Vivara

In the Uttarakanda of the Valmiki Ramayanam, Sita Devi, thrice asks Madhavi for Vivara, when she is asked by Sri Rama to swear to her purity in Ayodhya several years after the Agnipariksha in Sri Lanka.

What does Vivara mean? Vidhava means Vi – Dhava without husband – widow.

Vi – Vara : without groom? Seperation? Divorce? These are my thoughts in the 21st century.

The 19th and 20th century translators have translated this word as entry: They said Ma = Lakshmi, Madhava = Vishnu, Madhavi = wife of Vishnu = Bhudevi = Dharani Devi. So the earth opened up and Sita entered it. This is how every one in India has always understood what happened.

However, the Thai version is different. Sita refuses to come back and Sri Rama has to go after her to the forest. A final reconciliation is efftected by Brahma and Maheswara (Siva) and other Devas and Sri Rama brings Sita back. The story actually ends happily. In Uttarakanda, after Sita’s request she is physically taken away by Dharani Devi and the Nagas on a “Simhasanam” . While Simhasanam is translated as Throne in modern languages, it literally means Simha – Asanam a Lion Seat. (Durga Devi and Manikantan rode tigers).

So here is my thought. Sita Devi was upset. Valmiki says that she was tear stricken. Sita took the oath so that her sons would inherit their father’s lineage and Kosala would have proper kings. But she was thoroughly annoyed at the insult to her integrity and asked for Vivara and left with Dharani Devi and the Nagas. Then at the intervention of Pitamaha Brahma and Maheswara, Sri Rama and SitaDevi  re-united with each other. (It is also interesting to me that other than the people of Ayodhya, no one suspected Sita Devi.. not the Rakshasas, Vanaras, the Nagas or the Devas.)