Introduction

As I have got some requests to narrate this part of Ramayana I am writing on Uthara Kandam. Kandam means chapter. Many prefer to call this as 'Utthara Ramayana" and it is being left out by all those who narrate Ramayana in public forum and discourses mainly because of the "tragic and heart-rending episodes " it contains.

Before going into the details of Utthara Kandam, I wish to acquaint with certain "crude" and "polished" accounts which appear in the three main versions of Ramayana. It was Valmiki (robber turned rishi) who first wrote the Ramayana.(Valmiki Ramayana) Subsequently Tulsidas wrote the Tulsi Ramayana and later Kambar wrote the "Kamba Ramyanam".

The Utthara Kandam narrated by Valmiki has conveniently been left out by Tulsidas and Kambar, may be because of some "unpalatabe" parts in it. But the story of Lava and Kusa is so fascinating and awe-inspiring, one can easily forget the tragic moments that Utthara Ramayana brings about. After all, is not life itself a composition of fortunes and misfortunes, tragedies and happiness, good and bad..? Again is it not a fact, that women have always been more subjected to injustice and cruelty in contrast with men, because they were always weak

While Valmiki treated Rama as an Avathar some times and human, some times, Tulsidas treated Rama completely as an Avathar and totally divine and thus Tulsi Ramayana in essence is a total Bhakti Ramayana and in which no room has been given for any controversy. Kambar treated Ramar totally as an Avathar in human form and attributed all human traits to him.

According to Valmiki, Ravana held Sita by her hair and took her to Lanka. In Kamba Ramayanam, finding this unacceptable to Tamil traditions, Kambar says that Ravana sliced off and took away the entire portion of the earth containing the hut that housed Sita Devi. While In Tulasi Ramayana, the act of taking away Sita Devi has been described as an illusion. Tulsdidas says, Sita Devi (who was the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi, the escort of Maha Vishnu) disappeared just before "her abduction" leaving behind a duplicate of herself which Ravana had actually taken away. Please do not question why then Sri Rama undertook so much pains and troubles to redeem this Sita. Sri Rama Avathar was for the purpose of eradicating evils (like destroying all Asuras including the great invincible Ravana and his clan) and the abduction and redemption of Sita was only a part of the divine plan.

Again after Ravana was killed and Vibeeshana was crowned as the king of Lanka, Sri Rama asked Sita Devi to be brought duly dressed up as a queen. In the presence of all Sri Rama asked Sita to do "Agni Pravesam" (enter into Fire) in order to prove to the whole world that Sita was "Pathivratha" (A virtuous lady who thought of none excepting her husband) and she did it and came out of the fire unscathed. It is narrated that 'Agni Bhagawan' himself came out of the fire and handed Sita Devi over to Sri Rama. In Tulsi Ramayana, it is stated that at this juncture, the original Sita Devi substituted herself in the place of the duplicate. We can have interesting and unending debates on these various accounts. I have to brief about these because readers have to be familiar with all these in order to understand and appreciate Utthara Ramayana. I will now stop with these and proceed to narrate about Utthara Ramayana.

One more thing. Sita Devi being the escort of Maha Vishnu, came into the earth for complementing Rama Avathar. She was found as an orphaned child (of Bhooma Devi- Goddess Earth) by King Janakar and brought up by him. This also needs to be known to understand Utthara Ramayana.

Now to proceed with Utthara Ramayana

V. Krishnan

 

UTTHARA RAMAYANA OR
UTTHARA KANDA OF VALMIKI RAMAYANA

Sri Rama, after the death of Ravana, handed over the Kingdom of Lanka to Vibeeshana (actually Sri Rama had already performed the coronation rituals even before the start of the war with Ravana and others and made Vibeeshana , the King of Lanka and vowed to restore him the kingdom).

The turn for reunion of Him with Sita was anxiously awaited by one and all. Lakshmana brought Sita from the "Asoka Van" where she was kept a prisoner by Ravana. However to the surprise of all, Rama told Sita Devi to do " Agni Pravesam" in front of all to prove that she was pure. As I had already said in my prelude, Sita entered the Agni in front of all and came out unscathed "as pure as ever". The God of Fire (Agni Bhagawan) himself handed over Sita Devi to Rama.

Many people point out that why Rama, being the Avathar and having known about the purity of Sita, should have done this "unpleasant" act. There are explanations to this. One is, Rama, though an Avathar, was in human form and no wonder, behaved in the same fashion as any human would have done. Further, he was going to Ayodhya to take charge of its rule from Bharatha. He did not want his subjects to pass any remark what- so- ever against him or his act. In those days a King always valued his subjects and their opinions much more than his own kith and kin.

