RamNavami

Ramayan is not only an astounding piece of ancient literature, a chronicle relating the ancestry of the solar dynasty, an anecdote of a warrior prince, or a foundational scripture of Sanatan Dharma. It's an endless ocean of bliss and devotion, a beacon light for all humanity.

To the devotees of the lord, the Ramayan is a daily ritual, a silent prayer, a way of life and

the very breath of life itself. Without which, life would be heavy with a sense of vacuum and

longing.

We Bharatiyas have grown up listening to the Ramayana from our mothers and

grandmothers, reading the Ramayana in our story books and eventually watching the epic

over television. As we know, Lord Rama accepted exile for fourteen years to honour his

father’s promise. Yet, not many of us are aware of the sublime journey of Lord Rama, that

bridged the entire Bharat from north to south, leaving a trail of holy pilgrim sites, whose very

soil still cherishes the divine footprints of Prabhu Shri Ram? This Ram Navami, let us take a

bird’s-eye view of some of the most famous stops made by Lord Rama during his entire

journey from Ayodhya to Lanka.

As Lord Rama started on his exile, he was followed by ennemberble of divine

characters(Prajas), who owed their very existence to the charismatic presence of their

beloved prince. This led to his halt for the first day on the banks of the Tamasa river (Mandah

river), located around 20 kms away from the Ayodhya (Faizabad) district. The exact spot is

referred to by the locals as Gaura, which seems to be the twisted form of Gaurav (honour),

which derives its name due to the honour of hosting the supreme lord. Lord Rama spent that

night, fondly remembering his parents and gently persuading the people to return back to

their homes, which they refused to do. As the fatigued residents of Ayodhya dozed off, Lord

Rama drove away in the chariot accompanied only with Maa Sita, Lakshman Bhrata and

Mantri Sumantra. According to the Valmiki Ramayana, Lord Rama next crossed the

Vedashruti river, which is termed as Vishu in the local language and is situated at Ashok

Nagar (Mangri). The next stop was at the Gomti river, from the present day Kushbanpur

(Sultanpur) and crossed the river Syandika (Sai), located at a distance of 12 kms from

Pratapgarh.) Here, Lord Rama pointed out to Vaidehi the flourishing land once gifted by

Manu to Ishvaku, and expressed to Sumantra his hope that one day he might return to

restore Kosala to its former glory. (Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, chap- 46-49, Gita

press)

The next prominent stop was on the holy banks of Ma Ganga, in Shringaverapura, also

known as Singrore in the local dialect. It was here that Lord Rama met his beloved friend

Nishadhraj Guha, spending a night at what is now revered as Sandhya Ghat and Ram

Shaiya. The following morning, accompanied by Ma Sita and Lakshman ji, he crossed the

holy river, bidding farewell to Sumantra ji. The tree under whose shade Lord tied up his

matted locks is still present and referred to as Jata Vat. The well-known Prasang of the

innocent boatman (Kevat) is said to have taken place here, where he insisted on washing

the Lord’s lotus feet before allowing Him to step into the boat, fearing that the touch of those

lotus feet might forever turn his boat into a woman. Later, even Bharat Bhrata stopped here

enroute in his journey to Chitrakoot, staunch in his endeavour to persuade his elder brother

to return back to Ayodhya. (Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, chap- 50-53, Gita press)

(Manas, Ayodhya Kand, Dohas - 86-103, Gita Press)

The next halt of Prabhu Shri Ram was at the king of all Tirthas, Prayagraj. He halted for a

night in the Ashram premises of Maharshi Bhardwaj, who, upon the “request” of Lord Rama

directed them to go to Chitrakoot. In the later part of the story, it’s Maharshi Bhradwaj who

directs Bharat to Chitrakoot. Apart from the Bharadwaj Ashram in Prayagraj, an Akshay Vat

is situated, which is believed to have been worshipped by Maa Sita and the spot where the

divine trio spent a single night. The next stop was on the banks of river Yamuna, which is

known as Simari Ghat in present days. (Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, chap- 50-55,

Gita press) It is also believed that Hanumanji visited Prabhu Shri Ram, Ma Sita and

