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interwiki-bn mw-list-item"><a href="https://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC%E0%A6%BE_%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE" title="মায়া সীতা – Bangla" lang="bn" hreflang="bn" data-title="মায়া সীতা" data-language-autonym="বাংলা" data-language-local-name="Bangla" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>বাংলা</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_Sita" title="Maya Sita – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Maya Sita" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-gu mw-list-item"><a href="https://gu.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AA%AE%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%AF%E0%AA%BE_%E0%AA%B8%E0%AB%80%E0%AA%A4%E0%AA%BE" title="માયા સીતા – Gujarati" lang="gu" hreflang="gu" data-title="માયા સીતા" data-language-autonym="ગુજરાતી" data-language-local-name="Gujarati" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ગુજરાતી</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hi mw-list-item"><a href="https://hi.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE" title="माया सीता – Hindi" lang="hi" hreflang="hi" data-title="माया सीता" data-language-autonym="हिन्दी" data-language-local-name="Hindi" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>हिन्दी</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-kn mw-list-item"><a href="https://kn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B2%AE%E0%B2%BE%E0%B2%AF%E0%B2%BE_%E0%B2%B8%E0%B3%80%E0%B2%A4%E0%B2%BE" title="ಮಾಯಾ ಸೀತಾ – Kannada" lang="kn" hreflang="kn" data-title="ಮಾಯಾ ಸೀತಾ" data-language-autonym="ಕನ್ನಡ" data-language-local-name="Kannada" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ಕನ್ನಡ</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ml mw-list-item"><a href="https://ml.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B4%AE%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%AF%E0%B4%BE_%E0%B4%B8%E0%B5%80%E0%B4%A4" title="മായാ സീത – Malayalam" 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Click here for more information."><img alt="This is a good article. Click here for more information." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/94/Symbol_support_vote.svg/19px-Symbol_support_vote.svg.png" decoding="async" width="19" height="20" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/94/Symbol_support_vote.svg/29px-Symbol_support_vote.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/94/Symbol_support_vote.svg/39px-Symbol_support_vote.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="180" data-file-height="185" /></a></span></div></div> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Illusionary duplicate of the Hindu goddess Sita</div> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Ravi_Varma-Ravana_Sita_Jathayu.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Ravi_Varma-Ravana_Sita_Jathayu.jpg/220px-Ravi_Varma-Ravana_Sita_Jathayu.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="317" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Ravi_Varma-Ravana_Sita_Jathayu.jpg/330px-Ravi_Varma-Ravana_Sita_Jathayu.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Ravi_Varma-Ravana_Sita_Jathayu.jpg/440px-Ravi_Varma-Ravana_Sita_Jathayu.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2832" data-file-height="4080" /></a><figcaption>A painting of Ravana kidnapping Sita by <a href="/wiki/Raja_Ravi_Varma" title="Raja Ravi Varma">Raja Ravi Varma</a>. Some versions of the <i>Ramayana</i> narrate that Maya Sita was kidnapped by Ravana instead of the real Sita.</figcaption></figure> <p>In some adaptations of the <a href="/wiki/Hindu_epic" class="mw-redirect" title="Hindu epic">Hindu epic</a> <i><a href="/wiki/Ramayana" title="Ramayana">Ramayana</a></i>, <b>Maya Sita</b> (<a href="/wiki/Sanskrit_language" class="mw-redirect" title="Sanskrit language">Sanskrit</a>: <span lang="sa">माया सीता</span>, "illusional Sita") or <b>Chaya Sita</b> (<span title="Sanskrit-language text"><span lang="sa">छाया सीता</span></span>, "shadow Sita") is the <a href="/wiki/Maya_(illusion)" class="mw-redirect" title="Maya (illusion)">illusionary</a> duplicate of the goddess <a href="/wiki/Sita" title="Sita">Sita</a> (the heroine in the texts), who is abducted by the demon-king <a href="/wiki/Ravana" title="Ravana">Ravana</a> of <a href="/wiki/Lanka" title="Lanka">Lanka</a> instead of the real Sita. </p><p>In the <i>Ramayana</i>, Sita – the consort of <a href="/wiki/Rama" title="Rama">Rama</a> (the prince of <a href="/wiki/Ayodhya_(Ramayana)" title="Ayodhya (Ramayana)">Ayodhya</a> and an <a href="/wiki/Avatar" title="Avatar">avatar</a> of the god <a href="/wiki/Vishnu" title="Vishnu">Vishnu</a>) – is seized by Ravana and imprisoned in Lanka, until she is rescued by Rama, who slays her captor. Sita undergoes Agni Pariksha (an ordeal of fire) by which she proves her chastity before she is accepted by Rama. In some versions of the epic, the fire-god <a href="/wiki/Agni" title="Agni">Agni</a> creates Maya Sita, who takes Sita's place and is abducted by Ravana and suffers his captivity, while the real Sita hides in the fire. At Agni Pariksha, Maya Sita and the real Sita exchange places again. While some texts mention that Maya Sita is destroyed in the flames of Agni Pariksha, others narrate how she is blessed and reborn as the epic heroine <a href="/wiki/Draupadi" title="Draupadi">Draupadi</a> or the goddess <a href="/wiki/Alamelu" class="mw-redirect" title="Alamelu">Padmavati</a>. Some scriptures also mention her previous birth being <a href="/wiki/Vedavati" title="Vedavati">Vedavati</a>, a woman Ravana tries to molest. </p><p>The Maya Sita motif saves Sita – the chief goddess of Rama-centric sects – from falling prey to Ravana's plot of abduction and safeguards her purity. Similar doubles or surrogates of Sita and other goddesses are found in various tales of <a href="/wiki/Hindu_mythology" title="Hindu mythology">Hindu mythology</a>. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Original_plot_of_the_Ramayana">Original plot of the <i>Ramayana</i></h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Maya_Sita&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Original plot of the Ramayana"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The <i>Ramayana</i> (5th to 4th century BCE) by <a href="/wiki/Valmiki" title="Valmiki">Valmiki</a> does not mention Maya Sita. Sita, the princess of <a href="/wiki/Mithila_(ancient)" class="mw-redirect" title="Mithila (ancient)">Mithila</a>, is married to <a href="/wiki/Rama" title="Rama">Rama</a>, the prince of <a href="/wiki/Ayodhya_(Ramayana)" title="Ayodhya (Ramayana)">Ayodhya</a>. Rama is forced to go on a 14-year exile and is accompanied by Sita and his brother <a href="/wiki/Lakshmana" title="Lakshmana">Lakshmana</a>. <a href="/wiki/Ravana" title="Ravana">Ravana</a>, the demon-king of <a href="/wiki/Lanka" title="Lanka">Lanka</a>, plots to abduct Sita, aided by <a href="/wiki/Maricha" title="Maricha">Maricha</a>, who transforms into a magical golden deer (<i>Maya mriga</i>, an illusional deer), that entices Sita. While in exile in <a href="/wiki/Dandakaranya" title="Dandakaranya">Dandakaranya</a> forest, Rama goes after the deer and slays it. The magical deer gives a call of help in Rama's voice. Sita forces Lakshmana to go and help Rama, leaving her alone. Ravana comes disguised as an ascetic and kidnaps her. He imprisons her in the <a href="/wiki/Ashoka_Vatika" title="Ashoka Vatika">Ashoka Vatika</a> grove of Lanka, until she is rescued by Rama, who slays Ravana in war. When Rama doubts Sita's chastity, she undergoes a trial by fire (<a href="/wiki/Agnipravesham" title="Agnipravesham">Agni Pariksha</a>). Sita enters a burning pyre declaring that if she has been faithful to Rama let the fire not harm her; she comes out unscathed with the fire-god <a href="/wiki/Agni" title="Agni">Agni</a> as proof of her purity. Rama accepts Sita back and returns to Ayodhya, where they are crowned as king and queen.