The Star of the Ramayana is described as a perfect woman: loyal, courageous and modest are some of the most commonly used words in relation to the incarnation of the goddess Lakshmi. Sita was significant in many ways and vital to the stories of her husband, Sri Rama. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Although she was best known through her husband's stories, Sita is no small character. According to Williams in the Handbook of Hindu Mythology, "Sîtâ was born from the earth when it was plowed" as an incarnation of the goddess Lakshmi, who represented prosperity. This leads historians to believe that Prithivi, the Hindu goddess representing Mother Earth, is Sita's mother, but she was raised by King Janaka as his daughter. King Janaka was a great and respected scholar and Sita became a powerful woman, considered perfect by most for her faith, modesty and perseverance. She and her husband, Rama, married after he won the marriage contest by “…raising and shooting an arrow from the divine bow of Śiva” (Williams 265). Sita was loyal and devoted to her husband - so loyal that she almost met her death because of him - which is another reason why she is described as an ideal high-caste Hindu wife. While the New World Encyclopedia states that many modern Indian feminists see the Star of the Ramayana as an overly submissive wife who ultimately killed herself due to a husband who did not trust her, she is still commonly worshiped alongside her husband: notably during planting seasons in an effort to obtain a more abundant harvest (New World Encyclopedia 2). Sita first appeared to the childless Janaka while he was in the midst of a sacrifice. According to Johnson, Janaka gives birth to her when she comes out of the land she is plowing as part of a soil fertility ritual. The name Sita actually comes from a Sanskrit word meaning "the line drawn by the plow", which further supports her agricultural meaning as a deity (New World Encyclopedia 2). In any case, as an incarnation of Lakshmi, she was placed on earth in an attempt to follow her husband's numerous rebirths as an avatar of Vishnu (Williams 265). The New World Encyclopedia describes Sita as light-skinned, with long black hair and beautiful facial features, a traditional stereotype of Hindu elegance. To preserve her innocent nature, she is often depicted wearing a sari and always stands to the left of her husband Rama, as well as other important characters in the Ramayana. The New World Encyclopedia states that "As might be expected from her social status, she is often bejeweled with gold bracelets and anklets." In most images and depictions, Sita is portrayed with human-like features, but is sometimes drawn with "additional arms... in an attempt to speak to her status as the reincarnation of Lakshmi". As with other Hindu deities, Sita has a personal mission, described in the Ramayana as "Rama's Journey". Rama grew up with three brothers in the court of his father, King Dasharatha. Once of age, his father anointed him heir to the throne – “but an intrigue by his stepmother forces the king to honor an old oath and exile his son to the forest for a number of years.” Shortly after the marriage of Rama and Sita, Rama and his brother were exiled from Ayodhya because of their stepmother and spent an indefinite period of time in the forests of Dandakaranya. Sita, being a devoted and loyal wife, traveled with him. Williams states that upon his arrival in the forest, a princess named Surpanakha attempted to tempt Rama, who responded by stating that he loved only Sita. After hearing this, the princess tried to kill Sita, who was defended by the.