1. Birth of Rama
Ram’s father Dasharath had a total of three wives although he had no children from any of his wives, as he was infertile. So he let her wife perform the Ashvamedha Yajna (having sex with a dead horse), in order to obtain an off-spring,
Valmiki Ramayana 1.14.33-35
With great delight coming on her Queen Kausalya reverently made circumambulations to the horse, and symbolically killed the horse with three knives. Queen Kausalya desiring the results of ritual disconcertedly resided one night with that horse that flew away like a bird. Thus, the officiating priests of the ritual, namely hota, adhwaryu and udgaata have received in their hand the Crowned Queen, the neglected wife, and a concubine of the king, next as a symbolic donation in the ritual by the performer, the king.” (source)
2. Birth of Sita
Sita was born from the Earth, later she was adopted by King Janaka,
Valmiki Ramayana 1.66.13b-14a
Later, when I was ploughing the ritual field then raised by the plough [from the furrow is a baby girl… since she is] gained while consecrating the ritual-field, she is named as Seetha, and thus she is renowned.” (source)
Agni Purana 5.10-12
At the instance of (the sage) Śatānanda and on account of the glory of Viśvāmitra, that sage being shown due respects by the king at the sacrifice and Rāma being informed, sportively pulled the bow and broke it. (King) Janaka gave Sītā, the girl not born of the womb, and associated with a prize bid, to Rāma. And when the parents had come, Rāma also married that Jānakī (Sītā). In the same way Lakṣmaṇa (also married) Urmilā.” (source)
3. Age of Sita at the time of marriage with Rama
Valmiki Ramayana 3.47.3-11
I am the daughter of noble-souled Janaka, the king of Mithila, by name I am Seetha, and the dear wife and queen of Rama, let safety betide you. On residing in the residence of Ikshvaku-s in Ayodhya for twelve years, I was in sumptuosity of all cherishes while relishing all humanly prosperities. In the thirteenth year the lordly king Dasharatha deliberated together with his imperial ministers to anoint Rama as Crown Prince of Ayodhya. When Raghava’s anointment was being organised my venerable mother-in-law known as Kaikeyi begged her husband Dasharatha for a boon. Restraining my veracious father-in-law by a good deecronce done by her in this respect, Kaikeyi besought two boons from him, namely expatriation of my husband, and anointment of her son Bharata. ‘If Rama is anointed now, come what may I will not eat, sleep, or drink, and my life ends this way, thus Kaikeyi was adamantine, and the king and my father-in-law entreated her who is nagging with meaningful riches, but she did not make good on that entreaty. My great-resplendent husband was of twenty-five years of age at that time, and to me eighteen years are reckoned up from my birth.” (source)
If we do a little math here, we can understand that Sita was 18 years old when she went into exile with her husband. Before the exile, she had spent 12 years with her husband in the house of King Dasharatha. So, if we deduct the age of Sita at the time of exile (18 years) and the number of years she spent in the house of King Dasharatha (12 years), we get:
18 – 12 = 6 years old
Skanda Purana clearly states that Sita was married when she was only six years old,
Skanda Purana 3.2.30.8-9
The bow of Isvara that was kept in the abode of Janaka, was broken. In his fifteenth year, O king, Rama married the six year old beautiful daughter of the king of Mithila, Sita who was not born of a womb. On getting Sita, Raghava became contented and happy.” (source)
34. Rama’s love for meat, liquor and dancing girls
• Meat
Valmiki Ramayana 2.96.1
Having shown Mandakini River in that manner to Seetha, the daughter of Mithila, Rama set on the hill-side in order to gratify her appetite with a piece of flesh.” (source)
Valmiki Ramayana 2.52.102
Having hunted there four deer, namely Varaaha, Rishya, Prisata; and Mahaaruru (the four principal species of deer) and taking quickly the portions that were pure, being hungry as they were, Rama and Lakshmana reached a tree to take rest in the evening.” (source)
Valmiki Ramayana 2.56.22
Oh, Lakshmana! Bring the meat of an antelope. We shall perform a purifactory ceremony while entering the house. Which is to be done by those who wish to live long.” (source)
Valmiki Ramayana 2.56.25