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Development">Development</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Maya_Sita&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Development"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Maya_Sita.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Maya_Sita.jpg/300px-Maya_Sita.jpg" decoding="async" width="300" height="79" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Maya_Sita.jpg/450px-Maya_Sita.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/Maya_Sita.jpg 2x" data-file-width="523" data-file-height="138" /></a><figcaption>Folio of the Oriya <i>Vaidehisa Vilasa</i>. Left half: Sita hides in the fire as Maya Sita receives Ravana, disguised as an ascetic. Right half: Maya Sita is abducted by Ravana.</figcaption></figure> <p>The Maya Sita motif is considered as the "most important instance of an addition" in the <i>Ramayana</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-Krishnaraj2012_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Krishnaraj2012-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The <i><a href="/wiki/Kurma_Purana" title="Kurma Purana">Kurma Purana</a></i> (<abbr title="circa">c.</abbr> 550–850 CE) is the first text where Maya Sita appears.<sup id="cite_ref-Krishnaraj2012_3-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Krishnaraj2012-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The key event of the <i>Ramayana</i> story – the kidnapping of Sita by Ravana – was replaced with the abduction of Maya Sita (an unreal Sita) by Ravana; meanwhile Sita is protected in the refuge of Agni, the fire god.<sup id="cite_ref-BulckePrasāda2010_4-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-BulckePrasāda2010-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This "important ideological development" in <a href="/wiki/Vaishnavism" title="Vaishnavism">Vaishnavism</a> (Vishnu-centric sect) protected Sita's chastity.<sup id="cite_ref-KingBrockington2005_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-KingBrockington2005-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Some versions of the <i>Ramayana</i> such as the ones in the <i><a href="/wiki/Mahabharata" title="Mahabharata">Mahabharata</a></i> (5th to 4th century BCE), the <i><a href="/wiki/Vishnu_Purana" title="Vishnu Purana">Vishnu Purana</a></i> (1st century BCE–4th century CE), the <i><a href="/wiki/Harivamsa" class="mw-redirect" title="Harivamsa">Harivamsa</a></i> (1–300 CE) and several <a href="/wiki/Purana" class="mw-redirect" title="Purana">Puranas</a> (the suffix <i>Purana</i> denotes that the text is part of this genre) omit the Agni Pariksha altogether to avoid questioning Sita's purity. In contrast, this very Agni Pariksha became a device for the return of the unblemished Sita, as Sita and Maya Sita switch places again, in some later versions.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> With the growing popularity of Rama <a href="/wiki/Bhakti_movement" title="Bhakti movement">bhakti movement</a> in the 12th century, numerous works adopted the concept of Maya Sita. Devotees could not bear that Sita – the consort of Rama and the chief goddess of Rama-centric sects – was kidnapped by the demon Ravana and had to suffer his imprisonment and was defiled by his touch.<sup id="cite_ref-BulckePrasāda2010_4-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-BulckePrasāda2010-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Maya Sita concept saves Sita from suffering Ravana's custody and succumbing to the temptation of acquiring the illusory deer. Instead, the texts create an illusory Sita, who does not recognize the illusory deer. The illusory deer motif in the <i>Ramayana</i> may have inspired the Maya Sita concept too.<sup id="cite_ref-Doniger_7-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Doniger-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Maya Sita also excuses Sita from rebuking Lakshmana when she forces him to leave her and aid Rama in the illusory deer tale.<sup id="cite_ref-:2_8-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:2-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Though the Maya Sita motif was found earlier in the <i>Kurma Purana</i> and the <i><a href="/wiki/Brahma_Vaivarta_Purana" title="Brahma Vaivarta Purana">Brahma Vaivarta Purana</a></i> (801–1100 CE) where Sita's purity is safeguarded, it is the <i><a href="/wiki/Adhyatma_Ramayana" title="Adhyatma Ramayana">Adhyatma Ramayana</a></i> (a part of the <i><a href="/wiki/Brahmanda_Purana" title="Brahmanda Purana">Brahmanda Purana</a>, </i>c. 14th century), where Maya Sita plays a much greater role in the plot. The concept of <a href="/wiki/Maya_(illusion)" class="mw-redirect" title="Maya (illusion)">maya</a> (illusion) is an integral part of the narrative; the best examples being Maya Sita and Maya mriga (illusory deer). Though <i>Adhyatma Ramayana</i> originated in <a href="/wiki/Varanasi" title="Varanasi">Varanasi</a> in North India, it influenced <a href="/wiki/Malayalam" title="Malayalam">Malayalam</a> (South India) and <a href="/wiki/Oriya_language" class="mw-redirect" title="Oriya language">Oriya</a> (East India) renditions of the <i>Ramayana</i>, but most importantly influenced the <i><a href="/wiki/Ramcharitmanas" title="Ramcharitmanas">Ramcharitmanas</a></i> of <a href="/wiki/Tulsidas" title="Tulsidas">Tulsidas</a> (c. 1532–1623).<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The <i>Ramcharitmanas</i> expands on the Agni Pariksha narrative. Since no one knows about the replacement of the real Sita by Maya Sita, Sita's chastity is in question. The text explicitly states that the Agni Pariksha destroys the Maya Sita as well as the "stigma of public shame", that Sita would have had to otherwise endure. Rama is exculpated from using harsh words to "Sita" at the time of Agni Pariksha as he knows it is the false Sita he is accusing. Sita is saved from public humiliation as her chastity is proven by Agni Pariksha.<sup id="cite_ref-Doniger_a_10-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Doniger_a-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The moral status of Rama as well as Sita is protected by the Maya Sita motif.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In many versions of the tale, the omniscient Rama knows about Sita's impending abduction and creates Maya Sita. Such versions assert Rama's divine status, a departure from Valmiki's portrayal of Rama as a human hero.<sup id="cite_ref-:2_8-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:2-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The motif also appears in the <i><a href="/wiki/Devi_Bhagavata_Purana" title="Devi Bhagavata Purana">Devi Bhagavata Purana</a></i><sup id="cite_ref-Vijnanananda2004_12-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Vijnanananda2004-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> (6th–14th century CE) and the <i><a href="/wiki/Adbhuta_Ramayana" title="Adbhuta Ramayana">Adbhuta Ramayana</a></i>,<sup id="cite_ref-Krishnaraj2012_3-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Krishnaraj2012-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> (c. 14th century CE) as well as Oriya works like Balarama Dasa's <i>Jagamohana Ramayana</i>, Upendra's <i><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vaidehisha_Vilasa&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Vaidehisha Vilasa (page does not exist)">Vaidehisha Vilasa</a></i><sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and the Oriya <a href="/wiki/Ramlila" title="Ramlila">Ramlila</a>, dramatic folk re-enactment of the <i>Ramayana</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Legend">Legend</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Maya_Sita&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Legend"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Creation_of_Maya_Sita.gif" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/Creation_of_Maya_Sita.gif/300px-Creation_of_Maya_Sita.gif" decoding="async" width="300" height="103" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/Creation_of_Maya_Sita.gif/450px-Creation_of_Maya_Sita.gif 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/Creation_of_Maya_Sita.gif 2x" data-file-width="534" data-file-height="183" /></a><figcaption>Creation of Maya Sita, <i>Adhyatma Ramayana</i> folio.