Welcome Lord Ram!!! - From the different versions - Page 6

It was quite a long conversation and Kamban had written all that (I can't even imagine from where the poets like Kamban, Valmiki and others got the inspiration, strangth and perseverence to write such a good epic). Sita ji did not prepare the food in Bharadawaj rishi's ashram - it was rishi Bharadwaj who made the feast appear with the help of the devas. Lord Ram ate with Sita Devi and the others. Sorry - my words are misleading at that point. I never noticed it till now.

It is indeed a noble, laudable and wonderful effort from you to describe the welcome to Shri Ram from the various versions.

Well, language has definitely not dettered you from taking this effort. Thanks to you and all your friends who have helped you compile this.

Thank you. I owe it all to those who had planted the seeds of knowledge in me (my parents and teachers and the friends who had helped me understand the episodes in Hindi) and those who had constantly applauded and enjoyed reading my posts - it spurred me to present it in a better way.

Mother Tamil's foster daughter is very happy for being able to do something good.

The Pushpak Vimana launched itself into the air. The huge battlements that surround and protect the city of Ayodhya came into view. When the glowing city of Ayodhya was in sight beyond the battlements, Lord Ram said, "I can see the city of Ayodhya ? the city which no one can completely describe or sing its glory to the fullest." Hearing these words from Lord Ram everyone in the Pushpak Vimana stood up with their palms joined before them and bowed down to the city of Ayodhya.

The Pushpak Vimana with all its occupants appeared in the sky like the Sun with a thousand rays. Hanuman, pointed it out to Bharat and said, "Shriman, look! The one with eyes like the open lotus (Ram), the sea ? like vanara army (and other armies too), the most chaste woman goddess (Sita) and the son (of Dasharath) who was born after you bearing the clourful bow are coming!" When the people saw Sri Ram on the Pushpak Vimana all those gathered there to welcome him roared with happiness. These shouts were heard beyond Lanka in the south as well. Bharat, when he saw the Kamalnayan Ram coming in the Pushpak Viman, felt as though his father who had died for the sake of keeping his word had come back to him from the sky. He then let go of Hanuman's hand he was holding till then and bowed to Lord Ram with joined palms. At that moment, Hanuman sprang into the air and reached the Pushpak Vimana. He bowed to Lord Ram with his eyes streaming with tears of joy and said, "As you had instructed this humble servant, I prevented Bharat from entering the burning pyre and informed him of your arrival." Lord Ram was overjoyed to hear Hanuman speak thus and said, "O truthful one! Due to fate we have been followed by many kinds of misfortunes. But you have come to destroy all that makes us suffer and have protected us at all times. It is my good fortune and all the merits of the good deeds I had done in my previous lives. How can I praise you who have helped us without expecting anything in return, my father who gave up his life for the sake of fulfilling his promise, my brother Lakshman who followed me and served me at all times and my mother Devi Kaushalya who gave birth to me in mere words?" Saying so, Ram embraced Hanuman.

Bharat bearing Sri Ram's sandals, eyes streaming with tears came near the Vimana with his hands joined together. Hanuman bowed to Bharat and spoke to Sri Ram, "See the younger brother who had ruled the great empire for 14 years without even the slightest attachment to it. He had also become an enemy to the woman who gave birth to him." On seeing Bharat, Ram felt as happy as he did when he met his father. As soon as he was filled with joy of thinking about meeting the people of Ayodhya, the armies of Ayodhya, his mothers and all those who had come to meet him, the Pushpak Vimana came to the ground. Everyone saw Lord Ram and were overjoyed. To his mothers, he was like the calf that had been taken away and then brought back. To the sages, he was like a place where their minds belong. To his brothers, he was like the beautiful black eyes which every person relies upon. To everyone else, he was like the life that had come back into them when they all lay dying with sorrow and pain. Everyone was happy beyond limits. Lord Ram's mothers, brothers and Guru Vashishta climbed up the Pushpak Vimana and greeted (welcomed) him. Lord Ram looked at everyone who welcomed him with eyes full of tears of joy.

