[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975) › c9.1936 # Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.1936 Purāṇic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Purāṇic Literature c9.1936 - **Language:** English ### [c9.1936](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.1936) 5) Phantom Sītā. A few days before the abduction of Sītā by Rāvaṇa, Fire god took the guise of a Brahmin and approached Śrī Rāma and said : “O, Śrī Rāma ! The Devas have sent me to tell you certain things which will take place shortly. Your incarnation has the aim of killing Rāvaṇa. Sītā is meant to be a cause for the same. The death of Rāvaṇa is imminent. He will come and carry Sītā away. So entrust Sītā with me. I will keep her carefully. Make a phantom (Māyā) Sītā and keep her here, instead of the real Sītādevī. After the killing of Rāvaṇa, when Sītā enters fire as a proof of her purity, I will return Devī Sītā.” Śrī Rāma agreed to it. Fire god by his power of contemplation, created a phantom Sītā, exactly like the real Sītā in shape and figure and nature and placing her beside Rāma, he disappeared with the real Sītā. Even Lakṣmaṇa was not aware of this fact. The real Sītā Devī was under the care of Fire god till the moment of the test of chastity of Sītā by fire, after the killing of Rāvaṇa. During the time of entering the fire the illusory Sītā vanished in the fire and the real Sītā came out. (Devī Bhāgavata, Skandha 9). - [Previous: c9.1935](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.1935) - [Next: c9.1937](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.1937) - [Up: c9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9) ## Cites (1) - [Devībhāgavatapurāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.upa.sakta.devibhagavata) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.1936](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.1936) · Pramāṇa