</figcaption></figure> <p>In the <i>Kurma Purana</i>, Sita prays to Agni just when Ravana arrives to kidnap her. Agni creates Maya Sita – an exact double of Sita – who takes the place of Sita and is abducted by the demon. While Sita is taken by Agni to heaven, Maya Sita is confined in Lanka. After Ravana's death, when Maya Sita enters the fire at Agni Pariksha, Agni restores the real undefiled Sita to Rama; meanwhile Maya Sita is destroyed in the blaze.<sup id="cite_ref-KingBrockington2005_5-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-KingBrockington2005-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Leslie2003_15-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Leslie2003-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The <i><a href="/wiki/Chaitanya_Charitamrita" title="Chaitanya Charitamrita">Chaitanya Charitamrita</a></i>, a biography of the Vaishnava saint <a href="/wiki/Chaitanya_Mahaprabhu" title="Chaitanya Mahaprabhu">Chaitanya Mahaprabhu</a> (1486–1533), by <a href="/wiki/Krishnadasa_Kaviraja" title="Krishnadasa Kaviraja">Krishnadasa Kaviraja</a> (b. 1496) alludes to the <i>Kurma Purana</i> tale. Chaitanya meets a <a href="/wiki/Brahmin" title="Brahmin">brahmin</a> Rama devotee in <a href="/wiki/Madurai" title="Madurai">Madurai</a>. The brahmin is devastated after learning that "mother Sita, mother of the universe and the supreme goddess of fortune" was stained by Ravana's touch and gives up food. The saint consoles the brahmin saying that Sita's spiritual form can not be touched by the demon; it was Maya Sita that was taken away by Ravana. The brahmin feels better and accepts food. Chaitanya then travels to <a href="/wiki/Rameswaram" title="Rameswaram">Rameswaram</a>, where he listens to the <i>Kurma Purana</i> and obtains the authoritative proof to comfort the brahmin. He returns to Madurai with the <i>Kurma Purana</i> manuscript, leaving that brahmin overjoyed.<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Rosen1994_17-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Rosen1994-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>While Agni is the saviour in the <i>Kurma Purana</i>, the Rama-centric <i>Adhyatma Ramayana</i> replaces Agni with the omniscient Rama as the mastermind. Rama knows of Ravana's intentions and orders Sita to place her <i>chaya</i> (shadow) outside the hut for Ravana to abduct and go inside the hut and live hidden in the fire for a year; after Ravana's death, she would unite with him again. Sita complies and creates her illusionary form, Maya Sita, and enters the fire. After Maya Sita's seizure, Rama grieves for Sita. It is unclear if Rama pretends to grieve or forgets that Maya Sita is the one actually kidnapped. After Ravana's death, Maya Sita has to face the Agni Pariksha and vanishes in the fire. Agni reinstates Sita and declares that Rama created the illusionary Sita to bring about Ravana's annihilation and with that purpose served, the true Sita returns to Rama.<sup id="cite_ref-Doniger_7-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Doniger-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Inspired by <i>Adhyatma Ramayana</i>, the <i>Ramacharitmanas</i> has a very similar narrative; however, Agni Pariskha narrative is longer and Maya Sita is explicitly stated to be destroyed in the fire.<sup id="cite_ref-Doniger_a_10-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Doniger_a-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The <a href="/wiki/Nepali_language" title="Nepali language">Nepali</a> <i><a href="/wiki/Bhanubhakta_Ramayana" title="Bhanubhakta Ramayana">Bhanubhakta Ramayana</a></i> by <a href="/wiki/Bhanubhakta_Acharya" title="Bhanubhakta Acharya">Bhanubhakta Acharya</a> (1814–1868) portrays Rama creating the illusionary Sita from the sacred <a href="/wiki/Kusha_grass" title="Kusha grass">Kusha grass</a> and entrusting Sita to Agni; at Agni Pariksha, the grass Maya Sita turns into ashes while the true Sita reappears before the world.<sup id="cite_ref-:2_8-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:2-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A popular Indian television series <a href="/wiki/Ramayan_(1987_TV_series)" title="Ramayan (1987 TV series)"><i>Ramayan</i></a> (1987–88) by <a href="/wiki/Ramanand_Sagar" title="Ramanand Sagar">Ramanand Sagar</a> reveals that Maya Sita had replaced Sita only in the Agni Pariksha scene and uses flashback to narrate about the exchange.<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Sita%27s_ordeal_by_fire_(cropped).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Sita%27s_ordeal_by_fire_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-Sita%27s_ordeal_by_fire_%28cropped%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="290" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Sita%27s_ordeal_by_fire_%28cropped%29.jpg/330px-Sita%27s_ordeal_by_fire_%28cropped%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Sita%27s_ordeal_by_fire_%28cropped%29.jpg/440px-Sita%27s_ordeal_by_fire_%28cropped%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1557" data-file-height="2054" /></a><figcaption>A distressed Rama (right) looks on as Sita (left) protected by Agni, undergoes Agni Pariksha. Maya Sita is replaced by Sita in the Agni Pariksha episode.</figcaption></figure> <p>The <i>Brahma Vaivarta Purana</i><sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and the <i>Devi Bhagavata Purana</i> narratives are similar to each other and divulge about Maya Sita's life after Agni Pariksha. The <i>Devi Bhagavata Purana</i> states: Agni comes, disguised as a brahmin, to Rama and informs him that he had been sent by the gods to warn Rama about the future, when Rama will fulfil the purpose of his birth on earth and slay Ravana; Sita would be abducted by Ravana and would lead to his downfall. Agni requests Rama to hand over Sita to him for safekeeping and substitute her with Maya Sita; after Ravana's destruction when Sita would be asked to prove her chastity by entering fire, Maya Sita will be replaced with the real Sita again. Rama consents. Agni mediates and creates Maya Sita, who looks perfectly like the original Sita. Maya Sita and Sita switch places and Agni disappears with the real Sita, extracting the promise from Rama that the replacement of Sita remains secret; not even Lakshmana should know. Maya Sita longs for the illusional deer and is consequently kidnapped. As per the plan, Maya Sita vanished in the fire at Agni Pariksha and real Sita comes out.<sup id="cite_ref-Vijnanananda2004_12-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Vijnanananda2004-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>When Rama abandons the young Maya Sita at Agni Pariksha, she – worried about her uncertain future – questions Rama and Agni about what should she do now. They advise her to go to <a href="/wiki/Pushkar" title="Pushkar">Pushkar</a> and perform austerities <a href="/wiki/Tapas_(Indian_religions)" title="Tapas (Indian religions)">Tapas</a> and prophesy that she will be become <i>Svargalakshmi</i> ("<a href="/wiki/Lakshmi" title="Lakshmi">Lakshmi</a> of the heaven") as the result of her asceticism. Shiva is pleased with her penance and promises to grant her desired boon. Maya Sita, who is transformed into Svargalakshmi by practising austerities for three <a href="/wiki/Lakh" title="Lakh">lakh</a> years, anxiously repeats five times that she get a husband. Shiva blesses her that she will be born as <a href="/wiki/Draupadi" title="Draupadi">Draupadi</a>, the princess of <a href="/wiki/Pancala" class="mw-redirect" title="Pancala">Pancala</a>, who will have five husbands. Draupadi, the heroine of the <i>Mahabharata</i>, is born out of the flames of a <i><a href="/wiki/Yajna" title="Yajna">yajna</a></i> (fire sacrifice) of <a href="/wiki/Drupada" title="Drupada">Drupada</a> (King of Panchala) and later becomes the common wife of the five <a href="/wiki/Pandava" title="Pandava">Pandava</a> brothers, princes of <a href="/wiki/Kuru_Kingdom" class="mw-redirect" title="Kuru Kingdom">Kuru</a> kingdom. The text also declares that in previous birth, Maya Sita was <a href="/wiki/Vedavati" title="Vedavati">Vedavati</a>, a woman Ravana tries to rape and who curses Ravana that she will be the cause of his ruin. Since she has taken birth in three <a href="/wiki/Yuga" title="Yuga">yugas</a> (ages; a cycle of four ages is believed to repeat) – Vedavati in <i><a href="/wiki/Satya_Yuga" title="Satya Yuga">Satya Yuga</a></i>, Maya Sita in <i><a href="/wiki/Treta_Yuga" title="Treta Yuga">Treta Yuga</a></i> and Draupadi in <i><a href="/wiki/Dvapara_Yuga" title="Dvapara Yuga">Dvapara Yuga</a></i>, she is known as <i>Trihayani</i>, the one who appears in the three ages.