The queen of Mithila and wife of Janaka, who raised Sita.
Accounts of this vary across texts and traditions. This entry primarily follows Later Ramayana tradition, with other tellings (Valmiki Ramayana) noted where relevant.
Sunayana is the queen of Mithila and the wife of King Janaka. She is the mother of Urmila and, in the tradition, raised Sita as her own daughter.
The Ramayana does not present Sunayana as Sita's birth mother, since Sita was found in a furrow, but she raised her as a daughter. The name Sunayana is found in the later tradition and is not prominent in Valmiki's text.
This entry is independently written for myVamsam using the sources listed above. Where traditions differ, this entry identifies the relevant tradition rather than presenting one account as universally established fact.