Many Indians believe that Sita Devi may be elder to Sri Rama in age. Sri Ramayanam by Valmiki Maharshi answers many of our doubts. Although Valmiki Ramayana is the basis of 300 other popular Ramayanas written by famous ancient authors, some of the actual events that were detailed in Valmiki Ramayana were overlooked by subsequent authors.
Some of the authors, out of their bhakthi towards Lord Sri Rama created events that did not happen in actual Ramayana. For eg, Shabari did not give fruits after tasting to Rama. The author who came up with this fictitious event wanted to explore God’s love towards their devotees.
Another such fictitious story is that Sita devi may be elder to Sri Rama. But Valmiki maharshi gives age details about Sri Rama and Sita devi.
When Ravana comes to kidnap Sita devi, he initially tries to woo her by talking about his wealth and richness. Sita maatha then talks about her heritage and greatness of her lineage. Later Ravana gets furious and forcefully abducts her.
During the argument, Sita devi tells about her age in below Sloka,
In AranyaKanda, Chapter/Sarge 47, Sloka # 10
मम भर्ता महातेजा वयसा पंच विंशकः || ३-४७-१०
अष्टा दश हि वर्षाणि मम जन्मनि गण्यते |
Sita devi says — “Mama Bhartha Mahateja Vayasa Pancha Vimshaka” meaning my great warrrior husband is 25 years of age,
“Ashta Dasha varshani mama Janmanti ganyati” — I was 18 years then.
She tells Ravana that they came to forest when she was 18 years and Lord Rama was 25 years of age. So Sita Maatha is SEVEN YEARS YOUNGER to Sri Rama.
Also in Sundarakanda, in conversation with Swamy Hanuma, Sita maatha says she enjoyed all kinds of luxuries after marriage for 12 years.
Sundarakanda, Chapter/Sarga 33, Sloka # 17
समा द्वादश तत्र अहम् राघवस्य निवेशने || ५-३३-१७
भुन्जाना मानुषान् भोगान् सर्व काम समृद्धिनी |
In above sloka Dwadasha means 12 years. Sita Devi tells Hanuma that she stayed in Ayodhya for 12 years after marriage.
From above 2 slokas, we can infer that Sita devi was 6 years and Sri Rama was 13 years old when they got married. After 12 years, when they were 18 years and 25 years respectively, they had to go to forest. After 14 years in forest they came back to Ayodhya.
Lord Rama was almost 40 years and Sita devi 33 years when they got back to Ayodhya. Scientifically, they say that a woman may have twins if she is pregnant after 30 years. That is what happened with Sita maatha who delivered twins Kusha and Lava (Kusha is elder to Lava) after returning back to Ayodhya.
Sri Rama Jayam.