<sup id="cite_ref-Vijnanananda2004_12-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Vijnanananda2004-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The <a href="/wiki/Tamil_language" title="Tamil language">Tamil</a> text <i><a href="/wiki/Legend_of_Tirumala" title="Legend of Tirumala">Sri Venkatachala Mahatyam</a></i> relates Maya Sita to Vedavati, but her next birth is <a href="/wiki/Alamelu" class="mw-redirect" title="Alamelu">Padmavati</a>, not Radha. After Ravana tries to molest Vedavati, she curses him that she would destroy his clan. She seeks the protection of Agni. Agni consoles her and gives her not only shelter but also the opportunity to take her vengeance. He disguises Vedavati as Sita, who is going to be kidnapped by Ravana and hides the real Sita in his refuge. At the time of Agni Pariksha, Vedavati enters the fire and Agni accompanies Sita and Vedavati out in public. Rama is perplexed seeing the two Sitas. The real Sita informs Rama that Vedavati was abducted in her place and suffered the incarceration in Lanka. She demands Rama to marry Vedavati, however Rama refuses citing his vow to have only one wife in this birth. He promises that in <i><a href="/wiki/Kali_Yuga" title="Kali Yuga">Kali Yuga</a></i> (the present and final age), when he appear on earth as <a href="/wiki/Venkateshwara" class="mw-redirect" title="Venkateshwara">Venkateshwara</a>, Vedavati will be born as Padmavati, whom he will marry. Unlike Sanskrit texts, Agni plans the whole thing and Sita conspires with him to protect herself, but also safeguards the surrogate Sita's interests.<sup id="cite_ref-22" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>22<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In the Malayalam <i><a href="/wiki/Adhyathmaramayanam" class="mw-redirect" title="Adhyathmaramayanam">Adhyatma Ramayana</a></i> by <a href="/wiki/Thunchaththu_Ezhuthachan" title="Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan">Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan</a> (16th century), Vedavati – disguised as Sita – appears before Sita from the latter's kitchen fire and volunteers to be kidnapped in Sita's place. As per Vedavati's advice, Sita hides in fire and lives in Agni's protection. After Agni Pariksha when Sita is reunited with Rama, Vedavati is blessed to marry Vishnu in <i>Kali Yuga</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-Pattanaik2008_23-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Pattanaik2008-23"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>23<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Sometimes, Sita replaces Maya Sita temporarily before the Agni Pariksha. The <i>Ramayana </i>narrates that the monkey-god <a href="/wiki/Hanuman" title="Hanuman">Hanuman</a>, a devotee of Rama, was sent by Rama to seek Sita and eventually succeeds in discovering her whereabouts in Lanka; where she meets with him. Sundd's <i>Sri Sankat Mochan Hanuman Charit Manas </i>(1998), a devotional text attributed to Tulsidas and devoted to Hanuman, uses the Maya Sita motif, but raises the question how Hanuman could interact with such devotion with a false Sita. Sita takes the place of Maya Sita in captivity temporarily to meet the great devotee.<sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-24"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>24<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Divine_doubles:_inspiration_and_influences">Divine doubles: inspiration and influences</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Maya_Sita&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Divine doubles: inspiration and influences"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Though the tale of Maya Sita told in the <i>Ramayana</i> adaptations is absent from the original, the concept of Maya Sita first appears in the epic itself. In the battle between Rama and Ravana, <a href="/wiki/Indrajit" title="Indrajit">Indrajit</a> – the son of Ravana – creates an illusionary Sita (<i>Maya Sita</i>) and kills her in front of Rama's general Hanuman, as a war tactic to dampen the spirits of Rama's army. Hanuman reports it to Rama, who is also dejected by the news. However, they soon realise that it must be an illusion of Indrajit.<sup id="cite_ref-Dikshitar1999_25-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Dikshitar1999-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Doniger_b_26-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Doniger_b-26"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>26<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Another surrogate Sita appears in a later interpolation of the epic. At the end of the <i>Ramayana</i>, a golden image of Sita is subsisted for the real Sita to be on side of Rama in sacrifices, after Sita's abandonment by Rama when her chastity is questioned by his subjects.<sup id="cite_ref-Doniger_b_26-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Doniger_b-26"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>26<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The <i><a href="/wiki/Ananda_Ramayana" title="Ananda Ramayana">Ananda Ramayana</a></i> does have the Maya Sita, who is kidnapped by Ravana, but has an illusory Sita called <i>rajatamomayi chaya</i> ("shadow of <a href="/wiki/Rajas" title="Rajas">Rajas</a> and <a href="/wiki/Tamas_(philosophy)" title="Tamas (philosophy)">Tamas</a> elements") of Sita, who is abandoned by Rama while the <i>sattva-rupa</i> ("<a href="/wiki/Sattva" title="Sattva">sattva</a> form") – the real Sita – remains unseen by her husband's left side, the traditional place of a Hindu wife.<sup id="cite_ref-BulckePrasāda2010_4-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-BulckePrasāda2010-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Kamban's <i><a href="/wiki/Ramavataram" title="Ramavataram">Ramavataram</a> (</i>12th century) narrates that <a href="/wiki/Shurpanakha" title="Shurpanakha">Shurpanakha</a> – the sister of Ravana – impersonates Sita to seduce Rama, but her trickery is exposed by him.<sup id="cite_ref-27" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-27"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>27<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In a 14th-century Nepalese drama, Shurpanakha disguises as Sita, but Rama is fooled by her appearance. When real Sita also appears, Rama is perplexed. However, Lakshmana tests the two Sitas and rightly judges the real one.<sup id="cite_ref-28" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-28"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>28<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The <i>Ramcharitmanas</i> narrates that the goddess <a href="/wiki/Sati_(goddess)" class="mw-redirect" title="Sati (goddess)">Sati</a>, wife of the god <a href="/wiki/Shiva" title="Shiva">Shiva</a>, tries to test Rama by appearing before him disguised as Sita when he is searching for his kidnapped wife. However, Rama sees through her disguise; Shiva abandons her, angry with her action.