WDT#11: Did Sita think of her kids before deciding to leave earth?

Hello all, 

This is the eleventh weekly discussion topic (11th WDT) in our "Indian Mythology" forum (earlier known as Mythological Masti). As you all know, I generally post a topic (in the form of a question?) from our hindu mythology every week, to have some meaningful mythological discussions. 

Since mythology is considered a component of religion, and can be a sensitive topic for most people, with the characters often being revered, you must follow the rules of Indian Mythology Forum to maintain a peaceful atmosphere in our forum.

Since we have already celebrated Mothers' Day a few days back, the topic of this week is on one of the mothers from our Hindu epic:

Why Mata Sita didn't think of her kids' (Lav & Kush) future, before deciding to return back to her mother Dharti Maa?

As we all know, Mata Sita decided to go back to her mother, Dharti Maa finally, after being abandoned by her own husband and facing exile for several years for having doubts on her chastity by the citizens of Ayodhya.

She raised her two sons, Lav and Kush all alone in Valmiki's ashrama in the forest, for several years. 

But why would she decide to embrace Dharti Mata, leaving behind her two loving sons to this cruel world, where their mother had been constantly questioned on her chastity? There can never be any substitute of a mother. Had she thought for once whether her sons may be questioned and ridiculed later for the same reason by those same judgemental citizens of Ayodhya and may never be accepted in future as the ruler, in her absence?

Share your views and engage in meaningful discussions with your fellow members. 

Although we celebrate Mother's Day on a single day of a year, Mother's day is everyday for all the mothers out there to their children, and hence we wish you all again a very Happy Mothers' Day.

Now, you can win a chance to become the Mythological Wordsmith Of The Month, by participating in the Weekly Discussion Topics (WDT) posted by the DT every week and write unique answers to the questions, and those who get the most likes to their answers throughout the month will be crowned the title for that month. Do note that, plagiarism is a serious offence. And newbie's likes won't be counted.

Edited by Quantum-Dot - 24 days ago

Uttar Ramayan is an interpolation 

There was an entire section in Vyas Mahabarat where Ramayan is being narrated to the Pandavas and it ends with Ram's coronation ceremony and does not mention about Luv Kush at all....it was added later

Thank you for tagging me, Simantini. However, I don't have enough knowledge about mythology and religion. So, I can't write my view on this topic. 

Good subject  Quantum-Dot. 

Sita, thought about Luv, Kush only, when she came to Ayodhya with Rishi Valmiki. 

She wanted them to introduce to their father- Ram. Luv, Kush, had already proved in their previous encounter with  Hanumanji & their uncles, that they are quite capable  & skilled in war arts, thanks to Rishi Valmiki's training.  

Sita had brought them up as a single parent. Now it was time for them to grow in the environment, they were destined for. 

She dd fulfill her duties as a mother well. Rishi Valmiki accompanied them, to tell Ram that Sita lived in his aashram. 

In spite of being the queen of Ayodhya, she lived a simple life in the ashram, only to support Ram, who was maryada purushottam. She did fulfill ll her duties. Luv & Kush were princes of Ayodhya. It was necessary for them to learn Raj dharm too.

Their mother had sacrificed a lot to support Ram's Raj dharm. She chose to leave them, not wanting to sacrifice further. 

This was the same Sita, who took form of an angry Kali, when she heard of Ram fainted, while fighting with Ahiravan. Then she went to the battlefield & killed Ahiravan- much more powerful then Ravan, whom Ram had killed.

Ram abandoned Sita?didnt know that. But why? thought their love was pure. 

Hi thanks for the tag

But I don't believe in Uttar Ramayan, its seems very off from the characterisation portrayed in All the 6 kaand of Ramayan. Historians also believe that its a later addition so not gonna comment on this 

It's very difficult to answer this question. In my opinion, Sita taught everything she could to Luv and Kush and made them worthy beings so much so that they used to travel from village to village and narrate the tale of Ram and Sita. They even challenged the big maharathis of Ayodhya and defeated them. Sita thought her duty as a mother was over and she decided to leave this world. After all, there's always a specific reason behind Gods avatars and once their motive ends, they leave this world. Sita's motive also was over. She showed the world how an ideal wife, ideal mother and above all an ideal woman should be. 