Oh, gentle brother! Boil this antelope’s meat. We shall worship the leaf-hut. This day and this instant also are of a distinctive character. Be quick.” (source)
Valmiki Ramayana 2.56.27-28
This black antelope, with its complete limbs, has been cooked completely by me. Oh, Rama resembling God! Worship the concerned deity, as you are skilled in that act.” (source)
Valmiki Ramayana 2.55.33
Thereafter having travelled only a couple of miles the two brothers Rama and Lakshmana killed many consecrated deer and ate in the river-forest of Yamuna.” (source)
Valmiki Ramayana 3.47.23
Be comfortable for a moment, here it is possible for you to make a sojourn, and soon my husband will be coming on taking plentiful forest produce, and on killing stags, mongooses, wild boars he fetches meat, aplenty.” (source)
• Liquor
Valmiki Ramayana 7.42.18-23
Taking Sita by the hand, Kakutstha gave her delicious wine made of distilled honey to drink, as formerly Purandara had offered to Saci. Thereafter pure viands and fruits of every kind were brought by servants, whilst lovely Apsaras, skilled in the arts of singing and dancing, began to perform in the Prince’s presence and troops of Nymphs and Uragas, surrounded by the Kinneris intoxicated with wine, danced before Kakutstha, and the virtuous Rama, the most captivating of warriors, delighted those ravishing and charming women.” (source)
Valmiki Ramayana 2.55.19-20
Having arrived at the middle of Yamuna river, Seetha offered salutation to the river and prayed as follows: “Oh, goddess of Yamuna! Adieu! I am crossing you! May my husband complete his vow! When Rama safely comes back again towards the city of Ayodhya, ruled by Ikshvaku kings I shall propitiate you by offering a thousand cows and a hundred drinking vessels.” (source)
Skanda Purana 7.1.202.31-32
The Brahmanas assembled there, were well-versed in the Puranas and were glad to listen to the stories and conducts of the primordial celestial sages. On seeing Rama with eyes reddened due to drinking wine they thought, ‘He is thoroughly drunk’, and hurriedly got up and began to honour and adore Halayudha excepting Suta who continued to sit.” (source)
• Dancing girls
Valmiki Ramayana 7.42.22-24
Thereafter pure viands and fruits of every kind were brought by servants, whilst lovely Apsaras, skilled in the arts of singing and dancing, began to perform in the Prince’s presence and troops of Nymphs and Uragas, surrounded by the Kinneris intoxicated with wine, danced before Kakutstha, and the virtuous Rama, the most captivating of warriors, delighted those ravishing and charming women.” (source)
5. How Hanuman confronted Sita
Valmiki Ramayana 5.15.28b-29
Hanuma saw Seetha with a face like full moon, with beautiful eyebrows, with graceful rounded breasts, by the radiance making all directions without darkness, goddess like with black hair, with lips like bimba fruit, with a good waist, very firm, with eyes like lotus petals, like Rati the consort of god of love.” (source)
6. Ram openly describes Sita’s body
Valmiki Ramayana 3.63.8-10
Those two roundish bosoms of my ladylove which always deserved the application of pleasantly looking red-sandalwood’s paste might definitely be unshiny, as they might be bedaubed with muddy blood when they are extricated from her body for devouring. She has a sweet, softish, and very clear talkativeness on her lips. That visage with such lips is crowned with a hairdo with hair lumped together and plaited, such as her visage is, it must have become unshiny on her going into the repression of demon, as with an unshiny moon when repressed in the mouth of eclipsing planet Raahu, it is definite. The contours of the neck of that strait-laced ladylove of mine are always worthy for necklaces and chain-wears. The bloodthirsty demons would have indeed mangled that neck in a secluded place and they might have drunk her blood, it is definite.” (source)
Even Sita openly describes her own body,
Valmiki Ramayana 6.48.10-11
My temples, eyes, arms, feet, ankles and thighs are homogenous and well-proportioned. My fingers have well-rounded and glossy nails, having a right length. My breasts are close to each other, fully developed and have depressed nipples. My navel is deeply idented. My flanks and bosom are well-formed.” (source)
7. Heated argument between Sita and Lakshmana