<sup id="cite_ref-29" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In some adaptations of the <i>Ramayana</i>, other characters also use surrogates to save themselves from Ravana. A Tamil text narrates how Ravana once asks for <a href="/wiki/Parvati" title="Parvati">Parvati</a> as boon from her husband Shiva, however <a href="/wiki/Vishnu" title="Vishnu">Vishnu</a> – disguised as a sage – deludes Ravana into believing Shiva granted him an illusionary Parvati. Ravana entrusts Parvati to Vishnu and mediates again to compel Shiva to give him the real Parvati. This time, Shiva gives an illusionary Parvati, which he accepts as the real one and returns to Lanka with her.<sup id="cite_ref-30" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-30"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>30<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In the <a href="/wiki/Malay_language" title="Malay language">Malay</a> Ramayana, Ravana sets his eyes on <a href="/wiki/Kausalya" title="Kausalya">Rama's mother</a>, however she transforms a frog into her image and sends this <a href="/wiki/Mandodari" title="Mandodari">surrogate</a> to be Ravana's wife.<sup id="cite_ref-31" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-31"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Other divinities also employ surrogates to meet their own needs. In the Puranas, Sati commits suicide by immolating herself when Shiva is insulted and is reborn as Parvati and becomes Shiva's consort again. In a later Sanskrit text, Sati creates a surrogate who burns herself, while the real Sati is reborn as Parvati.<sup id="cite_ref-32" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-32"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>32<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In the <i>Mahabharata</i>, the goddess <a href="/wiki/Svaha" title="Svaha">Svaha</a> assumes the form of six of the wives of the <a href="/wiki/Saptarishi" class="mw-redirect" title="Saptarishi">Saptarishi</a> (seven great sages), with whom Agni is in love with, and has coitus with him. Later, Svaha marries Agni.<sup id="cite_ref-33" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-33"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>33<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Other cultures also employ surrogates to save protagonists from pain. Christian <a href="/wiki/Gnostic" class="mw-redirect" title="Gnostic">Gnostic</a> traditions suggest that <a href="/wiki/Simon_of_Cyrene" title="Simon of Cyrene">Simon of Cyrene</a> as the man who was crucified, instead of Jesus, a concept deemed heretical. Unlike Christianity, "divine doubles" are accepted in Hindu and Greek tales.<sup id="cite_ref-34" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In some retellings of the <a href="/wiki/Trojan_War" title="Trojan War">Trojan War</a> saga, a phantom <a href="/wiki/Helen_of_Troy" title="Helen of Troy">Helen of Troy</a> is kidnapped by <a href="/wiki/Paris_(mythology)" title="Paris (mythology)">Paris</a> which brings upon the great war; a story parallel to the story of abduction of Maya Sita by Ravana.<sup id="cite_ref-35" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-35"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>35<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Maya_Sita&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <dl><dt>Notes</dt></dl> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Doniger (1999) p. 9</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Mani pp. 638–39</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Krishnaraj2012-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Krishnaraj2012_3-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Krishnaraj2012_3-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Krishnaraj2012_3-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFMaithreyi_Krishnaraj2012" class="citation book cs1">Maithreyi Krishnaraj (2012). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=BFZkVq2vHtkC&pg=PT188"><i>Motherhood in India: Glorification without Empowerment?</i></a>. CRC Press. pp. 188–89. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-136-51779-2" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-136-51779-2"><bdi>978-1-136-51779-2</bdi></a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">26 May</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Motherhood+in+India%3A+Glorification+without+Empowerment%3F&rft.pages=188-89&rft.pub=CRC+Press&rft.date=2012&rft.isbn=978-1-136-51779-2&rft.au=Maithreyi+Krishnaraj&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DBFZkVq2vHtkC%26pg%3DPT188&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMaya+Sita" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-BulckePrasāda2010-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-BulckePrasāda2010_4-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-BulckePrasāda2010_4-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-BulckePrasāda2010_4-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFCamille_BulckeDineśvara_Prasāda2010" class="citation book cs1">Camille Bulcke; Dineśvara Prasāda (2010). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=cvE4wF-cfX0C&pg=PA115"><i>Rāmakathā and Other Essays</i></a>. Vani Prakashan. p. 115. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-93-5000-107-3" title="Special:BookSources/978-93-5000-107-3"><bdi>978-93-5000-107-3</bdi></a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">26 May</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=R%C4%81makath%C4%81+and+Other+Essays&rft.pages=115&rft.pub=Vani+Prakashan&rft.date=2010&rft.isbn=978-93-5000-107-3&rft.au=Camille+Bulcke&rft.au=Dine%C5%9Bvara+Pras%C4%81da&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DcvE4wF-cfX0C%26pg%3DPA115&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMaya+Sita" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-KingBrockington2005-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-KingBrockington2005_5-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-KingBrockington2005_5-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFAnna_S._KingJohn_L._Brockington2005" class="citation book cs1">Anna S. King; John L. Brockington (2005). <i>The Intimate Other: Love Divine in Indic Religions</i>. Orient Blackswan. p. 37. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-81-250-2801-7" title="Special:BookSources/978-81-250-2801-7"><bdi>978-81-250-2801-7</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Intimate+Other%3A+Love+Divine+in+Indic+Religions&rft.pages=37&rft.pub=Orient+Blackswan&rft.date=2005&rft.isbn=978-81-250-2801-7&rft.au=Anna+S.+King&rft.au=John+L.+Brockington&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMaya+Sita" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Doniger (1999) p. 13</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Doniger-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Doniger_7-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Doniger_7-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Doniger (1999) pp. 12–13</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-:2-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-:2_8-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:2_8-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:2_8-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBhattarai2013" class="citation news cs1">Bhattarai, Sewa (20 April 2013). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160304032828/http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53397&show_comments=true">"Do we know it? Bhanubhakta Ramayan"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Republica_(newspaper)" title="Republica (newspaper)">Republica</a></i>. Nepal. