Appearance Day of Srimati Sita Devi (consort of Lord Sri Rama)

What is the appearance day of Srimati Sita Devi?

Many people know the appearance day of Srimati Sita Devi, the consort of Lord Sri Rama, as Sita Navami. In 2027 devotees keep it on Friday, 14 May. On the same day Srimati Jahnava Devi appeared and Sri Madhu Pandita entered the Lord's eternal pastimes.

Significance

The Srimad-Bhagavatam tells how King Siradhvaja, also called Janaka, was ploughing a field for a sacrifice when a daughter appeared from the front of his plough. She later became the wife of Lord Ramacandra. Srila Prabhupada calls her the pleasure potency of Ramacandra, for she is the Lord's own spiritual energy of delight. The Bhagavatam also says that when Ravana carried her off, he was condemned by her anger.

She followed the Lord into the forest. In Lanka He found her sitting beneath a simsapa tree in a grove of ashoka trees, thin from separation. The Bhagavatam describes her character in these words:

Mother Sītā was very submissive, faithful, shy and chaste, always understanding the attitude of her husband.

Srimad-Bhagavatam 9.10.55

How to observe it

Give the day to hearing about Sita and Rama. Canto 9, chapter 13 of the Srimad-Bhagavatam tells of her appearance, and chapter 10 of the same canto describes Lord Rama's pastimes with her. Chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra with extra attention, and pray for a share of her faithful service to the Lord.