Sita=Laksmi; MayaSita=Draupadi

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Devotees,

 

The concept of Maya-Sita is described in Madhva's Mahabharata commentary

(summarized by KT Pandurangi):

 

The person kidnapped by Ravana was only a makeshift image of Sita. The actual

person of Sita went to Kailasa. The fact of Sita's Prakrti only being taken

away by Ravana is mentioned in the Kurma-purana, Varaha-purana,

Brahmavaivarta-purana, Bhavisyottara-purana, and Agni-purana. It is also

suggestively mentioned in the Valmiki Ramayana by the statement

"pravekshhyaami hutaashanam." It was Agni who managed to place a prakkrti of

Sita and enavble Sita to go to Kailasa. This is suggested by this statement of

Valmiki Ramayana. THe other Puranas state it more clearly:

 

Brahmavaivarta: agniryogena siitaayah maayaasiitaaM cakaara ha

 

Varahapurana: shivasthaame 'vasahdevi tatra maam dhyaayati sadaa

 

AdbhutaRamayana:

agnau ahashyarupena varsam tistha mamaajnaya

ravanasya vadante maam purvavat praapsyase shube

 

The events of Sri Rama being misled by Marica, Sita longing for the deer, Sita

being kidnapped by Ravana are merely lokavidambana. These do not indicate any

ignorance or difficulty on the part of Sri Rama and Sita.

<end summary>

 

Regarding the previous incarnations of MayaSita, there is some info that she

was originally Vedavati then MayaSita then Draupadi.

The following story is told in the Puranic Encyclopedia from Devi-mahatmya

Skanda 9:

 

When Rama and Laksmana were in exile in the forest with Sita, Agni came to

Rama and told him in private thus: "Oh Rama, You have incarnated on earth to

kill Ravana. The time for that is drawing nigh and ere long Ravana would

carry away Sita. It is not proper that Sita, the incarnation of Laksmi should

be touched by Ravana. Therefore I shall keep Sita safe with me and I am

giving you a phantom Sita to be with You in Her stead." Sri Rama took Mayasita

from Agni without even Laksmana knowing it and handed over the original Sita

to the custody of Agni.

......

At that time (of the fire ordeal), Agni taking back MayaSita gave the real

Sita to Rama , unscathed by fire. Then when MayaSita was abandoned by Rama

and Laksmana she bowed down before Sri Rama and Agni and asked them thus:

"What am I to do now? Where should I go?" They advised her to go to Puskara

and do penance and blessed her saying that at the end of her penance she would

become Svarga-laksmi. ParamaSiva was pleased by her penance and appearing

before her asked her what boon she wanted. MayaSita who had become Svarga-

laksmi by then requested Siva to give her a husband. She repeated the request

"Patim dehi" five times and Siva said she would have five husbands in her next

life as the daughter of the king of Pancala with the name Krishnaa.

 

Any comments appreciated

 

Gerald Surya