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53397&show_comments=true">the original</a> on 4 March 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">12 August</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Republica&rft.atitle=Do+we+know+it%3F+Bhanubhakta+Ramayan&rft.date=2013-04-20&rft.aulast=Bhattarai&rft.aufirst=Sewa&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.myrepublica.com%2Fportal%2Findex.php%3Faction%3Dnews_details%26news_id%3D53397%26show_comments%3Dtrue&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMaya+Sita" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Williams p. 24</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Doniger_a-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Doniger_a_10-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Doniger_a_10-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Doniger (1999) pp. 13–14</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Doniger (1999) p. 27</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Vijnanananda2004-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Vijnanananda2004_12-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Vijnanananda2004_12-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Vijnanananda2004_12-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSwami_Vijnanananda2004" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/Swami_Vijnanananda" class="mw-redirect" title="Swami Vijnanananda">Swami Vijnanananda</a> (2004). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=Yt_vyESsw20C&pg=PA868"><i>The Sri Mad Devi Bhagavatam: Books One Through Twelve 1923</i></a>. Kessinger Publishing. pp. 868–70. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7661-8168-7" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-7661-8168-7"><bdi>978-0-7661-8168-7</bdi></a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">26 May</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Sri+Mad+Devi+Bhagavatam%3A+Books+One+Through+Twelve+1923&rft.pages=868-70&rft.pub=Kessinger+Publishing&rft.date=2004&rft.isbn=978-0-7661-8168-7&rft.au=Swami+Vijnanananda&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DYt_vyESsw20C%26pg%3DPA868&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMaya+Sita" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Williams p. 28–29</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Williams p. 36</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Leslie2003-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Leslie2003_15-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFJulia_Leslie2003" class="citation book cs1">Julia Leslie (2003). <span class="id-lock-registration" title="Free registration required"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/authoritymeaning00lesl"><i>Authority and Meaning in Indian Religions: Hinduism and the Case of Vālmīki</i></a></span>. Ashgate Publishing. p. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/authoritymeaning00lesl/page/123">123</a>. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7546-3431-7" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-7546-3431-7"><bdi>978-0-7546-3431-7</bdi></a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2 June</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Authority+and+Meaning+in+Indian+Religions%3A+Hinduism+and+the+Case+of+V%C4%81lm%C4%ABki&rft.pages=123&rft.pub=Ashgate+Publishing&rft.date=2003&rft.isbn=978-0-7546-3431-7&rft.au=Julia+Leslie&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fdetails%2Fauthoritymeaning00lesl&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMaya+Sita" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFPrabhpada" class="citation web cs1">Prabhpada. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130104191124/http://vedabase.net/cc/madhya/9/en2">"Madhya-lila – Chapter 9: Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Travels to the Holy Places"</a>. <i>Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Sri Caitanya Caritamrta</i>. The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://vedabase.net/cc/madhya/9/en2">the original</a> on 4 January 2013<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">22 June</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Bhaktivedanta+VedaBase%3A+Sri+Caitanya+Caritamrta&rft.atitle=Madhya-lila+%E2%80%93+Chapter+9%3A+Lord+Sri+Caitanya+Mahaprabhu%27s+Travels+to+the+Holy+Places&rft.au=Prabhpada&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fvedabase.net%2Fcc%2Fmadhya%2F9%2Fen2&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMaya+Sita" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Rosen1994-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Rosen1994_17-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFH._Daniel_Smith1994" class="citation book cs1">H. Daniel Smith (1994). "The Rāmāyaṇa". In <a href="/wiki/Steven_J._Rosen" title="Steven J. Rosen">Steven J. Rosen</a> (ed.). <i>Vaiṣṇavism</i>. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 36–37. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-81-208-1235-2" title="Special:BookSources/978-81-208-1235-2"><bdi>978-81-208-1235-2</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.atitle=The+R%C4%81m%C4%81ya%E1%B9%87a&rft.btitle=Vai%E1%B9%A3%E1%B9%87avism&rft.pages=36-37&rft.pub=Motilal+Banarsidass&rft.date=1994&rft.isbn=978-81-208-1235-2&rft.au=H.+Daniel+Smith&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMaya+Sita" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-18">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Arvind Rajagopal, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.questia.com/read/105171511">Politics after Television: Religious Nationalism and the Reshaping of the Indian Public</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120511054806/http://www.questia.com/read/105171511">Archived</a> 11 May 2012 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> (Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 2001), pp. 113–14,<sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources"><span title="Please supply an ISBN for this book.">ISBN missing</span></a></i>]</sup></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-19">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Doniger (1999) p. 23</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-20">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Mani p. 722</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-21">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Mani pp. 548–49</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-22"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-22">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Doniger (1999) p. 16</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Pattanaik2008-23"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Pattanaik2008_23-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFDevdutt_Pattanaik2008" class="citation book cs1">Devdutt Pattanaik (2008). "10: Valmiki's inspiration". <i>The Book of Ram</i>. Penguin Books. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-81-8475-332-5" title="Special:BookSources/978-81-8475-332-5"><bdi>978-81-8475-332-5</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.atitle=10%3A+Valmiki%27s+inspiration&rft.btitle=The+Book+of+Ram&rft.pub=Penguin+Books&rft.date=2008&rft.isbn=978-81-8475-332-5&rft.au=Devdutt+Pattanaik&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMaya+Sita" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-24"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-24">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="/wiki/Philip_Lutgendorf" title="Philip Lutgendorf">Philip Lutgendorf</a>, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.questia.com/read/118903136">Hanuman's Tale: The Messages of a Divine Monkey</a><sup class="noprint Inline-Template"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot" title="Wikipedia:Link rot"><span title=" Dead link tagged July 2021">dead link</span></a></i><span style="visibility:hidden; color:transparent; padding-left:2px">‍</span>]</span></sup> (New York: Oxford University Press, 2007), p. 199. <sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources"><span title="Please supply an ISBN for this book.">ISBN missing</span></a></i>]</sup></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Dikshitar1999-25"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Dikshitar1999_25-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFV.R.Ramachandra_Dikshitar1999" class="citation book cs1">V.R.Ramachandra Dikshitar (1999). