The Tirthankaras
Jain Ramayana, Part 3: Sita's Fire Ordeal and Ram's Renunciation
जैन रामायण, भाग 3: सीता की अग्नि परीक्षा और राम का वैराग्य · જૈન રામાયણ, ભાગ 3: સીતાની અગ્નિ પરીક્ષા અને રામનો વૈરાગ્ય
A fire that turns into a lake of lotuses, and a king who learns at last to let go
- 5 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- Best shared with a grown-up
Back in Ayodhya, whispers about Sita lead Ram to a decision he will regret, and years later a blazing fire, two brave sons and a great loss bring both Sita and Ram to the path of renunciation.
What it teaches Truth Forgiveness Detachment
The opening of the children's telling
When Ram brought Sita home to Ayodhya, everyone was happy. But some people began to whisper unkind things. They said, Sita lived in Ravan's palace for so long. Can she still be good? These words were not true, but they spread like smoke.
Ram felt very troubled. And so, sadly, he sent Sita away to the forest. Sita was very sad too, but she was brave. A kind king found her and said, you are my sister. Come and live with me. In his home, Sita had two baby boys, Lavan and Ankush. They grew up strong and clever.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
Truth may be tested, but it is never burned.
To talk about together
Sita said her sorrow was no one's fault but her own past karma. How is that different from blaming others when things go wrong?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.