Lord Ram then fell at the feet of Guru Vashishta. Maharishi Vashishta pulled him up from the ground with his hands and embraced him with lots of love and blessed him. Then Lakshman fell at the feet of Sage Vashishta, rose from the ground and stood bowing to him. The sage embraced him and blessed him too. Then Lord Ram fell at the feet of his mothers in order. All three mothers embraced him with love and bathed him with the flood of tears from their eyes. Sita Devi bowed down to the feet of Guru Vashishta and her 3 mothers ? in ? law and got their loving blessings. Lakshman too fell at their (mothers) feet and they blessed him and praised him. Then Bharat placed the sandals he had borne on his head so long at the feet of Sri Ram and fell at his feet and worshipped him. Lord Ram stood stunned with joy on seeing Bharat. His tongue failed to rise to the occasion and stood there with tears of happiness rolling down from his eyes. After a while of stunned happiness, Ram lifted Bharat and embraced him like the body and soul merging into one being. He inhaled the scent of his younger brother's matted locks and felt happy like a mother cow on seeing her calf. As Ram and Bharat stood united by infinite love, the slayer of Indrajeet, Lakshman fell at Bharat's feet. When the people saw that, they wondered who among the two had become thinner ? Is it Lakshman who had constantly served Lord Ram without even thinking of his comfort or is it Bharat who suffered due to the separation from Lord Ram? Bharat lifted Lakshman up and embraced him fondly. Shathrugan placed flowers at the feet of Ram and Lakshman and touched their feet in reverence. Ram and Lakshman embraced him and blessed him (one after the other). After getting the blessings of his elder brothers, Shathrugan fell at the feet of Sita Devi. Then, Ram introduced Sugreev and his other friends to Bharat and Shathrugan. Everyone bowed to Bharat and Shathrugan. Bharat welcomed them all with the choicest welcoming words.

Then Sumantra came with ministers, generals, kings, and armies, bowed down to Ram and stood with tears of joy rushing out of his eyes. Ram embraced Sumantra. He then bowed down to Lakshman who also embraced Sumantra. Sumantra spoke in joy to Ram, "Henceforth there is no suffering for Bhudevi that you have come back to rule her." Those who had come along with Sumantra also bowed down to Ram and Laksman respectfully. Sri Ram told everyone to get onto the Pushpak Vimana. Everyone got into the Vimana. The Devas rained down flowers from heaven on the Pushpak Vimana. Many auspicious musical instruments sounded within the Pushpak Vimana. At that moment the Vimana rose into the air and sped towards Ayodhya and touched down with the showers of flowers raining down from heaven in Nandigram.

On reaching Nandigram, Sri Ram removed his matted locks and bathed in the Sarayu. Their attendants decorated them with many ornaments. Then Ram climbed onto a chariot drawn by white horses. Bharat took up the place of the charioteer, Lakshman held the white silken umbrella of kings over Sri Ram's head and Shathrugan fanned him. The chariot started towards Ayodhya. On either sides of the chariot rode Sugreev and Vibhishan on huge elephants and rode safely on either side of the chariot. Angad went in front of the chariot and Hanuman came behind the chariot. The 67 crore Vanar generals assumed human forms according to their ranks and rode on elephants. Besides, the kings of the 18 kingdoms (Sinhala(m), Sonaha(m), Saavaha(m), China (Cheenam), Thulu(vam), Kudaha(m), Kongana(m), Kannada(m), Kolla(m), Telunga(m) (also called Telengana, I think), Draavida(m), Kalinga(m), Vanga(m) (I think this is West Bangal), Maghadha(m), Kadaara(m), Kauda(m), Kosala(m) (I have listed the 18 major kingdoms of those days as mentioned in Tamilian histories ? If I am wrong, please correct me) got onto their respective chariots surrounded Lord Ram's chariot and proceeded to Ayodhya. Sita Devi climbed onto a chariot that looked like a vimana (either this is a reference to the Pushpak Vimana or it means that the chariot itself was so tall like the spires Ayodhya, I am not sure). The Vanara women assumed the form of divine maidens and climbed onto female elephants, horses and palanquins and surrounding Sita Devi proceeded towards Ayodhya with the Devas and Rishis showering flowers on them.

Seeing Lord Ram come back even nature celebrated. The elephants trumpeted in joy, the horses neighed in joy, the flowering trees burst into blossom like spring time. Lord Ram's chariot reached Ayodhya. He got down from the chariot, went to his mothers first and bowed to them. (When Lord Ram and his brothers refreshed themselves in Nandigram, the rest of them had gone to Ayodhya and were ready to welcome him into the city and palace.) He then went to the Temple of Lord Vishnu and worshipped the Lord. Then Sri Ram bowed down to his preceptor, Sage Vasishta. Everyone celebrated Lord Ram's return from the exile. People forgot themselves in the festivities. There was joy and happiness everywhere.

I am imagining the grand scenes as described in ur post

Thanks again.

If you all consent, we can continue to discuss the variations in the different versions of the Ramayan in this thread.

This way, I can also learn a lot more not only about the different versions of the Ramayan but also about the different cultures that prevail in India.

Definitely Vibs (hope you dont mind me calling you that way) !

It will be a chance for all of us to learn more from the various versions. I'm really looking forward to learn more from your efforts. And I'm sure once it starts, each one of us will have atleast a small input (like the squirrel in the building of Sethu to Lanka)

That reminds me, in which version does this occur - A small squirrel helping to build the bridge and Shri Ram lovingly patting it on its back and hence the three lines appeared on the squirrel's back. Does this really occur or is it a local story built up?