Originally posted by: Quantum-Dot

Hello all, 

This is the eleventh weekly discussion topic (11th WDT) in our "Indian Mythology" forum (earlier known as Mythological Masti). As you all know, I generally post a topic (in the form of a question?) from our hindu mythology every week, to have some meaningful mythological discussions. 

Since mythology is considered a component of religion, and can be a sensitive topic for most people, with the characters often being revered, you must follow the rules of Indian Mythology Forum to maintain a peaceful atmosphere in our forum.

Since we have already celebrated Mothers' Day a few days back, the topic of this week is on one of the mothers from our Hindu epic:

Why Mata Sita didn't think of her kids' (Lav & Kush) future, before deciding to return back to her mother Dharti Maa?

As we all know, Mata Sita decided to go back to her mother, Dharti Maa finally, after being abandoned by her own husband and facing exile for several years for having doubts on her chastity by the citizens of Ayodhya.

She raised her two sons, Lav and Kush all alone in Valmiki's ashrama in the forest, for several years. 

But why would she decide to embrace Dharti Mata, leaving behind her two loving sons to this cruel world, where their mother had been constantly questioned on her chastity? There can never be any substitute of a mother. Had she thought for once whether her sons may be questioned and ridiculed later for the same reason by those same judgemental citizens of Ayodhya and may never be accepted in future as the ruler, in her absence?

Share your views and engage in meaningful discussions with your fellow members. 

Although we celebrate Mother's Day on a single day of a year, Mother's day is everyday for all the mothers out there to their children, and hence we wish you all again a very Happy Mothers' Day.

Now, you can win a chance to become the Mythological Wordsmith Of The Month, by participating in the Weekly Discussion Topics (WDT) posted by the DT every week and write unique answers to the questions, and those who get the most likes to their answers throughout the month will be crowned the title for that month. Do note that, plagiarism is a serious offence. And newbie's likes won't be counted.

Tag me also please.

In valmiki ramayan   in  baal kand only it it is written  that lav kush singing valmiki  ramayan and telling  Sita legend Mata seeta kaDharti pe saamane ka aisa kjuch Likha nahi  so no idea Sita ne lav kush ke baare mein  socha ki nahi

Waise I have heard tulsi  days did not write  lav kush kaand because  tulsi  Das could not tolerate  such separation  of lord ram from seeta Mata 

Edited by surabhi01 - 22 days ago

In the Ramayana, Sita's decision to leave the earth by requesting her mother, the Earth Goddess Bhumi, to take her back is a poignant moment. It is recorded in the Uttara Kanda, the last book of the Ramayana. Sita's decision comes after a long period of suffering and enduring societal doubts about her chastity and purity, even after proving her innocence through the fire ordeal (Agni Pariksha). Regarding whether Sita thought of her children, Lava and Kusha, before making this decision, the text and traditional interpretations suggest that her actions were driven by a culmination of her personal suffering and the desire to uphold her dignity and self-respect, as well as to relieve Rama of his societal obligations and dilemmas. Sita's children, Lava and Kusha, were still young when these events took place. They were being brought up in the hermitage of Valmiki and had grown up with the love and care of their mother and the sage. By the time Sita decides to return to the earth, Lava and Kusha had already met their father, Rama, and demonstrated their valor and abilities. Sita's ultimate act can be seen as an expression of her ultimate exhaustion and her unwillingness to continue living in a society that continually questioned her purity and loyalty. In this context, her thoughts were likely a mix of her own dignity, the well-being of her children, and the moral complexities she was facing. Although the text does not explicitly detail her internal thoughts about her children at the exact moment of her decision, it is reasonable to infer that a loving mother like Sita would have considered the future and well-being of Lava and Kusha before making such a momentous decision. In summary, while the texts do not explicitly state Sita's thoughts about her children at the moment she asks the Earth to take her back, her previous actions and the context suggest she would have thought of them. Her decision, however, primarily reflects her desire to uphold her personal dignity and to relieve the burdens placed on her by society.