The Star of 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 Goddess Lakshmi. Sita was important in many ways and essential to the stories of her husband, Sri Rama. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Although she was best known through her husband's stories, Sita is not a small character. According to Williams in the Handbook of Hindu Mythology, "Sîtâ was born from the earth when it was plowed" as the 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 that she was raised by King Janaka as his daughter. King Janaka was a great and respected scholar, and Sita became a powerful woman who was considered perfect by most due to her faith, modesty, and perseverance. She and her husband, Rama, were married after he won the marriage contest by "...lifting and shooting an arrow from Śiva's divine bow" (Williams 265). Sita was loyal and devoted to her husband – so loyal that she almost died because of it – which is another reason why she is portrayed as an ideal high-caste Hindu wife. While the New World Encyclopedia states that many modern Indian feminists view the Star of the Ramayana as an overly submissive wife who ultimately committed suicide because of a husband who did not trust her, she is still commonly revered alongside from her husband: especially during planting seasons with the aim of obtaining a more abundant harvest (New World Encyclopedia 2). Sita first appeared to the childless Janaka while he was in the middle of a sacrifice. According to Johnson, Janaka gives birth to it when it springs from the earth he plows as part of a soil fertility ritual. The name Sita actually comes from a Sanskrit word meaning "the line drawn by the plow", further supporting her agricultural importance as a deity (New World Encyclopedia 2). Regardless, as an incarnation of Lakshmi, she was placed on earth for the purpose of following her husband's many rebirths as an avatar of Vishnu (Williams 265). The New World Encyclopedia describes Sita as having fair skin, 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 given her social status, she often wears gold bracelets and anklets." In most images and depictions, Sita is depicted with human characteristics, but is sometimes drawn with "extra arms...attempting 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 “the journey of Rama”. Rama grew up with three brothers in the court of his father, King Dasharatha. Once he came of age, his father named him heir to the throne – “but an intrigue from his stepmother forced the king to honor an old oath and exile his son to the forest for several years”. Soon after the marriage of Rama and Sita, Rama and his brother were exiled from Ayodhya because of his mother-in-law and they spent an indefinite period in the forests of Dandakaranya. Sita, being a devoted and faithful wife, traveled with him. Williams states that in.