Lakshman ji in an incognito form in a village named Murka. This Prasang finds mention only

in the Manas by Shri Tulsidas ji. (Manas, Ayodhya Kand, Dohas -104-123, Gita Press)

The next stop of Prabhu Shri Ram was at the hermitage of Maharshi Valmiki, before finally

reaching Chitrkoot. After a tedious climb on a hill near the Lalapur village, one finally gets to

reach the present day location of Maharshi Valmiki’s Ashram. A village name Khoh needs an

explicit mention enroute to Chitrakoot, as it is mentioned in Manas that Bharat Bhrata

spotted the Kamadgiri (the hill on Chitrakoot where Lord Rama stayed) from 4 Kos and this

turns out to be the present day location. The Kamadgiri, surrounded by the Mandakini river,

is venerated as the very body of Lord Rama and a place he eternally resides. This mountain

is thronged with various historical sites from the Ramayana, such as the Parnakuti,

Ramshaiya (the Sthan where Lord Rama and Maa Sita sported in the lovely forest of

Chitrakoot), Sita Rasoi, the banks of Maa Mandakini, Koti Tirth (the spot where Prabhu met

the sages), Sphatik Shila (the place where Jayant’s story took place) etc. The most

important of these being the place where Lord Rama met Bharat ji, revitalising one of the

most poignant Prasangs from the Ramayana. (Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, chap-

53-116, Gita press) (Manas, Ayodhya Kand, Dohas - 123- 312, Aranya Kand, Dohas - 1＆２

Gita Press)

The next part of the journey commences from the humble hermitage of Maharshi Atri and

Mata Anasuya. The Ashram is the spot where Maa Ganga split into a thousand streams,

heeding to the fervent prayer of Sati Shiromani Maa Anasuya. Prabhu Shri Ram spent a

night in that sacred hermitage. The Ramayana covers a prime incident where Mata Anasuya

expounds the duties of a Pativrata (chaste woman) to Maa Sita and blesses her with divine

garments, ornaments and perfumes which would keep her fresh even without the need of a

bath. (Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, chap- 116 - 119, Gita press) (Manas, Aranya

Kand, Dohas - 3-7 Gita Press)

The Aranya Kand narrates the glorious story of Lord Rama fulfilling the very purpose of His

Avatār. The site where He vanquished the demon Viradha is remembered as Viradh Kund,

located about 10 kilometers from the Ashram of Maharshi Atri. After the slaying of Viradha,

Rama proceeded to meet Rishi Sharabhanga, who had been awaiting His arrival before

departing for the supreme abode. This vast Ashram lies deep within the forest, around 13

kilometers from Chitahara station. Another important location is the Siddha Pahar, the

mountain formed by the bones of the Rishis devoured by the Rakshasas. Prabhu Shri Ram

took the oath to annhilate all the demons in this very place, located at the Satna district in

present day India. (Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, chap- 1-6, Gita press) (Manas, Aranya

Kand, Dohas - 8 Gita Press)

The next halt of Prabhu Shri Ram was at the Ashram of Sutikshna Maharshi, the devoted

disciple of Agastya Muni. Tradition places this hermitage near the border of Madhya Pradesh

and Maharashtra, though the exact location remains uncertain. After spending a day there,

Lord Rama wandered through the forests of these regions for nearly ten years, blessing

countless sages with His divine darshan. Among the many sacred places graced during this

time, the Panchapsar Lake holds special prominence. It is said that the five celestial

consorts of Rishi Mandakarni still dwell here, and even today, ethereal musical notes are

believed to rise from the waters. This Ashram is currently said to be located at the Buldhana

district in Maharastra. (Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, chap- 7-11, Gita press) (Manas,

Aranya Kand, Dohas - 9,10 Gita Press)

The next milestone that channalised the further events of this divine drama was the Ashram

of Maharshi Agastya, situated atop the hill of Ankai fort in present day Bharat. Guided there

by Muni Sutikshna, his devoted disciple, Lord Rama was warmly received by the great sage.

