Food Cooked By Sita In The Ramayana And What Did Mata Sita Eat In Lanka?

The food that was cooked by Mata Sita in Ramayana was so delicious that it is part of several folklores. A story from Himachal Pradesh connects Sita’s kidnapping by Ravana to the tasty food she cooked. It is believed that Mata Sita did not have to eat anything in Lanka because Indra gave her a food which made sure that she was never hungry during her forced stay in the capital city of the demon king.

As per the folklore, a crow carried the food Mata Sita cooked during her exile period in Ramayana to Lanka. Ravana happened to taste the food. He was so much happy and content with the food that he decided to kidnap Sita and get her to Lanka so that she would cook for him.

Sita’s kitchen is very famous and the objects used by Mata Sita can be found in the Sita-ki-rasoi in Ayodhya.

Sita Rasoi in Chitrakoot

There is also a Sita Rasoi in the Chitrakoot area in Uttar Pradesh. It is located on the crown of the hill above Hanuman Dhara. Bhagavan Sri Ram, Mata Sita and Lakshman resided here during their exile period in the Ramayana. Mata Sita cooked meals for the family here.

Devotees believe that Mata Sita still cooks food here for her family.

What Did Mata Sita Eat In Lanka?

Mata Sita did not accept the food given by Ravana so what did she eat when she was in Lanka?

Mata Sita was guarded by Rakshasa women in the Ashoka Vatika in Lanka. They provided her with numerous delicacies to tempt her to become the queen of Ravana. But Mata Sita did not budge.

Indra, the king of Devas, arrived at Ashoka Vatika on the request of Lord Brahma. He goes in person to Mata Sita and offers her from his own hands ‘payasam’ – rice cooked in milk and jaggery.

The food that Indra offers to Mata Sita is havis (oblation) from Yajna and it has the power to banish hunger for ten thousand years.

But Mata Sita who is well aware of the tactics of Ravana and does not trust Indra. She thinks he is a demon in the guise of Indra.

Indra had to prove that he was the King of Devas to win the confidence of Mata Sita.

To make her believe, Indra demonstrates that he is not touching the ground with his feet. He then shows that he has unblinking eyes. He also reveals that he has unwilted flowers in his garlands.

This demonstration convinces a skeptical Mata Sita and she accepts the food offered by Indra.

But before eating the good, she offers some food to the gods, ancestors and to Bhagavan Sri Ram and Lakshman.