Divine Influences of Haradhanu and The Goddess in Shaping Sita’s Destiny: A Study of Her Spiritual Path in The Forest of Enchantments

This paper highlights Sita’s spiritual journey as influenced by Haradhanu, the divine bow of Lord Shiva, and the Goddess, who guides her in preparing for her destiny in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s, The Forest of Enchantments. It examines the interplay of these divine forces in enabling Sita to navigate the challenges and turbulences of her life and fate. By revisiting the Ramayana through a feminist lens, Divakaruni reimagines Sita as a woman balances traditional submissiveness with profound spiritually empowerment. Haradhanu and the Goddess, functioning as spiritual agencies, reinforce Sita’s resilience and inner strength. This paper applies Feminist Literary Criticism and Archetypal Theory to analyze the significance of these divine and spiritual elements as metaphors and catalysts for Sita’s personal growth and fulfilment of her destined role. Ultimately, the study provides insights into Sita’s dual evolution as both delicate and empowered within mythology and contemporary literature.