and recitation video.
This Aarti dedicated to Goddess Sita is very popular. This Aarti is sung on special festivals of Goddess Sita and in daily worship by Her devotees.
Shri Sitarama Aarti is given with lyrics and recitation video. Singing it brings blessings from both Lord Rama and Goddess Sita.