Hanumanth Rao summarizes it as: “Seetha rebukes Lakshmana for he is still here, loitering away even after listening Rama’s cry for help. She goes to the extent of slandering him as having intents to woo her, at the cost of Rama’s life. Lakshmana tries to pacify her but in vain, as she persists in her rash talk. Lakshmana leaves her alone and starts to reach Rama, broken-heartedly…”
Valmiki Ramayana 3.45.5b-7a
You are like a foe of your brother in friend’s mien, Soumitri, as you are not making a move towards a brother even if he is in an emergency. Because of me you wish Rama to be completely destroyed, and only because of your cupidity for me you are not following up on Raghava. It is definite.” (source)
Valmiki Ramayana 3.45.21b-2
You are a debased one devoid of mercy, thus a dreadful one, and a degrader of your dynasty, and I deem that you derive pleasure from fatal hardship to Rama.” (source)
Valmiki Ramayana 3.45.28b-31a
I do not venture to reply you Maithili, as you are like a deity to me. Women using words that are in a class by themselves is not at all surprising. This sort of bringing stilted words into play is the nature of women and it is obvious in the world. “Women by their nature are unbound by the etiquette of decency, whimsical, cantankerous and they tend to become the artificers of vicissitudes, and oh, Vaidehi, the daughter of Janaka, indeed unbearable are this kind of words that are much the same as burnt iron arrows thrust in between my two ears.” (source)
8. Sita accuses Laxman of eyeing her
Mahabharata 3.276
Then Lakshmana said to her, “Timid lady, thou hast no cause of fear! Who is so powerful as to be able to smite Rama? O thou of sweet smiles, in a moment thou wilt behold thy husband Rama!’ Thus addressed, the chaste Sita, from that timidity which is natural to women, became suspicious of even the pure Lakshmana, and began to weep aloud. And that chaste lady, devoted to her husband, harshly reproved Lakshmana, saying, ‘The object which thou, O fool, cherishest in thy heart, shall never be fulfilled! I would rather kill myself with a weapon or throw myself from the top of a hill or enter into a blazing fire than live with a sorry wretch like thee, forsaking my husband Rama, like a tigress under the protection of a jackal!” (source)
9. Sita was physically abused by Jayant, the son of Indra
Valmiki Ramayana 5.38.11-28
Then, a crow, yearning for meat, began to peck me. Picking up a clod of earth, I prevented the crow from its act. Pecking me again and again, the crow was hiding there only. That crow, yearning for food, did not resist from meat. While I was angry with that bird, my skirt was slipping and I was pulling its string (so as to tighten it). I was seen by you then. Moved by anger, I felt abashed for being laughed at by you. Torn down by the crow, which was yearning for food, I sought shelter with you. Feeling tired, I again settled on your lap. As though angry, I was consoled by you and I was fully delighted. Slowly wiping my eyes, my face filled with tears, I was seen by you, O Lord, as having been annoyed by the crow. I even slept for a long time on Rama’s lap because of my fatigue. In his turn, Rama the elder brother of Bharata, slept in my arms. Meanwhile, the same crow appeared there. Descending all of a sudden, the crow clawed me at the space between the breasts, even as I awoke from my sleep and rose from the lap of Rama. Flying up again, it tore me up a lot. Then, Rama got wet by the discharged drops of blood. Thereafter, that splendorous Rama, the annihilator of enemies, who was in a pleasant slumber, was woken up by that crow and by me who was grievously tormented by the crow. That long-armed Rama, seeing me pierced violently on the breasts, then spoke the following words, hissing like an angry serpant. O Seetha the round-thighed woman! Who has wounded the space between your breasts? who is playing with a fire-faced serpent filled with fury? Then, throwing a glance around, Rama saw that crow with its sharp claws moistened with blood and sitting in front of me alone. That crow, the best among birds, seems to be the son of Indra the Lord of celestials, staying in mountains and moving with a peed equal to the wind.” (source)
10. Rama had more than one wife
Valmiki Ramayana 2.8.12
Rama’s wives will get delighted. Your daughters-in-law will be unhappy because of Bharata’s waning position.” (source)