Having accomplished what he wanted to do, Rama returned with Sita and the rest of the retinue to Ayodhya. Let us not go into other details. Suffice it to say that he took charge of Ayodhya from Bharatha. All of us must be aware how Bharatha was actually keeping the "Padukas" of Rama in the Throne and he himself sat below this throne and administered the kingdom, all the time thinking of "Rama ". Even today the debate continues, who was more devoted to Rama, Bharatha or Lakshmana? It is an unending debate.

So all ended well. Rama started ruling his "Rama Rajya". All the people were happy. Everything was going on well. Years rolled by. One evening a messenger came to deliver a message to Rama.

In the olden days, the kings used to send their messengers (mostly in disguise) to different parts of their country with a view to find out what people felt and said about the king and his rule etc. Sometimes the King himself went along with his trusted minister, in disguise. ( This need not be construed equivalent to the modern spying). So this messenger had returned from his duty to report something to his master . However, he was unable to open his mouth despite continuous prodding by Rama. He was trembling and was virtually weeping. But duty bound he was , he had to reveal what he had heard. In a village he had overheard a washer-man abusing his wife, who returned to him after leaving him for some time. "Look woman! What do you take me for? I am not a fool like Rama who took back Sita after she had lived in the custody of Ravana for so long.......etc etc."

Can there be adequate description of the "mental agony" Rama must have undergone? Today we have in our midst the Avathar, who explains that it was all part of the Divine Plan and that whatever distress that Rama displayed outside was just a part of the enactment. What about the days prior to the arrival and announcement of our present Avathar. How people of those days who read about this account, must have felt? Well! Destiny was and is always "cruel" and had /has always been immune to human afflictions and feelings.

So the agony and dilemma started for Rama. So much he loved his wife. He thought within himself. "Has the time come to forsake Sita? What shall be the solution to the problem? How to silence public opinion?"

Thus ruminating, Rama spent the whole night without sleep and contemplating how to deal with the situation. The Agni Pravesam performed by Sita as per his plan, did not, after all, prove final and conclusive and had not produced the desired and complete effects.

I will now narrate here the twist given by Satya Sai Baba in His " Ram Katha Rasavahini" in contrast to Valmiki's Uthara Ramayana (Or Utthara Kanda). I will quote the exact words of Satya Sai Baba as translated by Kasthuri.

"Towards midnight he (Rama) sat up on his bed and thought within himself. 'It is now one full Yuga, since I started ruling this land. I have to continue for a few years more.' Then sunk in a sad reverie, that Ocean of Compassion thought, 'Alas! I have to forsake Sita. I have to uphold the Vedic Path.'. He went near Sita and spoke 'Janaki! You have not asked any boon from me so far. Yet, I shall grant you a boon. Go to your holy Home.' That very moment Sita fell at the Feet of Rama and went to Vaikunta (Heaven ) in her subtle body. No being, anywhere, nothing, was aware of this fact. Sita in her gross physical frame only was standing before Rama on Earth."

This is different from the version of Valmiki who has shown Rama, here as an ordinary human king, subject to human afflictions and passions who was following strictly the rules laid in Vedic scriptures. Tulsidas and Kambar have left out the unpleasant task of narrating the tragic parts of Utthara Kanda. And the Lord now in our midst reveals something hitherto unknown. It should help us to understand that all the tragedies hereafter coming up in the Utthara Kanda are all enactments of Divine drama!. Accordingly Rama continues to play his role. Here is the exact words of Partheeswarar:

"Rama asked the Earth-Sitha (Maya Sitha) .'Pray for a boon' and Sita replied, 'Lord! I have a desire to spend some happy days in the hermitage of Munis (ascetics)'. Rama said, 'Be it so' and told her ' Start on your journey tomorrow morning'. She collected and packed many articles of clothing and utensils for the daughters and wives of the ascetics of the hermitages. Rama woke up early, servitors and favour seekers were singing praises of his virtues and excellence The Lotus of His face bloomed. Lakshmana, Bharatha, and Satruguna paid homage to him prostrating at his feet. But Rama did not converse with his brothers. He kept silent. His face was flushed with emotion. His body showed signs of tension. Every limb was shivering with excitement......"

