Cultivating the Seeds of the Goddess and Devotion

Authors

  • Phyllis K. Herman

Keywords:

Sita, Śrī-Lakṣmī, fertility goddess, Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, agrarian symbolism, divine feminine

Abstract

This article, “Cultivating the Seeds of the Goddess and Devotion” by Phyllis K. Herman, explores Sita’s character in the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, positioning her as a divine feminine archetype rooted in agrarian goddess traditions. Analyzing her birth from the furrow, the article connects Sita with the goddess Śrī-Lakṣmī and examines her symbolism as a figure of fertility, sovereignty, and virtue. Drawing on Vedic hymns like the Śrī Sūkta, Herman challenges passive portrayals of Sita and instead presents her as a powerful emblem of abundance, devotion, and divine agency.

Published

2011-12-13