11. For how many days did Sita live in the house of Ravana?
Sita is said to have lived in the house of Ravana for 11 months and 14 days,
Padma Purana 5.36.76
Maithilī (i.e. Sītā) lived without Rāma in the house of Rāvaṇa for eleven months and fourteen days.” (source)
12. Rama abandons Sita
Valmiki Ramayana 1.1.82-84
Then Rama spoke harsh words to Seetha among the assemblages of monkeys, demons, and others, but she that Seetha being husband-devout has entered the burning fire intolerant of those unkindly words of Rama. Then, upon the word Fire-god, and Rama realised that Seetha is rid of sins and he is very highly gladdened. And when all the gods reverenced him for his great accomplishment in eliminating Ravana, Rama shone forth with his self-resplendence. Thus all the three worlds inclusive of their mobile and sessile beings, all gods with the observances of hermits have become exultant for this great accomplishment of the great souled Raghava.” (source)
Valmiki Ramayana 6.116.1-29
Hearing the harsh words with indignation, spoken by Rama, which caused her hair to stand on end, Seetha became very much perturbed. Hearing the terrific words of her husband, which were never actually heard by her before, amidst a large gathering of people, Seetha stood bent low with shame. As though her own limbs were pierced by those words, which were arrow-like with pointed splinters, Seetha shed profuse tears. Then, wiping clean her face, which was bathed in tears, she spoke the following words slowly, in a stammering voice to her husband. “O valiant Rama! Why are you speaking such harsh words, which are violent to hear for me, like a common man speaking to a common woman?” “O the long-armed one! I am not the one in the way you understand me. Have a faith in me. I swear to you by my own character.”…Seetha, thus speaking, weeping and stammering with tears, said to Lakshmana, who was sad and engaged in thoughtfulness (as follows): “O Lakshmana! Create a pile of fire, for me, which is a remedy for this disaster. I no longer wish to survive, smitten as am with false blames.” “I will enter a fire, to obtain the only course appropriate for me, who has been abandoned amidst an assembly of men, by my husband who was not satisfied with my traits.”…Thus speaking, Seetha walking around the fire-god, with her mind free from hesitation, entered the blazing fire.” (source)
Padma Purana 5.56.53-64
Then Rama told the words that came out of the washerman’s mouth (i.e. that were uttered by the washerman) and thaat were heard by the spy, to the magnanimous Bharata. Hearing them, Bharata said to his brother who was afflicted with grief: ‘Brahma said: ‘She is pure’ Your father Dasaratha also (said the same thing). (Then) how should she respected by the world, be abandoned merely on (the strength of) the washerman’s worlds. How will it be turbid today due to the worlds of the washerman? Therefore, give up the great grief due to the censure of Sita. Look after the kingdom along with her the very fortunate one who is pregnant. How do you wish to abandon your charming body…Hearing these words of Bharata, the righteous (king), the best among the eloquent, again spoke these words to him: ‘O brother, whatever you say is all just. But by my order, carry out the words which I utter. I know that she is purified in fire, is chaste and is honoured by the world. (But) I am afraid of public scandal. (Therefore) I (shall) abandon my (wife) Janaki. So, taking in your hand a sharp and very fierce sword, (either) cut off (my) head, or abandon (my) wife Janaki in the forest.’ Hearing these words of Rama, Bharata, with tremor in his body and tears (in his eyes), fell unconscious on the ground.” (source)
13. Rama becomes depressed and begs for help from other Gods
Rama becomes depressed and blames himself for having committed bad deeds in his previous lives,
Valmiki Ramayana 3.63.3-6
