{{Short description|Practice in Hindu mythology}} {{Distinguish|Sati (practice)}} thumb|Mughal painting of Sita undergoing the agnipravesham. '''Sita Agnipravesham''' ({{Langx|sa|अग्निप्रवेशम|lit=Fiery entrance|translit=Agnipraveśam}}),<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2017-08-29 |title=Agnipravesha, Agnipraveśa, Agni-pravesha: 11 definitions |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/agnipravesha |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref> also called '''Sita Agnipariksha''' ({{Langx|sa|अग्निपरीक्षा|lit=fiery ordeal|translit=Agniparīkṣā}}) is the mythical<ref>{{Cite book |last=Joshi |first=Vivek Vishnupant |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gqlXDwAAQBAJ&dq=agnipariksha+ordeal&pg=PT142 |title=History, Myth & Folktales in the Plays of Girish Karnad |date=2018 |publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=978-1387735457 |page=142 |language=en}}</ref> practice of self-immolation described in Hindu literature.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Dalal|first=Roshen|title=Hinduism: an Alphabetical Guide|date=2014|publisher=Penguin Books|isbn=978-8184752779|location=London|oclc=1132344222}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Muralidharan|first=Kavitha|title=With just 11 stories this collection goes to the core of Tamil writer Jayakanthan's fiction|url=https://scroll.in/article/856588/with-just-11-stories-this-collection-goes-to-the-core-of-tamil-writer-jayakanthans-fiction|access-date=2020-06-09|website=Scroll.in|date=5 November 2017 |language=en-US}}</ref> It is primarily associated with the ordeal of Sita in the Ramayana, and is regarded to be a custom inspired by Vedic tradition.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Herman |first1=Phyllis K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=97EYBwAAQBAJ&dq=agnipariksha+ordeal&pg=PA62 |title=The Constant and Changing Faces of the Goddess: Goddess Traditions of Asia |last2=Shimkhada |first2=Deepak |date=2009 |publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing |isbn=978-1443807029 |page=62 |language=en}}</ref>
== Legend == The Valmiki's Ramayana, which is the original Ramayana, describes how Maya Sita enters the fire so that when Rama rescues the illusory Sita from Ravana's captivity and brings her back, the real Sita can emerge from the fire, and indeed, the real Sita returns from the fire.
Some people misinterpreted this and said that Sita undergoes the agnipravesham to offer evidence of her chastity to her husband, Rama, and the people of Ayodhya, after suspicions are cast upon her virtue due to her abduction by Ravana.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Parimoo |first=Ratan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CckrAAAAMAAJ&q=agnipravesham+sita |title=Vaiṣṇavism in Indian Arts and Culture: Collected Papers of the University Grants Commission National Seminar on "Impact of Vaiṣṇavism on the Indian Arts" |date=1986 |publisher=Books & Books |isbn=978-8185016184 |pages=446 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Patra |first1=Dr Dipankar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F01WEAAAQBAJ&dq=agnipariksha+sita&pg=PA300 |title=Interface a National Research Anthology on Indigenous Language, Literature & Culture |last2=Banerjee |first2= Subhashis |last3=Doley |first3= Abani |last4=Chatterjee |first4= Biswarup |last5=Karmakar |first5= Sharmistha |last6=Kamsi |first6= Zenny |date=2021 |publisher=Book Rivers |isbn=978-9391000219 |page=300 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Kishwar |first=Madhu Purnima |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5rSGAwAAQBAJ&dq=agnipariksha+ordeal&pg=PA127 |title=Zealous Reformers, Deadly Laws |date=2008 |publisher=Sage Publications India |isbn=978-8132100096 |pages=127 |language=en}}</ref> She invokes Agni, the god of fire, who rescues her, thereby testifying to her fidelity to Rama.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Naidu |first=Vayu |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LIHYVC3fLRoC&dq=agnipariksha+sita&pg=PT18 |title=Sita's Ascent |date=2012|publisher=Penguin UK |isbn=978-8184757712 |pages=18 |language=en}}</ref>
== See also == * Ramayana * Trial by ordeal * Sati
== References == {{Reflist}} {{Suicide navbox}}
Category:Religion and suicide Category:Cultural anthropology Category:Hindu practices Category:Religion and euthanasia Category:Ramayana