Trauma in Ancient Indian Literature: A Case Study of Sita in the Ramayana

Abstract

This paper examines trauma in ancient Indian literature through a comparative analysis of Sita in Valmiki's Ramayana (c. 500 BCE–100 CE), Draupadi in the Mahabharata (c. 400 BCE–400 CE), and Lakshmi in Puranic texts like the Vishnu Purana. Sita's gendered trauma—exile, abduction, public shaming, and abandonment—reflects patriarchal norms of the Second Urbanization, framed by dharma and resolved through cosmic transcendence. Draupadi's public trauma, marked by disrobing, exile, and war's devastation, challenges dharma, driving collective justice in a morally complex society. Lakshmi, as a divine figure, experiences symbolic cosmic disruptions, not human suffering, highlighting her role in restoring prosperity. Applying trauma studies, the paper reveals universal patterns (silence, repetition) and culturally specific responses (karma, dharma), with Sita's prolonged, internalized suffering contrasting Draupadi's assertive agency and Lakshmi's divine autonomy. These narratives bridge ancient wisdom and modern inquiry, illuminating gendered suffering and resilience.