We had looked at Rama’s epic journey through Ayodhya to the Sarayu river in the last post to leave the mortal world and regain his true form. After years of ruling Ayodhya with justice, compassion, and unwavering adherence to dharma, Lord Rama sensed that his earthly mission was complete. The time had come for him to return to his divine essence as Vishnu. This realization was not marked by sorrow but by serenity, for Rama’s life had been a perfect embodiment of righteousness. His departure was not an end but a transition, a passage from the mortal realm to the eternal. Word spread quickly through Ayodhya, and the people, who had lived under his benevolent rule, felt an irresistible pull to accompany him. They could not imagine life without Rama, and so began one of the most extraordinary journeys described in the Ramayana.
As Rama set forth towards the banks of the Sarayu River, Ayodhya itself seemed to move with him. The streets, once bustling with daily life, grew silent as citizens abandoned their homes to follow their beloved king. Men, women, children, sages, and even animals joined the procession. It was as if the entire city had been emptied, leaving behind only walls and structures, while the spirit of Ayodhya flowed alongside Rama. This collective migration was not driven by duty alone but by devotion. Rama was more than a ruler; he was the embodiment of truth and compassion, and his people’s love for him transcended worldly attachments.
The journey itself was majestic yet solemn. Rama walked with calm dignity, his brothers and companions by his side, while chants of devotion filled the air. The people did not see this as a farewell but as a pilgrimage, a chance to merge their lives with the divine. Their loyalty was absolute, their faith unshaken. In this moment, Ayodhya was transformed into a spiritual caravan, moving together towards liberation. The sight of an entire kingdom following its king into eternity is unparalleled in epic literature, symbolizing the highest form of collective devotion. His brothers - Bharata and Shatrughna - walked beside him, while countless devotees joined the procession.
In most traditions, kings are followed by their people out of loyalty, duty, or fear—but the Ramayana describes something far more extraordinary: an entire kingdom following its ruler not for worldly gain, but out of deep attachment and to attain liberation. Ayodhya emptying out signifies detachment from the material world. The people’s choice reflects the highest spiritual truth: when the divine departs, worldly existence loses meaning. It shows that devotion (bhakti) can grant liberation even without austerities or rituals. The people attained moksha simply by following Rama with pure love. This episode demonstrates Rama’s compassion—he did not depart alone but uplifted his entire kingdom. It is a vision of collective salvation, unparalleled in world literature.
This journey to attain salvation is something similar to the journey one might take to visit great temples of India to attain unity with divine. For example, if someone takes a journey of 10 days through Amritaghateswarar and Markandeyar temple in Thirukadaiyur to Nataraja swamy temple in Chidambaram to Arunachaleswarar in Tiruvannamalai to Ranganatha Swamy temple in Srirangam to Brihadeeswara temple in Tanjavur to Ramanatha Swamy temple in Rameswaram to Meenakshi temple in Madurai to Kumari Amman in Kanniyakumari to Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram to Chottanikkara Bhagavathy darshan in Kochi to Krishna temple in Guruvayur, such a pilgrimage is considered a divine blessing in itself. India and Indians are extremely fortunate for having these timeless, priceless sites of pilgrimage where each temple in itself represents a step in the spiritual path—longevity, liberation, surrender, purification, harmony, purity, protection, and devotion. Journeys like this, synonymous to Rama undertaking a similar passage with countless devotees are believed to cleanse karma, deepen devotion, and prepare the soul for liberation. The act of surrendering oneself fully to the divine across these sacred sites is seen as a powerful aid on the path to moksha or salvation. When hundreds travel in this journey together, it will be a step towards collective liberation. These days are upon us when we are seeing hundreds in these pilgrimages all over the sacred land of India to bring a deep meaning to their present lives with utmost devotion and divine surrender.
Coming back to the story, Rama is on one of its kind of a journey with countless others, about to take everyone to higher realms of life. Let us look at the following chapter where he attains heaven with all the accompanying people.
In chapter 110, Rama ascends to heaven with the other beings.
After traveling about six miles, Rama, the pride of the Raghu dynasty, arrived at the sacred river Sarayu, whose waters flowed westward, swirling and rippling gently. Proceeding further, he reached the holy Goprataraka Ghata, accompanied by vast numbers of his devoted subjects who surrounded him on every side. It was at this auspicious place, as Rama prepared to relinquish his earthly form and ascend to heaven, that a moment of divine revelation unfolded.
