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COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE RĀMA-STORY
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Bh. Somasena (RPS, Ch. 14) has mixed up both the Jaina traditions. He states that when Bhamandala, the twin brother of Sitā is stolen by a revengeful celestial being, a farmer brings a casket and gives it to Janaka. The female child concealed in it is adopted by Janaka. That child (i. e. Sīta) becomes an object of solace for the wife of Janaka who is aggrieved at her separation from her son. She receives the female child as a replacement for the lost son.
The Svāyambhuva Rāmāyana (17th cent. A. D.) mentions Sītā as Mandodari's daughter. Rāmajā taka of Syāma records the same thing. According to the Palaka Pālāma of Syāma” and Laňkānoy of Laos' Sīta is Rāvana's daughter.
On the strength of the evidences available in the PCV and the Brahmanical literature it can be surmised that Vimalasūri is the first author who definitely mentions that Sītā was begotten by Janaka on his wife Videha."
C. Sitā's Betrothal with Rāma :
According to the PCV Janaka engages Sītā to Rāma in recognition of the latter's chivalry 'purisayāranihasaṁ' (27,41). Rāma helped Janaka by chasing away the Mlecchą hordes who under the leadership of Ātaranga, the chief of Mayūramala, had attacked the land of Janaka.
There is no account of the betrothal of Sítā to Rama in the VR and the TR. According to the VR many kings go individually and try in vain their skill and strength at the bow. Janaka refuses to offer Sitā to any one of them. Then the disgruntled kings besiege Mithilā for one year. Helpless Janaka propitiates gods. The latter send their fourfold army and chase away the enemy-kings (1.66.17-24). About the brother of Janaka a separate episode is narrated in the VR. Sudhanvan the king of Sănkāśyapura once seizes the city of Mithila to obtain the Saiva-bow and Sita for himself. Janaka does not surrender but kills Südhanvan in the battle. He installs his own brother (Kušadhvaja) on the throne of Sārkāśyapura (1.71-16-19). The TR does not contain any such account. It refers to the visit of Rāvana and Bāņāsura and their vain efforts at the bow (1.250) prior to the celebration of the 'svayamvara'.
1. Bulcke, 2, p. 188. 2. Ibid. p. 376. 3. Ibid. p. 280. 4. Dr. Bulcke is of the opinion that Sita was the legal daughter of Janaka in
the Adi Rāmāyaṇa (p: 292).
