Rāma Returns to Ayodhyā (Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa)

This episode comes at the start of the Uttara Kāṇḍa of the Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa (Tulsīdāsa’s Rāmacaritamānas). It tells the last stage of Bhagavān Rāma’s return to Ayodhyā after fourteen years in exile. Bharata waits at Nandīgrāma, Hanumān brings him the news, and Rāma is welcomed home by his guru, his mothers, his brothers, the citizens and his allies.

Bharata’s vigil at Nandīgrāma

Only one day was left before the fourteen years of vana-vāsa (life in the forest) would end. The people of Sāketa and the royal household watched with a thousand eyes for every good omen. In Ayodhyā, all who loved Rāma passed the days in trembling hope. But Bharata felt the weight of the separation most purely. He had set Rāma’s pādukās (sandals) on the throne and ruled from Nandīgrāma as the servant of the pādukās. Now he sat in dhyāna (meditation) on a seat of darbha grass. He wore bark cloth, his body was thin from years of austerity, his eyes were full of tears, and he chanted Rāma’s name without a pause.

In his heart Bharata turned over anxious thoughts: “Only one day remains. Yet my elder brother has not come. Have I done something that makes him avoid me? Did he take Lakshmaṇa and leave me behind because he thinks I am of bad character? Ah, but Rāma is full of grace. He forgives the faults of those who love him. He will surely come. He will surely bless me.” In the middle of this doubt, the good signs he had seen that morning came back to his mind and comforted him.

Hanumān comes as a brāhmaṇa

Rāma had sent Hanumān ahead from the Triveni shore. Hanumān reached Nandīgrāma in the form of a brāhmaṇa. A verse in the Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa shows Bharata as Hanumān found him. He sat on darbha with matted hair. His body was thin, tears streamed from his eyes, and he softly chanted Rāma’s name. At this sight Hanumān was deeply moved.

He called out from a distance in a loud voice: “O Bharata, lord of kings! You have longed day and night for him. You have waited for the sight of him with a burning heart. That Rāghava, the greatest of the Raghu line, has destroyed all the rākshasas and brought peace to the devas. He is coming back safely with Sītā and Lakshmaṇa. He is coming to Ayodhyā!”

The messenger’s words fell on Bharata like amṛta (the drink of immortality). He rose, trembling with joy, and asked: “Who are you, kind one? Where do you come from, bringing news so dear to my ears?” Then the visitor put aside the brāhmaṇa form and stood before Bharata as he truly was. Bharata knew him as Rāma’s dear Hanumān. He ran forward and embraced him with tears of joy, and it seemed to him that all his sorrows lifted in that moment. He held the great vānara chief in his arms with the love he would have given to Rāma himself.

Hanumān gave Bharata a full and careful account of how Sītā, Rāma and Lakshmaṇa were faring. He described all that had happened from the crossing of the ocean to the end of the war. He also said: “Bharata, you are as dear as Rāma’s own life. Bhagavān Rāma himself praises your qualities by name. You are truly a blessed soul.” When the account was done, Hanumān bowed at Bharata’s feet. Then he set off to meet Rāma, who was already coming down from the Pushpaka.

Ayodhyā wakes in joy

Bharata went back from Nandīgrāma to the city and told everyone that Sītā, Rāma and Lakshmaṇa would soon arrive. Sāketa broke out in joy. Good breezes full of cool scent began to blow. The Sarayū flowed pure and full as never before. Every corner of the city was seized by the spirit of a festival.

Women of the highest families put on all their ornaments and took gold plates holding curd, milk, puffed rice, flowers and other maṅgala (auspicious) things. Bharata and Śatrughna went out to welcome Bhagavān Rāma with auspicious music. With them went Vasishṭha, Vāmadeva and other great ṛshis, Sumantra and the ministers, the three queens Kauśalyā, Kaikeyī and Sumitrā, the whole royal household, the bhūsuras (brāhmaṇas), the citizens and the women of the inner rooms. The army’s chariots, elephants, horses and foot soldiers lined the road. When the citizens saw the Pushpaka Vimāna shining in the sky, they could not hold back their joy. They were like the ocean rising at the sight of the autumn moon.

The Pushpaka comes down

The Pushpaka slowly drew near to Sāketa. At the first sight of Ayodhyā after so many years, tears filled Rāma’s eyes. He pointed out the holy city to his companions Sugrīva, Vibhīshaṇa and the vānara leaders: “Friends! That beautiful city you see in the distance is Ayodhyā, my birthplace. To the north of the city flows the holy Sarayū. The people of this city have stolen my heart.” He spoke with the tender longing that only one returning home can feel.

The Pushpaka settled gently on the ground. Rāma, Sītā and Lakshmaṇa stepped out, together with the host of vānaras and rākshasas, who had all taken the form of brāhmaṇas. Then, at Rāma’s command, the Pushpaka went back to Kubera’s home.

Rāma meets Bharata

In the surging crowd the citizens pressed forward, longing to see Bhagavān Rāma. First Rāma put down his bow and arrow and bowed to Vasishṭha, Vāmadeva and the ṛshis who stood there, and he received their blessings.

Then Bharata, his eyes flowing with tears of love, bathed his elder brother’s feet. Rāma lifted Bharata up and pressed him to his heart. He wept and wet Bharata’s head with his tears. The two brothers stood locked in each other’s arms, like Śṛṅgāra and Prema (love in its two forms) made visible, and both forgot the outer world. The scene had no equal and cannot be described.