Like this Satya Sai Baba's version goes on. Hereafter I will continue in my own way of narration rather than reproducing whatever has been 'translated' by Kasthuri, because I will be more at ease that way and also there is not any difference hereafter between what Satya Sai Baba says and what Valmiki narrates. One thing is there, if we remember what Satya Sai Baba says about the subtle body of Sita leaving her earthly body, then we may not suffer any mental agony to study further about the sufferings of Sita in the forest in separation from Rama. Well! Satya Sai Baba has "sorrow-proofed " Sita and Rama! What about others., like Lakhsmana, Bharatha and Sathrughna, and their mothers, the three widowed queens and several others who were so much attached to Sita and Rama. How could they withstand all the tragedies that were to follow.

Having decided to send Sita to the forest, Rama at last told his brothers about his decision. He told them to take Sita to the forest, leave her there and return. Upon hearing that, the brothers were all thunderstruck and they could not believe their ears. Here was the same Ramachandra, who took so much of trouble to vanquish Ravana and bring back Sita who he loved so dearly, and now he wanted Sita Devi to be exiled to forest, that too at a time when she was carrying his progenies! Sathrughna sobbed aloud. Bharatha and Lakhsmana stood speechless with tears welling up their cheeks. Their lips quivered, their entire bodies shook as if an earth quake had hit them. Sathrughna took courage first to express his disagreement with Lord Rama. He spoke thus to Rama:

"Oh My elder brother and King of Ayodhya! Did you really utter those words? You have indeed pierced our hearts so fiercely. Matha Sita Devi is Jaganmatha, the Mother of all beings. You live in the hearts of all. What has made you to take such a harsh step? Why our Matha has to be sent away to forest? She is purest to the core, in thought, in word and in, deed! Is it not so?" Beyond this Sathrughna could not say anything because his sorrow overtook his speech and one could hear only his uncontrollable sobs.

Rama became stern now, and insisted that his brothers carried out his orders. Then Bharatha also came out with his objections (not that he was disobedient but his love and reverence to Matha Janakai was so overwhelming he could no longer control his emotions). Rama at last explained how the messenger had brought the news about a washer man's utterances and how their Surya Dynasty was now under eclipse and their glory must be redeemed at any cost., how the opinions of a King's subjects should be more respected than his own kith and kin, so on and so forth . In spite of all these, the brothers were not convinced at all. But Rama was adamant and he ultimately directly commanded Lakshmana to take Sita and leave her in the forest. And so started again the ordeal for Sita. Not long ago she had returned from the captivity of Ravana. Before that she had been living in the forest only, though with her beloved husband Rama. Now again she had been asked to end her days in the forest alone!. Were her sorrows never going to end?

Lakshmana thereafter took Sita in a chariot and took her to a lonely spot in the forest near the bank of the Ganges. Sita was frightened at the prospect of staying in the forest alone and Lakshmana was very upset about leaving her there and go. Torn between attachment and duty he lamented. Then he heard some deities of the Forest asking him in loud voice to leave Janaki and go back to his place and that no harm would befall her. Upon this Lakshmana hardened up a bit and rode back to Rama's place after telling Sita that he was only doing his duty as commanded by his elder brother.

Left alone, Sita started crying aloud and her cries were heard by none other than the great sage Valmiki who lived in a hermitage nearby and who happened to come near that spot for getting water from the Ganges. He immediately rushed to where the cries were emanating from and found Sita alone.

Sita at once recognised him as Valmiki and introduced herself to him and narrated everything that had happened. Valmiki consoled her and took her to his hermitage where Sita started living as the daughter of Valmiki The inmates of the Ashram entertained Sita with many divine stories and kept her happy.

Time rolled by and at the due time Sita gave birth to twins who were named Lava and Kusa (also Kucha). They were beautiful, identical twins. Their mother Sita brought them up well, teaching them everything. At the right age, Valmiki also taught them all asthras, techniques of warfare etc. and by the time they were around eleven years old they had mastered all the arts, No one could defeat them in archery. They could also sing well and it was a real treat to see and listen to them when they sang the whole Ramayana. Sita used to sigh and marvel, looking at her sons.

In the meanwhile as Lakshmana returned to the palace, completely crestfallen, the news had already spread and he had to report everything to the Queen mothers, Kausalya, Sumatra and Kaikeyi. They were very much distressed and could not understand or comprehend why Rama acted so harshly. Slowly this sorrow ate up their physical strength and not long after they all left their mortal coils.