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=YlWHFXbU2rsC&pg=PA144"><i>War in ancient India</i></a>. Cosmo Publ. p. 89. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-81-7020-894-5" title="Special:BookSources/978-81-7020-894-5"><bdi>978-81-7020-894-5</bdi></a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2 June</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=War+in+ancient+India&rft.pages=89&rft.pub=Cosmo+Publ.&rft.date=1999&rft.isbn=978-81-7020-894-5&rft.au=V.R.Ramachandra+Dikshitar&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DYlWHFXbU2rsC%26pg%3DPA144&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMaya+Sita" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Doniger_b-26"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Doniger_b_26-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Doniger_b_26-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Doniger (1999) pp. 27–28</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-27"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-27">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Doniger (1999) pp. 18–19</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-28"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-28">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Doniger (1999) pp. 19–20</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-29"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-29">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Doniger (1999) p. 17</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-30"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-30">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Doniger (1999) p. 18</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-31"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-31">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Doniger (1999) p. 21</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-32"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-32">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Doniger (1999) pp. 17–18</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-33"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-33">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Doniger (1999) p. 24</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-34"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-34">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Doniger (1999) p. 14</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-35"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-35">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Doniger (1999) p. 28</span> </li> </ol></div></div> <dl><dt>Books</dt></dl> <ul><li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFDoniger,_Wendy1999" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/Wendy_Doniger" title="Wendy Doniger">Doniger, Wendy</a> (1999). "The Shadow Sita and the Phantom Helen". <i>Splitting the Difference: Gender and Myth in Ancient Greece and India</i>. University of Chicago Press. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-226-15641-5" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-226-15641-5"><bdi>978-0-226-15641-5</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.atitle=The+Shadow+Sita+and+the+Phantom+Helen&rft.btitle=Splitting+the+Difference%3A+Gender+and+Myth+in+Ancient+Greece+and+India&rft.pub=University+of+Chicago+Press&rft.date=1999&rft.isbn=978-0-226-15641-5&rft.au=Doniger%2C+Wendy&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMaya+Sita" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFMani1975" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/Vettam_Mani" title="Vettam Mani">Mani, Vettam</a> (1975). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft"><i>Puranic Encyclopaedia: a Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature</i></a>. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8426-0822-0" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-8426-0822-0"><bdi>978-0-8426-0822-0</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Puranic+Encyclopaedia%3A+a+Comprehensive+Dictionary+with+Special+Reference+to+the+Epic+and+Puranic+Literature&rft.place=Delhi&rft.pub=Motilal+Banarsidass+Publishers&rft.date=1975&rft.isbn=978-0-8426-0822-0&rft.aulast=Mani&rft.aufirst=Vettam&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fdetails%2Fpuranicencyclopa00maniuoft&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMaya+Sita" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist 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style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Hanuman" title="Hanuman">Hanuman</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sugriva" title="Sugriva">Sugriva</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vali_(Ramayana)" title="Vali (Ramayana)">Vali</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Angada" title="Angada">Angada</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tara_(Ramayana)" title="Tara (Ramayana)">Tara</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rum%C4%81" title="Rumā">Rumā</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nala_(Ramayana)" title="Nala (Ramayana)">Nala</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nila_(Ramayana)" title="Nila (Ramayana)">Nila</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kesari_(Ramayana)" title="Kesari (Ramayana)">Kesari</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/A%C3%B1jan%C4%81" title="Añjanā">Anjana</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Makaradhwaja" title="Makaradhwaja">Makaradhwaja</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background-color:#FFC569;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Rakshasa" title="Rakshasa">Rakshasa</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Ravana" title="Ravana">Ravana</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vibhishana" title="Vibhishana">Vibhishana</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kumbhakarna" title="Kumbhakarna">Kumbhakarna</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Indrajit" title="Indrajit">Indrajit</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Akshayakumara" title="Akshayakumara">Akshayakumara</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Atikaya" title="Atikaya">Atikaya</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kabandha" title="Kabandha">Kabandha</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Khara_(Ramayana)" class="mw-redirect" title="Khara (Ramayana)">Khara</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dushana" class="mw-redirect" title="Dushana">Dushana</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mandodari" title="Mandodari">Mandodari</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dhanyamalini" title="Dhanyamalini">Dhanyamalini</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lavanasura" title="Lavanasura">Lavanasura</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Malyavan" title="Malyavan">Malyavan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Maricha" title="Maricha">Maricha</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mayasura" title="Mayasura">Mayasura</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Narantaka-Devantaka" title="Narantaka-Devantaka">Narantaka-Devantaka</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Prahasta" title="Prahasta">Prahasta</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sarama_(Ramayana)" title="Sarama (Ramayana)">Sarama</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Subahu" title="Subahu">Subahu</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sulochana_(Ramayana)" title="Sulochana (Ramayana)">Sulochana</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sumali" class="mw-redirect" title="Sumali">Sumali</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shurpanakha" title="Shurpanakha">Shurpanakha</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tataka" title="Tataka">Tataka</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Trijata" title="Trijata">Trijata</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Trishira" title="Trishira">Trishira</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Viradha" title="Viradha">Viradha</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background-color:#FFC569;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Rishi" title="Rishi">Sages</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Agastya" title="Agastya">Agastya</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ahalya" title="Ahalya">Ahalya</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Arundhati_(Hinduism)" title="Arundhati (Hinduism)">Arundhati</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bharadvaja" title="Bharadvaja">Bharadvaja</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sage_Kambhoja" title="Sage Kambhoja">Kambhoja</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Parashurama" title="Parashurama">Parashurama</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vasishtha" title="Vasishtha">Vasishtha</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vishvamitra" title="Vishvamitra">Vishvamitra</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rishyasringa" title="Rishyasringa">Rishyasringa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Valmiki" title="Valmiki">Valmiki</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background-color:#FFC569;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Characters_in_the_Ramayana" class="mw-redirect" title="Characters in the Ramayana">Other figures<br />and concepts</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Lakshmana_rekha" title="Lakshmana rekha">Lakshmana rekha</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jambavan" title="Jambavan">Jambavan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Janaka" title="Janaka">Janaka</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kushadhvaja" title="Kushadhvaja">Kushadhvaja</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jatayu" title="Jatayu">Jatayu</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Manthara" title="Manthara">Manthara</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Maya Sita</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sampati" title="Sampati">Sampati</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shabari" title="Shabari">Shabari</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shanta" title="Shanta">Shanta</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shravana_Kumara" title="Shravana Kumara">Shravana Kumara</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vedavati" title="Vedavati">Vedavati</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shambuka" title="Shambuka">Shambuka</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background-color:#FFC569;;width:1%">Places</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Ayodhya_(legendary_city)" class="mw-redirect" title="Ayodhya (legendary city)">Ayodhya</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mithila_(ancient)" class="mw-redirect" title="Mithila (ancient)">Mithila</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dandakaranya" title="Dandakaranya">Dandakaranya</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kishkindha" title="Kishkindha">Kishkindha</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lanka" title="Lanka">Lanka</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Oshadhiparvata" title="Oshadhiparvata">Oshadhiparvata</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background-color:#FFC569;;width:1%">Books/Kandas</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Balakanda" title="Balakanda">Bala</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ayodhya_Kand" class="mw-redirect" title="Ayodhya Kand">Ayodhya</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ara%E1%B9%87ya-K%C4%81%E1%B9%87%E1%B8%8Da" title="Araṇya-Kāṇḍa">Aranya</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kishkindha_Kanda" class="mw-redirect" title="Kishkindha Kanda">Kishkindha</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sundara_Kanda" title="Sundara Kanda">Sundara</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Yuddha_Kanda" class="mw-redirect" title="Yuddha Kanda">Yuddha</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Uttara_Kanda" class="mw-redirect" title="Uttara Kanda">Uttara</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background-color:#FFC569;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Versions_of_Ramayana" class="mw-redirect" title="Versions of Ramayana">Versions</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Adbhuta_Ramayana" title="Adbhuta Ramayana">Adbhuta Ramayana</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Adhyathmaramayanam" class="mw-redirect" title="Adhyathmaramayanam">Adhyathmaramayanam</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Adhyatma_Ramayana" title="Adhyatma Ramayana">Adhyatma Ramayana</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Ananda_Ramayana" title="Ananda Ramayana">Ananda Ramayana</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Bhanubhakta_Ramayana" title="Bhanubhakta Ramayana">Bhanubhakta Ramayana</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Bha%E1%B9%AD%E1%B9%ADik%C4%81vya" title="Bhaṭṭikāvya">Bhaṭṭikāvya</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Bilanka_Ramayana" title="Bilanka Ramayana">Bilanka Ramayana</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Hikayat_Seri_Rama" title="Hikayat Seri Rama">Hikayat Seri Rama</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Jagamohana_Ramayana" title="Jagamohana Ramayana">Jagamohana Ramayana</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Kakawin_Ramayana" title="Kakawin Ramayana">Kakawin Ramayana</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Kamba_Ramayanam" class="mw-redirect" title="Kamba Ramayanam">Kamba Ramayanam</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Krittivasi_Ramayana" class="mw-redirect" title="Krittivasi Ramayana">Krittivasi Ramayana</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Maharadia_Lawana" title="Maharadia Lawana">Maharadia Lawana</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Molla_Ramayanam" title="Molla Ramayanam">Molla Ramayanam</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Phra_Lak_Phra_Ram" title="Phra Lak Phra Ram">Phra Lak Phra Ram</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Raghunatha_Ramayana" title="Raghunatha Ramayana">Raghunatha Ramayana</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Ramakien" title="Ramakien">Ramakien</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Ramayana_Kalpavruksham" title="Ramayana Kalpavruksham">Ramayana Kalpavruksham</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Ramcharitmanas" title="Ramcharitmanas">Ramcharitmanas</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Ranganatha_Ramayanamu" title="Ranganatha Ramayanamu">Ranganatha Ramayanamu</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Reamker" title="Reamker">Reamker</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Saptakanda_Ramayana" title="Saptakanda Ramayana">Saptakanda Ramayana</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Sri_Ramayana_Darshanam" title="Sri Ramayana Darshanam">Sri Ramayana Darshanam</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Sri_Ramayanamu" title="Sri Ramayanamu">Sri Ramayanamu</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Trai_Bhet" title="Trai Bhet">Trai Bhet</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Yama_Zatdaw" title="Yama Zatdaw">Yama Zatdaw</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background-color:#FFC569;;width:1%">Related</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Ramlila" 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