THE END OF RAMAVATAR

                                                                   

Sri Rama could not bear the separation from his dear brother Lakshmana! He felt very sad and dejected. He decided to crown his next brother Bharatha as the king and leave for the forest! He directed his preceptor and Ministers to make all preparations for his departure. Everyone was sad and depressed to hear the words of sri Rama. Bharatha was shocked at the strange decision of Sri Rama! He said that it is impossible for him to live without Sri Rama! He requested his brother to crown Kusa as the king of Kosala and Lava as the king of the Northern Kingdom! He wanted them to know that Sri Rama and Bharatha were ready to leave for heaven!

        People were reluctant to allow Sri Rama and Bharatha to leave them and the kingdom! They prostrated themselves before their King and refused to budge! Noting their affection for the King, sage Vasishta directed Sri Rama to satisfy their desire. He pointed out that the King should never displease his subjects! People informed Sri Rama that they would follow him wherever he went whether it was a river or a sea or any other place! They requested they should be allowed to go with him with their families and children! After crowning his children Lava and Kusa, Sri Rama embraced them and presented them with chariots, horses, elephants, diamonds and other precious stones and took leave of them! Meanwhile, Satrughna, hearing the news of his brother’s departure, came running and joined him! Sugriva with his vanaras and Vibhishana with his train too joined the band of followers of Sri Rama

         Sri Rama advised Vibhishana to be righteous in his rule over Lanka! He blessed that it will last as long as the Ramayana is sung on earth! He directed him to worship Lord Jagannath the presiding deity of the clan of his ancestor Ikshvaku! Sensing that Hanuman wanted to live longer, Sri Rama allowed him to live to the extent of the popularity of his story, the Ramayana! Anjaneya jumped with joy at the grace of his master! Sri Rama turned to Jambavan and Mainda and directed them to live till the beginning of Kali Yuga!

           The next morning, Sri Rama directed the sage Vasishta toallow Brahmins to advance with flaming   fire agnihotra. The flag of VajipeyaYaga should be taken forward. Sage Vasishta carried out all the necessary rituals for the great Return! Then, Sri Rama, with subtle dress, dry grass(dharbha) in hand and repeating the Gayathri Mantra left his home! He observed ‘mouna’ and did not talk to any one! Following him behind were Sri and Hri Devis ! Various arrows, the great bow Kodanda, armaments, the power of destruction followed personified as males!  The Vedas, Gayatri Mantra, Omkara, Vashatkara and others took the form of Brahmins to follow the Lord!

           After traversing a long distance, Sri Rama entered the waters of river Sarayu that was running westward and reached a lonely place! The creator Lord Brahma had already arrived there with sages and Devas and a number of Vimanas! Nature welcomed the Lord with fine fragrant breeze. It rained flowers and everything was holy and sacred! As the Lord waded through the waters of Sarayu Lord Brahma gave him a warm welcome! He requested Sri Rama to take any form—Vaishnava radiance or the sky along with his brothers! Sri Rama  thought about the words of the creator and entered his original VAISHNAVA FORM physically along with his brothers! All the assembled Devas

worshipped Lord Vishnu and praised his glory! Lord Vishnu asked Lord Brahma to grant heavenly abode to all those who followed him since they were all his devotees! All those who had a dip in the waters of Sarayu dropped their mortal coils, attained their original form and went to their respective original abodes!!!

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