Shrutakirti
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Shrutakirti () is a princess of
Videha Videha ( Prākrit: ; Pāli: ; Sanskrit: ) was an ancient Indo-Aryan tribe of north-eastern Indian subcontinent whose existence is attested during the Iron Age. The population of Videha, the Vaidehas, were initially organised into a monarchy ...
, in the Hindu epic ''
Ramayana The ''Ramayana'' (; ), also known as ''Valmiki Ramayana'', as traditionally attributed to Valmiki, is a smriti text (also described as a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic) from ancient India, one of the two important epics ...
''. She is the wife of
Shatrughna ''Shatrughna'' (, ), also known as Ripudaman, is the younger brother of Rama, and King of Mathura, Madhupura and Vidisha, in the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. He is considered as an incarnation of the Sudarshana Chakra of god Vishnu, and was married ...
and is considered an incarnation of the discus of goddess
Lakshmi Lakshmi (; , , sometimes spelled Laxmi, ), also known as Shri (, , ), is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism, revered as the goddess of wealth, fortune, prosperity, beauty, fertility, sovereignty, and abundance. She along with Parvat ...
. Shrutakirti is known for her foresight and dedication.


Etymology

The name Shrutakirti is of
Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...
origin. Her name means 'renowned and reputed'.


Legend


Birth

Shrutakirti was born as the younger daughter of King
Kushadhvaja Kushadhvaja ( IAST: Kuśadhvaja) is the King of Samkasya and the younger brother of Janaka, the King of Mithila, in the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. He was married to Chandrabhaga and is the father of Mandavi and Shrutakirti. Legend Birth K ...
and his wife Chandrabhaga. She is the younger sister of Mandavi. Shrutakirti is considered as the incarnation of
Lakshmi Lakshmi (; , , sometimes spelled Laxmi, ), also known as Shri (, , ), is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism, revered as the goddess of wealth, fortune, prosperity, beauty, fertility, sovereignty, and abundance. She along with Parvat ...
's disc. Her father was the ruler of Samkasya, but Shrutakirti and Mandavi were brought up in Mithila, along with
Sita Sita (; ), also known as Siya, Jānaki and Maithili, is a Hindu goddess and the female protagonist of the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. Sita is the consort of Rama, the avatar of god Vishnu, and is regarded as an avatar of goddess Lakshmi. She is t ...
and
Urmila Urmila (), is a Hindu goddess and the princess of Videha in the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. She is considered to be an avatāra of Nagalakshmi, the serpent goddess. Urmila was married to Lakshmana and is known for her dedication towards her ...
.


Marriage to Shatrughna

After
Rama Rama (; , , ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the seventh and one of the most popular avatars of Vishnu. In Rama-centric Hindu traditions, he is considered the Supreme Being. Also considered as the ideal man (''maryāda' ...
won the hand of Sita at her
svayamvara ''Svayaṃvara'' ( ) is a matrimonial tradition in ancient Indian society where a bride, usually from '' Kṣatriya'' (warrior) caste, selects her husband from a group of assembled suitors either by her own choice or a public contest between her ...
, his father, King
Dasharatha Dasharatha (, IAST: Daśaratha; born Nemi) was the king of Kosala, with its capital at Ayodhya, in the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. Dasharatha married Kausalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi. He was the father of Rama, the protagonist of the epic Ramayana ...
arrived in Mithila for his son's wedding. King Dasharatha noticed that
Lakshmana Lakshmana (, ), also known as Laxmana, Lakhan, Saumitra, and Ramanuja, is the younger brother of Rama in the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. He is considered as an incarnation of Shesha, the lord of serpents. Lakshmana was married to Urmila, and i ...
had feelings for
Urmila Urmila (), is a Hindu goddess and the princess of Videha in the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. She is considered to be an avatāra of Nagalakshmi, the serpent goddess. Urmila was married to Lakshmana and is known for her dedication towards her ...
, but according to tradition, Bharata and Mandavi had to marry first. King Dasharatha arranged for Bharata to marry Mandavi and for Shatrughna to marry Shrutakirti, allowing Lakshmana to marry Urmila. Ultimately, all four sisters married the four brothers, strengthening the alliance between the kingdoms. The wedding ceremony was conducted under the guidance of Shatananda. Shatrughna and Shrutakirti had two sons named Subahu and Shatrughati. While, Subahu became king of
Mathura Mathura () is a city and the administrative headquarters of Mathura district in the states and union territories of India, Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located south-east of Delhi; and about from the town of Vrindavan. In ancient ti ...
, Shatrughati ruled over
Vidisha Vidisha (विदिशा, formerly known as Bhelsa and known as Besnagar and Bhaddilpur in ancient times) is a city in Indian state of Madhya Pradesh and the administrative headquarters of Vidisha district. It is located 62.5 km north ...
.


