Agni-Pariksa
Summary
K.C. Lalwani’s review examines Acarya Tulasi’s poem **Agni‑parikṣā**, written in 1961, which retells the epic story of Sita’s fire ordeal from the Rāmāyaṇa through a contemporary Jain lens. Tulasi divides the narrative into eight cantos: Return, Conspiracy, Banishment, Repentance, Revenge, Reunion, Fire‑ordeal, and Post‑script. The poem centres on Sita’s chastity and the injustices she endures after returning to Ayodhya with Rama. Lalwani summarises each canto: the co‑wives and gossip‑mongers conspire to malign Sita; Rama, torn between kingly duty and personal love, reluctantly banishes her; in exile Sita gives birth to the twins Lava and Kusha; public remorse and the recognition of her innocence lead to a reunion; Sita finally undergoes the **agni‑parikṣā** (trial by fire), emerging unscathed and vindicated. Lalwani notes that Tulasi portrays Rama not as a callous husband but as a ruler constrained by societal expectations. The poet criticises the fickleness of public opinion, which forces Rama’s hand, and denounces the slanderous tongues of his co‑wives and ministers. The review highlights passages where Tulasi defends Sita’s honour and condemns misogyny, using his characters to indict patriarchal customs. He even speaks directly to contemporary men, urging them to treat women with respect and urging women to awaken and revolt against oppression. Lalwani praises the poem’s lyrical language and its balanced sympathy for both Rama and Sita; he emphasises that the work seeks to uplift Indian womanhood by presenting Sita as an ideal of virtue and strength. The review also discusses the political controversy that erupted when the Madhya Pradesh government banned **Agni‑parikṣā** in 1970 on grounds of sacrilege. Lalwani reproduces a portion of Tulasi’s public clarification, in which the acarya asserts that he reveres Rama and Sita as gods and intended no disrespect. The High Court eventually lifted the ban. Lalwani concludes that the poem is a significant contribution to modern Jain literature, both for its poetic merit and for its progressive social message.
Summary reviewed by a volunteer editor.
Conclusion
Through his review Lalwani shows that Acarya Tulasi’s **Agni‑pariká¹£Ä** is more than a retelling of Sita’s ordeal. It is a critique of societal hypocrisy and a plea for women’s dignity. By portraying Rama as bound by public duty and Sita as a moral exemplar, the poem challenges patriarchal narratives while remaining rooted in reverence for the epic’s heroes. Lalwani regards the work as an important intervention in the continuing debate over tradition, gender and reform.