Sita Navami is an important day of Hindu religion. This day is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Goddess Sita. Married women observe a fast on the day of Sita Navami and pray for the long life of their husbands. Sita Navami is also known as Sita Jayanti and Janaki Navami. Sita Jayanti is celebrated on the ninth day of Shukla Paksha of Vaishakh month. It is believed that Mother Sita was born on Tuesday in Pushya Nakshatra. Goddess Sita was married to Lord Rama. Lord Rama was also born on Navami Tithi during Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month. In the Hindu calendar, Sita Jayanti comes one month after Ram Navami.

Goddess Sita was the adopted daughter of King Janak of Mithila. Hence this day is also known as Janaki Navami. According to Hindu mythology, when King Janaka was plowing the land to perform a yajna, he found a baby girl in a gold coffin. A plowed land was called ‘Sita’ so King Janak named the girl Sita.

On the day of Sita Navami, special worship and rituals are performed in Lord Rama and Janaki temples across the country. Temples are decorated with flowers and lights. Bhajan programs are also organized at various places after the recitation of Ramayana. Some take out Ram Rath Yatra through the temple and chant ‘Jai Siya Ram’ and sing devotional songs all the way.

Life of Goddess Sita

The king of Mithila –‘ Janaka’ was once plowing the land to conduct a Yajna and he found a baby girl in the Golden casket. This girl was none other than Goddess Sita who is also known as Janaki. She soon became famous as a very beautiful and lovely princess. Many strong warriors came to attempt to bend Shiva’s bow – the condition of Sita’s Swayambar. No one succeeded of course! Rama easily took the bow and did not only bend it but snapped it into many pieces! Rama wed Sita and she became the wife of the great Lord Shri Ram.

They faced many challenges after marriage. Due to in-home politics and the selfishness of other family members; Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana had to leave for many years of exile. They lived a life of nomads and also created history. Many obstacles came their way among which the abduction of Goddess Sita by Ravana was the worst. Lord Ram, Laxman, Hanuman, and their troop fought with the Asura King Ravana and brought back the Goddess.

After returning the people of Ayodhya raised questions about the purity of the Goddess as she had spent many nights in the kingdom of Lanka. This made Rama also answer the queries of his kingdom. Goddess Sita first stayed away from her husband and raised her kids Luv and Kush in an ashram and then sacrificed herself to mother earth by sinking into the deeps of the earth.

Mata Sita is said to be the incarnation of Goddess Laxmi and Lord Vishnu. Sita is known for her self-sacrifice, dedication, purity, and courage. She is also known as a mortal or mother of gods and all living beings. The worshippers are blessed with growth, intelligence, and prosperity. Goddess Sita symbolizes purity and fertility. The married women keep fast on this day for the long life of their husband.

Puja Vidhi & Rituals

–        Arrangements are made for a puja mandap with four pillars.

–        Idols of King Janak, Mata Sunayana God Ram and Mata Sita are placed.

–        Ingredients like Til, rice, and barley are used.

–        Vrat Katha and the life story of Goddess Sita are read during the puja.

–        Women keep fast are to ensure the long, happy, and prosperous life of their husbands.

–        People do pooja of Lord Rama and Mata Sita together to get a married life like them. Those who perform this vrat are said to get qualities like modesty, sacrifice, dedication, and motherhood.

–        At places like Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, Bhadrachalam in Andhra Pradesh, Sita Samahit Sthal in Bihar, and Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, this festival is given lots of importance.

–        In temples, Darshan, Arati, and Maha-Abhishek are performed. Yatra is done by making idols of Maa Sita, Lord Rama Hanuman, and Lakshmana.

–        Ramayana is read by sitting in groups in the nearby temple. Bhajan Kirtan and aartis are done on this occasion as well.

Facts about Goddess Sita

The Puranas say that Devi Sita was, in reality, the daughter of Ravana and Mandodari. According to predictions, the firstborn of Mandodari was said to be the cause of the destruction of his entire existence. Hence, Ravana had abandoned her and ordered the child to be buried away in a distant land, which was then discovered by King Janak and his wife to be raised as the princess of Mithila.

Another story goes that she was probably an incarnation of Vedvati, whom Ravan had tried to molest while she was under penance. Vedvati was a beautiful lady and wanted to become the consort of Lord Vishnu. She then cursed Ravana to become the cause of his destruction in her next birth.

Another very interesting fact mentioned in some versions of Ramayana is of Maya Sita (Devi Sita’s illusionary version). According to these, it was Maya Sita who was actually abducted by Ravana, whereas the real Sita took refuge with the fire god Agni. She was living in the abode of Goddess Parvati and then returned to Lord Ram after the war got over. Maya Sita is then said to have been reborn as Draupadi in her next life.

Sita had certain miraculous powers. While playing with her sisters she had unknowingly moved the table over which the “Shiva Dhanush” had been placed; which was something no one in the palace could do. This incident made King Janaka decide that the ‘Shiva Dhanush’ would be the challenge for her Swayambar.

There is also a narration about Sita’s brother Bhamandala. He did not know that Sita was his sister to marry her. He even wanted to abduct her. This story ends when Bhamandala, after learning that Sita is his sister, becomes a Jain ascetic.