Queen of Madhupura

Later, Shrutakirti became the queen of Madhupura (Mathura), when her husband Shatrughna captured the capital after killing
Lavanasura lavanasura () is an asura in Hinduism. He is slain by Shatrughna, the youngest brother of Rama, in the Hindu epic Ramayana. Legend During Rama's reign, while peace prevailed in most places, Lavanasura continued to torment the innocent and destro ...
. Shatrughna came to her every night, worried about his every inexperienced decision regarding the kingdom, and confided in her. She acted as an advisor to her husband and was fully dedicated in his service.Pargiter, F.E. (1972). ''Ancient Indian Historical Tradition'', Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, p.170.


Death

According to a legend in
Tulsidas Rambola Dubey (; 11 August 1511 – 30 July 1623pp. 23–34.), popularly known as Goswami Tulsidas (), was a Vaishnavism, Vaishnava (Ramanandi Sampradaya, Ramanandi) Hinduism, Hindu saint and poet, renowned for his devotion to the deity Rama. H ...
's ''
Ramcharitmanas ''Ramcharitmanas'' ( deva, रामचरितमानस, rāmacaritamānasa), is an epic poem in the Awadhi language, composed by the 16th-century Indian bhakti poet Tulsidas (c. 1511–1623). It has many inspirations, the primary being t ...
'', Shrutakirti along with her sister Mandavi, became Sati with her husband, and died after her husband's samadhi. While, Urmila stayed in Ayodhya to look after her son's
Angada Angada (Sanskrit: अङ्गदः, IAST: Aṅgada) is a legendary vanara in Hinduism. He helps Rama find his wife Sita and fight her abductor, Ravana, in the epic Ramayana. He is the son of Vali (Ramayana), Vali and prince of Kishkindha, an ...
and Chandraketu, and Sita's sons
Lava Lava is molten or partially molten rock (magma) that has been expelled from the interior of a terrestrial planet (such as Earth) or a Natural satellite, moon onto its surface. Lava may be erupted at a volcano or through a Fissure vent, fractu ...
and Kusha.


Assessment

Though she finds little mention in the original epic, Shrutakirti is known for her foresight. She supported her husband during his brothers exile and often advised her husband on state matters, as the queen of Madhupura. Kavita Kane said, "Shrutakirti stays in the royal palace, living a life of celibacy like her husband Shatrughan."


Worship

In the
Medak district Medak district is located in the western region of the Indian state of Telangana. Medak is the district headquarters. The district shares boundaries with Sangareddy, Kamareddy, Siddipet and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts. History Traces of ...
of
Telangana Telangana is a States and union territories of India, state in India situated in the Southern India, south-central part of the Indian subcontinent on the high Deccan Plateau. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, ele ...
, there is a temple called Sri Kalyana Ramachandra Sannadhi that is dedicated to Shatrughna and Shrutakirti. This temple is the only one in India that has installed statues of Rama's brothers and their wives.


In popular culture


Films

The following person portrayed Shrutakirti in the film adaptation of ''Ramayana''. * Aditi Chatterjee portrayed Shrutakirti in the 1997 Hindi film '' Lav Kush''. * Surabhi Das portrayed Shrutakriti in the 2026 Hindi film '' Ramayana: Part 1.''


Television

The following people portrayed Shrutakirti in the television adaptation of ''Ramayana''. * Poonam Shetty portrayed her in the 1987 series '' Ramayan'' and the 1988 series '' Luv Kush''. * Samreen Naaz / Gulrez Khan portrayed her in the 1997 series '' Jai Hanuman''. * Malini Kapoor / Arti Puri portrayed her in the 2002 series '' Ramayan''. * Annu Dangi / Sudeepta Singh portrayed her in the 2008 series '' Ramayan''. * Tanvi Madhyan portrayed her in the 2015 series '' Siya Ke Ram''. * Priyanka Shukla portrayed her in the 2015 series ''
Sankat Mochan Mahabali Hanumaan ''Sankat Mochan Mahabali Hanumaan'' is an Indian-Television drama series that aired weekly on Sony Entertainment Television (India) It tells the story of Hanuman from the viewpoint of Krishna and Rukmini. The series ran from May 2015 to Augu ...
''. * Nikita Tiwari portrayed her in the 2019 series '' Ram Siya Ke Luv Kush''. * Siddhi Sharma / Charmi Dhami / Sonal Singh portrayed her in the 2024 series '' Shrimad Ramayan''. * Bhumika Gaur portrayed her in 2024 DD National series Kakabhushundi Ramayan- Anasuni Kathayein.


Books

* ''Shrutakirti: Sita's Sister'' by Devi Raghuvanshi


References

{{Ramayana Solar dynasty Characters in the Ramayana