Devi : Tales of Women From the Ramayana

Did Sita have a duplicate who was abducted by Ravana? Did Rama have a sister? WasKaikeyi genuinely a cruel and obstinate stepmother? How did Vedavati avenge herhumiliation in the guise of Sita?Women play an integral role in Indian mythology and the Ramayana is no exception.Whether it be popular ones such as Sita and Mandodari or obscure ones such as Sulochanaand Shanta these phenomenal female characters have been constantly attempting to bringabout a transformation in the status of women in the contemporary era through their distinctand unusual ways. Time and again the Ramayana has been executing the pedagogicalmethod of preaching us on something through its antithesis. For instance esteem and regardfor women are taught via Ravana who disrespects and molests women.With their rock-strong grit indefatigable qualities and innate charisma these femalecharacters are teaching women to be more than just good wives and daughters-in-law throughantithetical means. They are teaching us that within each woman resides the Goddess (Devi)and to attain Saraswati (wisdom) Lakshmi (wealth) and Shakti (authority) one has to firstrespect women who are indeed manifestations of these divine female entities. So fastenyourself and let this title bring forward the folk variants and retellings of the stories of thesephenomenal women into mainstream narration for you.