Some years rolled by. The boys Lava and Kusa were growing in the forest and in the palace all people were getting used to Sita's absence and Rama, his brothers and all others in the court were deeply involved in administrative works. Some courtiers and also some rishis suggested to Rama that he should perform the "Aswamedha Yaga" (Yagnya) as befitting his status. Rama consulted his brothers and other senior rishis and also "Vashistha Maharishi." They all felt that Rama should perform the Yaga and so it was decided that an Aswamedha yaga would be performed by Rama. An auspicious date was chosen and all relatives and friends and the public were invited for the great occasion as also all brahmins and rishis who were to participate and perform the rituals.

However there arose one major hurdle. No yaga could be performed by any male unless his wife was also present with him. This gave rise to the hope of Sita's return and many people felt happy at the prospect of getting her back to the palace in view of the ensuing Yaga. But Rama was undeterred. He engineered a way out of the predicament. He proposed that a golden life-like statue of Sita be made and that would fill up the place of the real Sita. For this, no body could raise any objection as this was well within the legitimacy of the Vedic rites. Even at this juncture people admired the virtue of Rama. He did not heed to some people's advice to get married again so that he could perform the Aswamedha Yaga with the new wife. Was he not an "Eka Pathni Virathan"? (One who strictly adhered to the principle of remaining wedded and devoted to one wife only). In those days, having more than one wife was a routine for many, especially the kings.

So, the major hurdle having been removed, everything started working smoothly for the conduct of the Yaga. Janaki's father King Janaka also arrived. King Janaka though was aware of Sita's exile, he never made any inquiry on that issue with anybody. He had inside knowledge about the Avatharhood of Rama (and also did he not find Sita as an orphaned child from the Earth?) and did not want to probe any further on that issue. He knew Rama would do no wrong.

The day for the Aswamedha Yaga came. A special white Horse was procured, specially bathed and nicely dressed up with all decorations. A gold plate was tied around its neck, inscribed with a message that advised one and all to submit to Rama as the Emperor and leave the horse to roam around the world without the least hindrance or face the wrath of the warriors of Rama who accompanied the horse. The message also included a warning that anyone who dared to hold the horse in captivity would be severely dealt with. In the olden days only when a king was sure of vanquishing any one, did he dare to perform such an Aswamedha Yaga. And all the people of Rama Rajya had no doubt that in the entire world there was none to challenge the supremacy of Rama and that was why all thought that the global trotting of the Yaga horse along with the warriors would be just a formality. And all awaited the quick return of the horse and all arrangements had been made and people were ready for the conduct of the yaga.

Before sending out the Yaga Horse on its sojourn, many sages including Bhargava came to Rama and sought his help in getting rid of Lavana, the demon who was perpetrating lots of atrocities on the sages and rishis. This demon Lavana was the son of Kumbhinasa, the step-sister of Vibeeshana and wife of another small time Demon king Madhu. He underwent severe asceticism and penance and recited "Om Namasivaya" for a billion times. Lord Siva, pleased with him appeared before him and asked what he wanted. Lavana said he wanted the trident from Lord Siva. Siva created a trident and gave it to Lavana, detailing its enormous power , " Lavana! Whoever wields this trident, shall remain undefeated in a battle with any one.". And so started as usual, the misuse of a boon and a divine weapon and the torture of all rishis, demigods, devas and all. good people.

It had become the duty of Rama then to protect the sages and rishis and others who took asylum with him. He called Satrughna who was to lead the Yaga horse on its world- trotting, handed over to him a Divine quiver that held a variety of extraordinarily divine and powerful Asthras (arrows) and said " Use these Asthras reciting the appropriate manthras, vanquish the enemy and return with glory and success." He then transfused His Divinity with Sathrughna to make him impenetrable, blessed and sent him on the mission of destroying Lavana.

So with all his four columns, he marched to the kingdom of Lavana. Hearing their war cries Lavana came out roaring like a lion, with his sons and over sixty thousand warriors. Like many demons he played all sorts of tricks against all of them. But what can a demon do before Divinity of Rama personified through Sathrughna. All the soldiers of Lavana perished before Sathrughna and his warriors numbering just a mere three thousand. The sons of Lavana were killed by Subahu, the son of Sathrughna and lastly Sathrughna sent an arrow invoking the name of Rama and that arrow killed Lavana. The gods, rishis, sages and all who witnessed the battle rejoiced at the outcome and thus ended another chapter of evil. This also forebode well, all thought , prior to the start of the tour of the world with the Yaga horse.