Maharshi Agastya bestowed upon Him the celestial weapons of Lord Vishnu and directed

Him to reside at Panchavati, where the next act of the Ramayana’s divine drama would

unfold. This ashram is surrounded by six ponds brimming with cool and pure drinking water.

On his way to Panchavati, Prabhu Shri Ram visited the Ashram of Agastya’s brother, which

is associated with a Rameshwar Shiva temple in the Patauda village. A prominent and

ancient Ashram located at a distance of 16 kms from Nasik is the one identified as the

Ashram of Maharshi Agastya. (Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, chap- 11-13 Gita press)

(Manas, Aranya Kand, Dohas - 9,10 Gita Press)

The next stop was where Prabhu Shri Ram met Jatayu ji, who had fallen in a fight with

Ravan in order to protect Maa Sita. This place is quite debated with two prominent places that

seem to be the exact spot. One is a place termed as Sarvatirtha and is situated in the Taked

village located around 56 kms from Nashik. Another place is known as “Lepakshi” or “get up

bird” in Telugu language and is situated at a distance of 15kms east of Hindupur. According

to the Valmiki Ramayana, it is clear that Lord Rama met Jatayu ji within the radius of

Panchavati of a Yojana (8miles) and on the same day of the abduction of Maa Sita. And the

distance between Nashik and Lepakshi stands around 1003 kms. And hence, Sarvatirtha

may be considered as the place which was the first stop of Lord Rama in the due search of

Maa Sita. (Valmiki Ramayan, Aranya Kand, chap - 67-68 Gita Press) (Manas, Aranya Kand,

Dohas 29- 48, Gita Press).

The next episode unfolded in the forest inhabited by the demoness Ayomukhi, who desired

to marry Lakshman Bhrata, but met the same fate as Shurpanakha. Soon after, Rama and

Lakshmana were confronted by the fearsome demon Kabandha, whose invincible arms

stretched across the path. In battle, the brothers severed his mighty limbs, and Kabandha

was consigned to a funeral pyre, thereby liberated from his curse. The site where Kabandha

was slain is remembered in the Karadi Guddi hills, where a rock formation strikingly

resembles the description of Kabandha given in the Ramayana. Freed from his curse,

Kabandha directed Lord Rama and Lakshmana to go to the Ashram of Maharshi Matanga’s

Ashram and meet Maa Shabri and then proceed to the Rishyamuk Parvat to befriend

Sugriva. (Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, chap- 78-79 Gita press) (Manas, Aranya Kand,

Dohas - 9,10 Gita Press).

The last spot during Lord Rama’s journey to Lanka in the land of Bharat lies at the southern

point of Rameshwram in the state of Tamilnadu. Lord Rama had camped here with his army

of monkeys and had a bridge built to Lanka. The spot named Darbhashayanam is the place

where Lord Rama prayed to the sea god for three days to give way for the army to cross the

sea. A temple named Kodand Rama is believed to be the spot where Lord Rama crowned

Vibhishan ji as the king of Lanka. The most famous of all is the legendary Ram Setu, which

poses as a steadfast proof of the divine story over centuries. The famous Jyotirlinga of

Rameshwar, established by the lord himself before marching towards Lanka, rejunivates all

the pilgrims with boundless blessings. There is no mention of Rameshwar Linga in the

Valmiki Ramayan, but the Manas explicitly states the story as well as the Jyotirling. Contrary

to the folk tales about Lord Rama worshipping Lord Shiva in order to wash off his Brahma

Hatya sin, Manas states that he worshiped Mahadev before proceeding towards Lanka.

(Valmiki Ramayan, Yuddha Kand, chaps- 37) (Manas, Sundar Kand, Dohas 34-57) (Manas,

Lanka Kand, Dohas - 1-11).

Thus, we have taken a sneak into the divine dwelklings of Prabhu Shri Ram in the due

course of his journey from Shri Ayodhya to Lanka. Most of the above m,entioned spots are

unknown to almost every Hindu, except to the ones engrossed in cultural education. Hence,

it’s our prime duty to propagate and spread word about these places charged up with divinity

by visiting them and encouraging others to do the same.

And this Ram Navmi will be the third one after the return of our beloved Ram Lala!

Jai Shri Ram!