Shrutakirti

The name Shrutakirti is of Sanskrit origin. Her name means 'renowned and reputed'.{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2015-09-21 |title=Shrutakirti, Śrutakīrti, Śrutakīrtī, Shruta-kirti: 11 definitions |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shrutakirti |access-date=2022-08-03 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}

Shrutakirti was born as the younger daughter of King Kushadhvaja and his wife Chandrabhaga. She is the younger sister of Mandavi.{{cite book|last1=Prakāśa|first1=Veda|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MXfXAAAAMAAJ&q=Shrutakirti+Mandavi|title=Vālmīkī Rāmāyaṇa|last2=Guptā|first2=Praśānta|date=1998|publisher=Ḍrīmalaiṇḍa Pablikeśansa|isbn=978-81-7301-254-9|language=en}} Shrutakirti is considered as the incarnation of Lakshmi's disc.{{cite web|author-link=Kavita Kane|title=Sita's Sisters: Conversations On Sisterhood Between Women Of Ramayana |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/amp/story/national/sita-sisters-conversations-on-sisterhood-between-women-of-ramayana-magazine-325515|work=Outlook India |accessdate=26 October 2023}} Her father was the ruler of Samkasya, but Shrutakirti and Mandavi were brought up in Mithila, along with Sita and Urmila.{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ramayana-Indian-epic|title=Ramayana {{!}} Summary, Characters, & Facts|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|access-date=2020-02-18|archive-date=12 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412065621/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ramayana-Indian-epic|url-status=live}}

After Rama won the hand of Sita at her svayamvara, his father, King Dasharatha arrived in Mithila for his son's wedding. King Dasharatha noticed that Lakshmana had feelings for Urmila, 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.{{Cite book|last=Debroy|first=Bibek|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6oQlAQAAIAAJ&q=Shrutakirti|title=The History of Puranas|date=2005|publisher=Bharatiya Kala Prakashan|isbn=978-81-8090-062-4|language=en}} The wedding ceremony was conducted under the guidance of Shatananda.{{Cite book |last=Valmiki |url=http://archive.org/details/TheRamayan |title=The Ramayana |date= |pages=126–145}}

Shatrughna and Shrutakirti had two sons named Subahu and Shatrughati. While, Subahu became king of Mathura, Shatrughati ruled over Vidisha.{{Cite web|title=The Ramayana and Mahabharata: Conclusion|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/dutt/ramaconc.htm|access-date=2020-08-07|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}

Later, Shrutakirti became the queen of Madhupura (Mathura), when her husband Shatrughna captured the capital after killing Lavanasura.{{Cite book |last1=Goldman |first1=Robert P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=28M2EAAAQBAJ&dq=bharata+returned+slippers&pg=PA255 |title=The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki: The Complete English Translation |last2=Goldman |first2=Sally J. Sutherland |date=2022-01-18 |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-0-691-20686-8 |pages=255 |language=en}} 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.{{cite book |author=Deepa Hariharan |year=2021 |publisher=Independently Published |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IzuPzgEACAAJ |title=Princesses Recall - Stories of Grit and Sacrifice of Shanta, Ruma, Shrutakeerti and Urmila Based on the Indian Epic Ramayana |isbn=9798528594781}}Pargiter, F.E. (1972). Ancient Indian Historical Tradition, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, p.170.

According to a legend in Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas, 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 and Chandraketu, and Sita's sons Lava and Kusha.{{cite book

|last=MacFie

|first=J. M.

|title=The Ramayan Of Tulsidas Or The Bible Of Northern India

|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AbG4yfdE1b4C&pg=PA115

|date=1 May 2004

|publisher=Kessinger Publishing

|isbn=978-1-4179-1498-2}}

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."

In the Medak district of Telangana, 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.{{cite news |title=Sri Kalyana Ramachandra Swamy temple: Small wonder on a hillock |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/031217/hyderabad-small-wonder-on-a-hillock.html |work=Deccan Chronicle |date=3 December 2017}}{{cite news |title=This unique Rama temple near Hyderabad where Hanuman finds no place |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/unique-rama-temple-near-hyderabad-where-hanuman-finds-no-place-41757 |work=The News Minute |date=17 April 2016 |language=en}}

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.

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.{{Cite web|title=Ramayana cast and characters: A full list|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/spiritual/article/ramayana-cast-and-characters-a-full-list/579445|access-date=2020-08-07|website=www.timesnownews.com|date=17 April 2020 |language=en}}
• 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.
• 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.

• Shrutakirti: Sita's Sister by Devi Raghuvanshi{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nl5CEAAAQBAJ | title=Shrutakirti: Sita's Sister |year= | isbn=9789391380748 | last1=Raghuvanshi | first1=Devi | publisher=The Little Booktique Hub}}

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{{Ramayana}}

Category:Solar dynasty

Category:Characters in the Ramayana