TRIJATA: the loyal companion

Lisa Roy

TRIJATA: the loyal companion

The most treasured gift of God is a devoted partner and friend in the middle of a crisis. Such friendship provides considerable peace and strength to face adversity and persevere. The modest Trijata is one such comrade who constantly stood by Mata Sita during her most difficult times in Ramayana.

TRIJATA from Ramayana; Image Source- wikiwand

The Ramayana story is well-known to most of us. However, several personalities are underappreciated because we tend to see the world in black and white although it operates in shades of grey. Trijata, a demon in Ravana's service, is one such character.

Trijata plays a significant role in the Ramayan. Trijata is said to be the daughter of the nobles Vibhishan and Sarama, according to several reports. When Ravan kidnaps Mata Sita and imprisons her in the Ashokvan on Ravan's instructions, all the demonesses harass and force her to surrender to Ravan. Trijata, on the other hand, comforts Mata Sita as a mother and constantly encourages her that Shri Ram will definitely come to Lanka and save her from Ravan's clutches.

For Sita, who had been through the agony of being fooled by Ravana dressed as a brahmin, eventually being abducted by him and sent to a land far away from her husband with no method of interacting with him, their comments and obscene behavior just added to her loneliness.

It was at this point that Trijata stepped in. She gave her fellow rakshasis a good scolding for their treatment of Sita. According to Valmiki's original Ramayana, this is the point at which Trijata tells them about her prophetic dream in which she sees Lanka being burned down by a vanara (monkey) and Lord Rama arriving to rescue Sita. Trijata instructs the rakshasis to apologize to Sita rather than harass her. They obey Trijata since she is the oldest.

Trijata grows to be Sita's confidante and the only warm relationship she develops during her captivity. As a result, when Lord Rama arrives with his vanar sena to rescue Sita, Ravana requests Trijata to escort her to the battlefield. Sita feels disturbed with grief at one point after believing Rama has died. Her entire world crumbles around her, but it is Trijata who reassures her that he is still alive and will come to rescue her from the clutches of the cruel monarch.

Trijata admits that it was impossible not to fall in love with Sita because of her sweet character and strong principles.

Trijata was a rakshasi with a pure heart. She resisted her master and stood up for Sita in her hour of need. Trijata's tale demonstrates that even on the darkest days, there is always a ray of hope if you never abandon the path of justice.