I am second to none among the blameworthy wrongdoers on this earth, thus I deem, and indeed woe followed by woe are getting at me in seriation to burst my heart and mind…I might have definitely, habitually, and desirably committed damnable deeds in my previous births, and now the result of those impious deeds is very much ripened and has fallen on me, whereby I am entering misery after misery. I am deprived of the kingdom, departed from my own people, mainly Seetha, my father departed and I am detached from my mother, and Lakshmana, when all these setbacks are very deeply thought over they are replenishing the haste of my agony. All this sadness of mine has silenced physically and there is some peace on coming to these desolate forests, in association of Seetha, but with the dissociation of Seetha misery is again upshot, as with fire which flares up in a flash when fuel is added.” (source)
Hence, Rama had to beg for help from the Sun and Air gods in order to find Sita,
Valmiki Ramayana 3.63.16-17
Oh, Sun, you are the knower of performed and unperformed deeds in the world, a wittnesser of good and bad deeds in the world, tell me, who am woefully writhing, to where my ladylove strolled, or is she stolen. Oh, Air, whatsoever is there in the world, wheresoever it might be, or whensoever it might have happened, and whichsoever it might be, and whencesoever it might exist, that cannot possibly be unknown to you. Hence, tell me of the lady from noble heritage… is she stolen, or slain, or strayed her steps…” Thus Rama begged of the Eternals for locating Seetha.” (source)
14. Rama and Sita commits suicide
Ram commits suicide by drowning himself into the Sarayu River,
Valmiki Ramayana 7.110
When he had proceeded about six miles, the Pride of the Raghus beheld the sacred waters of the Sarayu flowing westwards, eddying and rippling in their course, and he went on further to the Goprataraka Ghata, his subjects thronging round him on all sides. At that momemnt, as Kakutsth was preparing to ascent to heaven. Brahma, the Grandsire of the World, surrounded by the Gods and the illustrious Rishis adorned with jewels, appeared seated in their aerial chariots, and the whole firmament glowed with a transcendent splendour…Thereafter to the sound of a myriad instruments and the singing of the Gandharvas and Apsaras, Rama stepped into the waters, whereupon the Grandsire, from on high, uttered these words: ‘Hail O Vishnu! Hail O Raghava! With thy God-like brothers, now enter thine eternal abode! Return to thien body if thou so desirest, O Long-armed warrior! Occupy the realm of Vishnu or the shining ether…Hearing these words of the Grandsire, the supremely virtuous Rama formed his resolution and entered Vishnu’s abode in his body with his younger brothers…” (source)
Valmiki Ramayana 7.110
At that time, whosoever entered the water of the Sarayu River, yielding up their lives gladly, their eyes suffused with tears of ecstasy, and, having abandoned their bodies, took their places in a celestial chariot. As for those in animal form, who entered the waters of the Sarayu in hundreds, they ascended to the Third Heaven in divinely resplendent bodies…” (source)
Sita also, commits suicide much before Rama did.
Valmiki Ramayana 7.97
If, in thought, I have neve dwelt on any but Rama, may the Goddess Madhavi receive me!’ As Vaidehi was still speaking, a miracle took place and, from the earth rose a marvellous celestial throne supported on the heads of Nagas of immeasurable power, their bodies adorned with divine gems. The Goddess Dharani, bidding her welcome, took Maithili in her arms, causing her to be seated on that celestial seat and, while she occupied the throne, a shower of blossoms fell without ceasing from the sky. Then the Gods bursts into loud acclamations, crying ‘Excellent! Excellent! O Sita thy virtue is supreme!’… The entire assembly witnessed Sita’s descent into the earth and, at that moment, a great tremor passed through the whole world.” (source)