And so the horse and the accompanying warriors, with Sathrughna at the helm, moved forward to complete the arduous journey around the world. Wherever the horse went, there was no resistance and small or big kings openly submitted to the supremacy of Rama and the warriors who accompanied the horse had no problem at all. Excepting once when, the warriors who accompanied the horse were challenged by a small time king named Veeramani, who was a very brave man and never bowed down to anyone. He was a devout Siva bhkata and Lord Easwara had given him darshan many times. He had to face the wrath of the warriors of Rama. In a battle that raged, he defeated Satrughna and other warriors. However when the turn of Hanuman came, he was defeated by Hanuman easily. He ran to Lord Parameswara and pleaded before him to fight Hanuman on his behalf and Sankara agreed!

A battle Divine ensued between Sarweswara and Anjaneya. Ultimately Easwara realised that he could not defeat Hanuman as he was all the time reciting Rama Nama. He pacified Veeramani and made him understand the significance and glory of Rama Avathar . Later He asked Hanuman what he wanted. Hanuman asked Siva to look after the bodies of the wounded and dead lying on the ground as a consequence of the battle and that he (Hanuman) would go and bring Sanjeevi. Easwara smiled at Hanuman and said

" With the help of Rama Nama you were able to defeat me and you want Sanjeevi to awaken these people! Can't you do that with the help of the same Rama Nama".

Hanuman felt ashamed of his being ignorant of this simple fact and later by uttering the name of Rama awakened all the dead and wounded and brought them back to their original condition. (Let us all recite the name of Sai Rama and get rid of all ills and evils mentally as well as bodily.)

At last they came to the area where Valmiki's hermitage was located and they happened to pass by where Lava and Kusa were playing. The horse was always going ahead and the warriors were following it at a distance. When Lava and Kusa saw a beautifully decorated horse out of nowhere, their curiosity was aroused. They went near the horse and read what was inscribed on the golden plate tied around its neck. What was written there was sufficient to provoke them as they were young boys taught to fear nothing and submit to none. So they captured the horse and tied it around a tree nearby and continued with their play. After some time the warriors came to where Lava and Kusa were playing and saw the horse tied around a tree near them. They asked the boys to tell who had tied the horse. The boys said they had done it.

The warriors thought that the boys must have done it playfully and so spoke very softly to the tender looking boys: "Oh young children! Please release the horse so that we can go ahead with our journey". The boys said they would not release the horse, upon which the warriors told them sternly that they had no time to joke and play with the boys and that the boys must release the horse. The boys then laughed and told them that if they wanted to take the horse they could fight the boys and take the horse, because the boys had accepted the challenge posed in the inscription on the golden plate tied around the neck of the horse.

The warriors still could not believe the boys were speaking seriously. Therefore they again persuaded the boys to release the horse lest face the consequences. And the boys still persisted on fighting. The warriors got angry and started to fight the boys. However in a trice the boys disarmed all of them and made them fall down on the ground. A few of the warriors escaped from there and ran to the spot where Sathrughna was camping with his aides. They told Sathrughna how two young boys apparently the sons of some rishi, had captured the Yaga horse and in a fight that followed, how the boys destroyed all the soldiers but a few.

Sathrughna was enraged as well as equally amazed and immediately took charge of his remaining columns and marched to where Lava and Kusa were standing. Seeing such tender and young boys , he could not believe that they could indeed fight. But the sight of thousands of soldiers lying wounded and dead on the ground spoke volumes of their prowess. In spite of that, his conscience did not allow him to fight with the young boys whose very sight made him immensely happy despite whatever they had done.

He spoke to them:

"Oh my dear children! Please why don't you release the horse. You appear to be children of some rishis. It is not right for me to fight with your kind."

The boys however were not to be cowed down or cajoled. They said they had captured the horse and let Sathrughna redeem it if he and his army had the guts. This really enraged Sathrughna and a severe fight ensued in which all the remaining soldiers were killed , the chariot of Sathrughna was destroyed and Sathrughna himself was seriously wounded and made to fall on the ground unconscious. Some soldiers who were hurt but were in a position to move took to their heels and ran to the palace and reported everything to Rama and Lakhsmana who were with their courtiers and rishis.

Though shocked and bewildered, they could not give up having gone so far. An emergency meeting was held and the seriousness of the situation was discussed. It was decided that Lakhsmana would then take the war-reigns.

