In most tellings of the Ramayana, Sita is abducted by Ravana, setting the epic's central conflict in motion. But a lesser-known thread woven through Jain, Southeast Asian, and later Hindu traditions offers a radically different story: the Sita taken to Lanka was not the real Sita but a shadow, an illusory creation. This book explores the fascinating concept of Maya Sita—her origins in the Adbhuta Ramayana, her role in the Jain Paumachariya where Sita never leaves King Janaka's palace, and her appearances in the Thai Ramakien and other Southeast Asian adaptations. Drawing on careful scholarship and reverence for the living traditions, Anand Krishnan Iyer traces how the Maya Sita narrative resolves the problem of a goddess enduring captivity, raises profound questions about identity and illusion, and enriches the Ramayana's moral landscape. Whether you are a devotee, a student of comparative mythology, or a curious reader, this book illuminates a shadow that has long accompanied the epic's light. Part of The Ramayana Character Library.
About the author
Anand Krishnan Iyer writes for The Ramayana Character Library.