At that very instant, Brahma, the Creator and Grandsire of the universe, appeared in the sky, seated in a radiant aerial chariot and surrounded by the gods and illustrious rishis adorned with celestial jewels. The heavens blazed with extraordinary brilliance, illuminated by the combined splendor of these divine beings whose virtue shone forth in dazzling radiance. Gentle, fragrant breezes filled the air, and showers of heavenly blossoms rained down from above. The Gandharvas and Apsaras filled the firmament with music and song, playing countless instruments and singing in praise. Amid this divine celebration, Rama stepped calmly into the sacred waters of the Sarayu.
From the sky, Brahma addressed Rama with reverence and awe. He hailed him as Vishnu himself, the Supreme Being incarnate, and invited him to return to his eternal divine form. Brahma proclaimed Rama to be the support of the universe, the inconceivable and indestructible One, beyond age and decay. He acknowledged that some beings failed to recognize Rama’s true nature because of the veiling power of Maya and the absence of his eternal consort, but affirmed that Rama was indeed the eternal Vishnu. Brahma offered Rama the choice to dwell either in Vishnu’s supreme abode or in the radiant ether, urging him to enter his true divine body if he so wished.
Upon hearing these words, Rama, supremely virtuous and resolute, made his decision. Along with his younger brothers, he cast aside his mortal form and entered Vishnu’s eternal abode in his divine body. At this moment, the assembled immortals burst into worship, recognizing Vishnu restored to his original form. The Sadhyas, the Maruts, Indra, Agni, celestial rishis, Gandharvas, Apsaras, serpents, Yakshas, Daityas, Danavas, Rakshasas, and all beings of heaven rejoiced deeply. Their hearts overflowed with bliss; their desires were fulfilled and their sins washed away as they cried out in exultation, offering salutations to the Supreme Lord.
Vishnu then addressed Brahma, requesting that suitable abodes be granted to all his subjects who had gathered there. He declared that these beings were his devoted followers who had willingly sacrificed their lives for his sake and were therefore deserving of divine reward. Brahma, the Guru of the worlds, agreed and proclaimed that all those assembled would attain the region known as Santanaka. He further declared that even animals who died while meditating on Vishnu’s holy feet would dwell near Brahmaloka, a realm filled with every delight. Brahma explained that the monkeys and bears, who were manifestations of various deities, had already returned to their original divine worlds, and that Sugriva had entered the disc of the sun.
As Brahma spoke, the monkeys and bears appeared once again at Goprataraka Ghata, having assumed their original celestial forms before the astonished eyes of the gods. At that sacred moment, all who entered the waters of the Sarayu surrendered their lives joyfully, their eyes filled with tears of bliss. Freed from their earthly bodies, they ascended into the heavens in radiant celestial chariots. Even animals who entered the river by the hundreds were transformed, attaining luminous divine bodies and rising to the Third Heaven, shining with the same brilliance as the gods themselves.
No distinction remained between living and non-living beings; all who entered the holy waters attained the realm of the gods. The bears, monkeys, titans, and all others abandoned their mortal forms and ascended to heaven. Having bestowed paradise upon all of Rama’s followers and companions, Brahma, accompanied by the gods, returned joyfully to his supreme abode in the Third Heaven. Thus concluded the divine departure of Rama, marking the fulfillment of his earthly mission and the liberation of all who had devoted themselves to him.
This concludes chapter 110 of Uttara Kanda where we had seen Rama ascending to heaven with all the other beings in the Sarayu river. The Ramayana describes this as a divine ascension, where Rama chose to merge back into his eternal essence as Vishnu. At the time of Rama’s departure into the Sarayu River, Brahma appears and declares Rama’s true divine nature, affirming that he is none other than Vishnu incarnate. Brahma praises Rama’s earthly mission, acknowledges the fulfillment of dharma, and invites him to return to Vaikuntha, the eternal abode. As Rama dipped into the Sarayu, those who accompanied him also entered the waters. Through his grace, they attained liberation (moksha), merging into the divine essence along with him. This ends Rama’s mortal life in human form, Vishnu’s incarnation as Rama and the purpose behind it fully served. We have neared the conclusion of Uttara kanda, the entire Ramayana epic with this departure and the supreme virtue of Ramayana can be seen in subsequent and final chapter of epic.
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