The first thing that our women do whenever there is a trivial incident or a major event coming up at home is to offer a prayer and to vow to do a this or a that. This is true of most of our womenfolk even to this day. It might be anything from the ailment of a little one to the job offer that her 'child' had received the other day from abroad. She would promptly go to the puja room, offer a prayer and may be tie a coin in a piece of cloth and place it before her 'ishta devata' and take a vow for early cure from an ailment or the successful completion of any other event. Are you not reminded of your sweet mother? Or may be a sister or your wife?
That is a matter of care and concern impelled by that 'extra' affection and tenderness that is a natural part of them. Somehow, not many men do this. He probably knows that a so-and-so is there to take care of him. In most cases, he would not even know that he would have to undertake a visit to a temple, or tonsure his head and what not. That would come up at the most inconvenient time, leading to a short quarrel and a quick conclusion of peace! This is a matter of routine in most of our households. Anyway, these are the little pickles of life that make an otherwise dull existence, bright and interesting.
Janaki is no exception to this general rule. We see her praying at every little opportunity. And almost always it is for the welfare of her Rama, and of course Lakshmana. Peculiarly, she feels and acts like a mother when it comes to Lakshmana. I say peculiar because Lakshmana was elder to her, considering the fact that he was only two days younger to Rama. Despite this, Lakshmana joyfully and reverently accepts her as his own mother.
In fact it was Lakshmana who helped her get into the boat, ordered by Rama. That goes without saying that Lakshmana would have had to hold her hand, help her to keep her balance by holding her tight et al. But that takes place as naturally as between a mother and son. Later, when Rama helps her to get into a ferry when crossing the Yamuna, the poet employs the epithet
lajjamanam - shy, abashed - to describe her when Rama takes hold of her hand. We will go into details a little later.
When the boat, oared by Guhan and his men, reached the middle of Ganges - a vast expanse of water between the banks - Sita joins her palms. We see this sweet little thing praying to the river for the safety of the most valiant of all that walked the earth! "Since you, O goddess flowing through heaven, earth and the subterranean regions, include (in your basin) the realm of Brahma (the outermost of the six spheres enveloping the earth) and are vividly seen on this (terrestrial) plane as a consort of the Ocean-king (the deity presiding over the oceans) I, Sita, greet and extol you O charming goddess!" (Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kanda, Canto LII, Sloka 86 - 87)
And for what! 'Let my husband, the tiger among men, successfully complete the period of his exile and safely return to his throne!' "When Sri Rama (a tiger among men) has safely returned and regained his throne, I shall give away a lakh of cows as well as articles of wearing apparel and food-stuffs of excellent quality to the Brahmins with intent to please you. Having returned to Ayodhya, I shall worship you with thousand (and one) articles not available (even) to gods as well as with lands free from revenue, raiment and cooked rice." (Ibid, Sloka 89)
She does not stop there. She vows to offer worship in all the temples on the banks of Ganges. For what? What does she want? Not for her safety. Not for her sake. "May the sinless Rama (who is possessed of mighty arms) for his part re-enter Ayodhya from the forest along with Lakshmana and myself, O sinless goddess." (Ibid, Sloka 91)
As is typical of such situations, this takes place without the knowledge of either Rama or Lakshmana, though they are very close at hand. A delight to watch. That is
Sita.
The first thing that our women do whenever there is a trivial incident or a major event coming up at home is to offer a prayer and to vow to do a this or a that. This is true of most of our womenfolk even to this day. It might be anything from the ailment of a little one to the job offer that her 'child' had received the other day from abroad. She would promptly go to the puja room, offer a prayer and may be tie a coin in a piece of cloth and place it before her 'ishta devata' and take a vow for early cure from an ailment or the successful completion of any other event. Are you not reminded of your sweet mother? Or may be a sister or your wife? 
Janaki is no exception to this general rule. We see her praying at every little opportunity. And almost always it is for the welfare of her Rama, and of course Lakshmana. Peculiarly, she feels and acts like a mother when it comes to Lakshmana. I say peculiar because Lakshmana was elder to her, considering the fact that he was only two days younger to Rama. Despite this, Lakshmana joyfully and reverently accepts her as his own mother. 
And for what! 'Let my husband, the tiger among men, successfully complete the period of his exile and safely return to his throne!' "When Sri Rama (a tiger among men) has safely returned and regained his throne, I shall give away a lakh of cows as well as articles of wearing apparel and food-stuffs of excellent quality to the Brahmins with intent to please you. Having returned to Ayodhya, I shall worship you with thousand (and one) articles not available (even) to gods as well as with lands free from revenue, raiment and cooked rice." (Ibid, Sloka 89)
