Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.1701
Purāṇic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Purāṇic Literature c8.1701
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c8.1701
1) Māyāsītā. When Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa were in exile in the forest with Sītā, Agni came to Rāma once and told him in private thus: “Oh Rāma, you have incarnated on earth to kill Rāvaṇa. The time for that is drawing nigh and ere long Rāvaṇa would carry away Sītā. It is not proper that Sītā, the incarnation of Lakṣmī, should be touched by Rāvaṇa. Therefore I shall keep Sītā safe with me and I am giving you a phantom Sītā to be with you in her stead.” Śrī Rāma took the Māyāsītā from Agni without even knowing it and handed over the original Sītā to the custody of Agni.