With Ravana’s death the war ended. Vibheeshana performed his last rites and then Rama carried out his coronation as the King of Lanka. Hanuman went to fetch Seeta from the Ashoka Vatika in a palanquin. She got down, happy to see Rama again. But Rama was serious. He said that she would have to take agnipareeksha, a test by fire, to prove her innocence before all the others and to him. Seeta honoured his words and asked Lakshmana to prepare a pyre and light it. She bowed to Rama saying, “If even by a thought or in a dream I have been unfaithful to you, my lord, may I be burnt to ashes!” Then she entered the flames. Agni, the Fire-god, emerged from the flames. “Lord Vishnu, you took the form of Rama to destroy Ravana. Seeta is your consort, Lakshmi,” he said, handing over Seeta, untouched by the fiery ordeal to Rama.
Agnipareeksha
