Women in the Atharva-veda Samhita
by Pranab Jyoti Kalita | 2017 | 62,142 words
This page relates ‘Goddess Sita’ of the study on women in the Vedic society reflecting the Atharva-veda Samhita in English. These pages discusses the social aspects of women, education, customs of marriage, practices of polyandry and polygamy, descriptions of female deities and various rites and rituals. It is shown how women earned much praise in ancient Indian society. Included are Sanskrit text and references of the Atharvaveda and commentary by Sayana-Acharya.
22. Goddess Sītā
The line of a ploughshare, made with the purpose of sowing seed is personified as the goddess Sītā.[1] Hence, Sītā is the presiding deity of a furrow.
In the Atharvaveda, Indra is prayed to hold this Sītā.[2] Pūṣan is asked to protect her.[3] Sītā is prayed to be payasvatī, i.e. bestowing desired objects in the form of grains throughout the years.[4] She is called subhagā, i.e. fortunate.[5] She is expected to be a well-willing one to the people and therefore, is extolled with reverence.[6] She is wanted to be a suphalā, i.e. granting expected fruits[7] and is prayed to be turned forward to the invokers.[8] It is spoken about Sītā that she is anointed by water and honey and is approved by the Maruts and all the gods.[9] She is ūrjasvatī, i.e. strong and is asked to turn to the invokers with food.[10]
Footnotes and references:
[3]:
… tāṃ pūṣābhi rakṣatu / Ibid.
[4]:
sā naḥ payasvatī duhāmuttarāmuttarāṃ samām / Ibid.
[7]:
Ibid.
[8]:
Ibid.
[9]:
ghṛtena sītā madhunā samaktā viśvairdevairanumatā marudbhiḥ / Ibid., 3.17.9
[10]:
sā naḥ sīte payasābhyāvavṛtsvorjasvatī ghṛtavat pinvamānā / Ibid.