Under orders from Rama, Lakhsmana immediately took charge of the war-affairs and proceeded with fresh columns to fight Lava and Kusa. He saw at the battlefield, all their soldiers and Sathrughna lying on the ground and was aghast. He however like Sathrughna, tried first to persuade the boys into surrendering as he did not want to harm them since they were tender and sweet looking besides being the children of some rishis. However much he tried to "reason out" with them to stop fighting and surrender the Yaga horse, they never paid any heed to his words. They also infuriated him by showing the fallen soldiers and telling that similar fate awaited him also. Lakshmana, compared to his other brothers was quite "short tempered" and being just and loyal to Rama, was always easily provoked against any one, who showed slightest signs of rebellion against Rama.

So the inevitable battle followed between Lakshmana and his men on the one side and the two lovely sons of Rama and Sita, the twins, Lava and Kusa on the other. It was said that the earth shook as the battle progressed and all the Devas and Demi-gods watched the splendorous battle Royal fought by Lava and Kusa.

Lava and Kusa disintegrated the arrows shot by Lakshmana and his warriors . The very asthra which Lakshmana used in killing Meghanath, (son of Ravana)proved of no avail against Kusa who destroyed it with his counter-asthra.

For a moment Lakshmana even thought he was paying retribution for the exile of Sita.

Almost all the soldiers were destroyed single handedly by Lava while Kusa was fighting Lakshmana. At last Kusa sent the Brahmasthra towards Lakhsmana and Lakshmana got hit and fell unconscious. This calamitous news was immediately carried to Rama. Bharatha became repentant and told Rama :

"My Lord! It is all the aftermath of the exile of Sita. We are paying for the wrong deed done by us."

Rama told Bharatha not to talk like that , regrouped all forces, arranged for fresh columns and along with Bharatha , Hanuman and others proceeded to the battle front, where the unbeatable Lava and Kusa were waiting to continue the fight.

Rama came last in the march allowing all others to go in the front. The Monkey forces under the leadership of Hanuman uprooted big trees and used them as well as some big rocks as weapons against the boys . Lava with a single asthra which proliferated into several ones, atomized the whole lot of the weapons and the boys in a brief span of time routed the entire army binding even Hanuman (who could not fight the boys because he could sense the same divinity of Rama in the boys and therefore submitted meekly to their asthra. (after all Hanuman is invincible).

Then at last the turn of Rama came and he marched closer to Lava and Kusa. He then inquired from the boys about their lineage and all related matters refusing to fight them unless and until they disclosed everything about themselves. The boys then narrated about their mother Janaki, how they had been taught everything by Valmiki etc. and before the boys could send any asthra towards Rama, Sita came rushing to the spot accompanied by Valmiki. She admonished the boys for what they had done. She told them to release Hanuman who was bound and kept captive. Then she announced publicly, invoking all the Pancha Boothas that Lava and Kusa were indeed the progenies of Rama born to her and that she had been keeping herself alive to just hand over the heirs to Rama. Rama at once threw away the bow and arrow he was holding and embraced both Lava and Kusa. Tears streamed out of the eyes of every one present around.

After this Sita did a strange thing. She went over three times around the spot where she stood, and with folded hands prayed to Goddess Earth thus:

„Oh Mother! Please take me into your fold. My mission is over".

As soon as she uttered these words, there came a big rumbling noise, the earth quaked and the ground before Sita burst open and from the crater thus created, up came a Divine Throne occupied by Goddess Earth. She immediately took Sita with her and in a flicker they were gone into the crater. The very next instant the cavity closed and Sita was gone for ever.

In Valmiki Ramayana it is said Rama then wept like an ordinary human being. Satya Sai Baba's (own) Rama Katha says Rama was aware of everything and was just playing his part. Well everything thereafter moved very fast. Rama took the children with him to the palace with the blessings from Valmiki and in due course of time made them in charge of different regions of the Rama Rajya. It is said Rama being the Avathar of Mahavishnu who mostly abode in the sea , at the end of His mission, strode towards the Sarayu river and disappeared . While Bharatha and Sathrughna immediately merged with Him, Lakshmana joined Him only later.

Thus ends the heart-rending Utthara Ramayana.

 

Epilogue

When Hanuman met Sita with the message of the fall of Ravana, Sita was overwhelmed . Seeing the "Raakshashis" (female demons) around her still, he wanted to destroy them and sought permission for the same from Sita. She told him not to harm them asking

" Is there anyone who has not sinned in this world"

"Na Kaschith Na Aparadhyathi"

' They have not committed any crime. They carried the orders of their King. The King is no more. Now to punish them is not proper."

Many scholars say and the sastras also endorse that the worst sinner can attain salvation by surrendering to Sita. Whenever we come across misfortunes or difficulties we should think of Sita with all piety and reverence and we will be able to overcome them. This is certain.

V. Krishnan