Rāma then drew his youngest brother Śatrughna into his arms, and Lakshmaṇa and Śatrughna embraced each other in turn. Bharata and Śatrughna bowed with devotion at the feet of Sītādevī, and she received them with a mother’s love. Rāma greeted every citizen of Ayodhyā in a fitting way and asked after their welfare with kind words. The three mothers came forward. Like cows running to their calves, they pulled Rāma and Lakshmaṇa into their arms, their eyes full of tears of joy beyond words.

Rāma went first to Kaikeyī’s rooms. He spoke sweet words to her and set her mind at peace, and only then went to his own palace. The mothers performed maṅgala āratī (a lamp ritual of blessing) for Sītā and Rāma, warded off the evil eye and made offerings to the family devas. Kauśalyā gazed at her son without blinking. With tears of pride she wondered: “How did this child of mine destroy all those fearful rākshasas!”

Rāma introduces his friends to Vasishṭha

Vibhīshaṇa, Sugrīva, Aṅgada, Hanumān, Nala, Nīla and all the other vānara and rākshasa leaders had come with Rāma in brāhmaṇa forms. They watched the love between Bharata and Rāma and the affection of the citizens, and they were charmed. Rāma then led them before the family guru Vasishṭha and spoke with deep warmth:

“Gurujī! These are my closest friends. It was through their selfless help and company that I could slay Rāvaṇa, win the battle and come home safely with Sītā and Lakshmaṇa. These men gave everything for my sake. They are dearer to me than even Bharata.”

The vānara and rākshasa chiefs bowed to Vasishṭha with joined hands. Then they threw themselves flat before Kauśalyā in full daṇḍavat (prostration). That great mother received them as her own sons and blessed them with deep love.

Entry into the royal palace

After the whole household had welcomed them, Rāma, Sītā and Lakshmaṇa went in a great procession through the decorated streets of Ayodhyā, surrounded by kinsmen, citizens and royal attendants. Flowers rained from the sky. Divine drums sounded. The royal roads shone with banners, flags and pennants. Women on the upper terraces showered sesame seeds and flowers on the returning heroes. The streets were sprinkled with scented water. The sound of conch, drum and celebration filled sky and earth. The women of Ayodhyā welcomed Rāma with camphor āratī, marked his forehead with kuṅkuma and akshata (red powder and rice grains), and sang songs of welcome. In this way the royal party passed through the festive city and came to the palace of Ayodhyā.

Rāma, Sītā and Lakshmaṇa went into the palace, to the great joy of the household inside. The long separation was over. Bhagavān Rāma had come home.

Honouring the vānaras, Vibhīshaṇa and Guha

After the pattābhisheka (coronation), Rāma sent servants to arrange comfortable quarters and refreshments for all his friends. The vānara leaders chose to stay six months in Ayodhyā. They forgot even their own homes and enjoyed every kind of pleasure near Bhagavān Rāma.

On a later day Rāma called the vānaras, the bears, the rākshasas and Guha, the king of the Nishādas, to the royal court and seated them with honour. Then, with deep feeling and true humility, he spoke to them:

“Friends! You worked and suffered greatly for my sake. I hesitate to praise what you did while you stand before me. There is nothing you did not do for my good. So this kingdom, my brothers, my family, my treasuries and even Jānakī are all less dear to me than you. Believe what I say: my love for my servants is unique and has no equal. Now go home in peace. Remember that I am the one who dwells in all beings and wishes well to all, and keep my memory with you as you live in happiness.”

These words so overwhelmed the vānara chiefs that they forgot who they were and where they had come from. They stood with the hair on their bodies raised, unable to speak, and tears flowed freely. In this state of bhakti-jaḍa (stillness from devotion), Rāma honoured them all with fine clothes, ornaments and gifts. Bharata and Lakshmaṇa dressed Sugrīva and Vibhīshaṇa in silk robes and decked them with jewels. The brothers honoured Nala, Nīla, Jāmbavān and all the other leaders with fitting gifts and deep respect.

Aṅgada, the vānara prince, could not bring himself to leave. With tears and joined hands he said to Rāma: “O refuge of the helpless! My father Vālin placed me in your hands as he died. Now you, Sītā and Lakshmaṇa are my father, mother, brother and everything. How can I leave? Grant me the grace to stay in this holy city and serve your feet.” Rāma embraced Aṅgada with deep love and put his own garland around the prince’s neck. With gentle words of wisdom he persuaded Aṅgada to go back to Kishkindhā.

Bharata and Lakshmaṇa went part of the way with the vānara chiefs as they left, and bade them farewell with loving ceremony.

To Guha, the king of the Nishādas, Rāma spoke from a full heart in this well-loved Avadhi verse:

Tumha mama sakhā Bharata sama bhrātā।
Sadā rahēhu pura āvata jātā॥

The meaning is: “O king of the Nishādas! You are my dear friend, and as a brother you are equal to Bharata. Never forget this. Come and go to Ayodhyā whenever you wish, and treat it as your own home.”

Guha’s eyes overflowed with tears of love at these words. He bowed down and fixed Rāma’s footprints in his heart. Then, with great difficulty, he went back to his own land, drawing himself away step by step.

Sources

• Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa, Uttara Kāṇḍa, Hanumān Meets Bharata at Nandīgrāma
• Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa, Uttara Kāṇḍa, Rāma-Bharata Reunion
• Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa, Uttara Kāṇḍa, Rāma Introduces His Friends to Vasishṭha
• Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa, Uttara Kāṇḍa, Rāma Honoring the Vānaras, Vibhīshaṇa, and Nishāda