Rāma Takes Two Forms
In Chapter 21 of the Rājya Khaṇḍa of the Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, two yajñas called Bhagavān Rāma on the same day. One was the yajña of Vālmīki. The other was the yajña of Viśvāmitra. Rāma took two complete forms of himself, each with its full retinue, and attended both. The brahmachāris (students) who came from each āśrama did not see the other form.
The two invitations
One day two brahmachāris reached Rāma’s court almost together. One came from Vālmīki’s āśrama and one from Viśvāmitra’s āśrama. Each came separately, and each carried an invitation to a different mahāyajña (great yajña).
The brahmachāri from Vālmīki’s āśrama said: “Vālmīki Maharshi is holding a great yajña. He has sent me to invite you, with Sītā and your brothers. The muhūrta (auspicious time) is right now. Please leave at once.”
The brahmachāri from Viśvāmitra’s āśrama then came and gave the same message in Viśvāmitra’s name.
Rāma received both with equal honour. He gave them seats and said to each of them: “I will come.” The assembly looked at one another in confusion. How could Rāma attend both yajñas? Each brahmachāri was in the court and could hear the other’s invitation. (Rājya Khaṇḍa, Chapter 21)
The court talks it over
The sabhā (assembly) broke into whispers. One courtier said to another: “The two āśramas lie in different directions. How can Rāma go to both?” Another answered: “Is anything impossible for Parameśvara? In the forest during the exile, did he not appear in different forms to all the women at the same moment? When he came back from Laṅkā, he appeared in a different form to each person who came to meet him in the presence of Bharata, and spoke to each one himself. The same can happen here. What is the wonder?” (Chapter 21)
The journey in two forms
After this, Rāma gave Lakshmaṇa his orders to prepare tent camps and gather the army. The whole royal party then set out. Sītā rode a royal elephant. The queens rode elephants. Soldiers and ministers went in procession.
Where the road divided into the two paths to the two āśramas, Rāma took two complete forms. The whole retinue, the army and the Pushpaka vimāna all became two complete parties, and each party went toward one āśrama. Each of the two brahmachāris went with his own party. Each believed he had brought the one Rāma to his guru’s yajña, and that the other brahmachāri had been sent away or had brought a substitute.
The two forms of Rāma attended both yajñas at the same time, each with Sītā, the full retinue and full part in the rites. Both Vālmīki and Viśvāmitra received Rāma and honoured him. Each finished his yajña with Rāma present, and each bade him farewell.
On the way back, where the two roads met again, the two forms of Rāma joined into one. The retinue and the Pushpaka all came together again as one procession. Rāma returned to Ayodhyā as one, and the city welcomed him with the usual rejoicing. (Chapter 21)
Sources
- Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Rājya Khaṇḍa, Chapter 21