Sumantra Attains Vaikuṇṭha

Sumantra was the chief charioteer and most trusted minister of King Daśaratha, and later of Rāma. In the Rājya Khaṇḍa of the Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Sumantra passes away and attains Vaikuṇṭha, the highest loka (world) and the abode of Bhagavān Vishṇu.

The episode has two parts. First, there is a dispute with the dūtas (messengers) of Yama over how to count Sumantra’s lifespan. Second, there are Sumantra’s last nine days, his death in Rāma’s presence, and his journey to Vaikuṇṭha with his wives.

Sumantra

Sumantra served Daśaratha and then Rāma all his life. He drove Rāma, Sītā and Lakshmaṇa to the forest at the start of the exile. He went with them to the Gaṅgā, and he returned to Ayodhyā carrying Rāma’s message. His devotion to Rāma lasted through his whole life.

In the court scene of the Rājya Khaṇḍa (Chapter 19), Sumantra is the only servant in Rāma’s court who is allowed to sit in Rāma’s presence. All the others stand.

The announcement

A servant came to Rāma in his court and said: “O Rājārāma, your aged minister Sumantra has passed away. His wife asks your permission to perform the proper last rites.”

Rāma was deeply shaken. He at once mounted a vehicle and went to Sumantra’s house himself. There he called for Sumantra’s janma-paṭṭamu (birth chart, horoscope) and looked at the count of his lifespan. The count showed that 9,999 years, 11 months and 21 days had passed, with 9 days still remaining. The dūtas of Yama had come nine days too early.

The dispute over the birth date

The dūtas were already carrying Sumantra’s liṅga-śarīra (subtle body) along the road when Rāma stopped them. He asked: “Why have you come early? Sumantra has nine more days of āyushya (lifespan) left.”

The dūtas gave their reason. Sumantra’s birth had been unusual. He came out of the womb head and hands first, and the rest of his body, the torso and legs, came out ten days later. The dūtas counted his lifespan from the first day, when the head and hands appeared. By that count his life was complete.

Rāma gave his ruling: “The birthday is counted from the day on which the child fully and completely comes out of the womb. That is the day the father and the brāhmaṇas write the janma-paṭṭam (birth chart). That is the day the jātaka (horoscope) is cast. So Sumantra has nine more days of life. Go back. Return in nine days. I will not stop you then.”

The dūtas argued, but they had no power to set aside Rāma’s ruling. They went back to Yama. Yama then began his military campaign against Ayodhyā, which failed.

The last nine days

Rāma brought Sumantra back to his house and stayed with him. Sumantra, revived, bowed before Rāma and worshipped him. All the people who had gathered saw this reunion with joy.

By Rāma’s command, Sumantra spent his remaining nine days in full devotion. He gave dāna (gifts) and did other sacred acts. He lived in the grace of Rāma and finished the duties of dharma that belonged to his life.

Death in Rāma’s presence

On the tenth day, when Sumantra’s lifespan was truly complete, he made himself ready. He bathed with his wives and came before Rāma. He made his last namaskāra (bow), and then he gave up his life peacefully, in Rāma’s own presence. Death in the presence of Rāma in this way is called sānnidhi-maraṇa.

At the moment of death, Sumantra took a divya-deha (divine body), shining and radiant. His wives took divine forms too. All the devas who had gathered greeted them and honoured them.

A divine vimāna came down. Sumantra and his wives boarded it. Bhagavān Sūrya, who had been present for the battle of Lava and Yama, also took his leave. The vimāna carried Sumantra, the beloved charioteer who had served the solar dynasty with full devotion through his very long life, straight to Vaikuṇṭha, the abode of Bhagavān Vishṇu.

What followed

Rāma performed the śrāddha and the uttarakriyā (last rites) for Sumantra through Sumantra’s son. Then Rāma appointed that son to his father’s place as minister. In this way the line of service went on.

Sources

• Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Rājya Khaṇḍa, Chapter 19 (Sumantra seated in Rāma’s court)
• Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Rājya Khaṇḍa, Chapter 24 (Sumantra’s death and attainment of Vaikuṇṭha)