27. Rama's Padukas (Devotional)

      As explained in Sri Rama's Vanvas, Rama started his vanavas accompanied by Sita and Lakshmana. Sumanthra, a charioteer left them till banks of the river Ganga. Guha, a close friend of Rama and the leader of the hunters was ruling the place near Ganga. He came by foot to meet Rama who welcomed him with open arms treating him like a brother. Guha offered them his kingdom and told that he and his people will serve Rama. But Rama rejected saying that it is not right as he was on Vanvas. He didn't even took royal food from him but only accepted water. Rama consumed only water as his food and lay down on the floor with Sita for the night. Lakshmana watched over them with out sleeping whole night. Next day Rama asked Guha to arrange a boat to cross the river Ganga. Guha prepared the boat and washed Rama's foot. Guha himself ride the boat and bid them farewel after crossing the river Ganga.

      Later Rama, Sita and Lakshmana went on the way of Atri and Anasuya's hermitage (Refer Story of Dattatreya) who heartfully invited them. Anasuya gave some herbs to Sita by using which Sita can protect her beauty even in forest. Next day they took leave from Atri and Anasuya and started their journey again. Once a mountain named Badragiri (Giri means mountain) worshipped Lord Vishnu and took a boon that Vishnu should reside on him. Now in Ramavatar, Vishnu as Rama reached to Badragiri along with Sita and Lakshmana. He told Lakshmana to build a hermitage there and they started living there. Meanwhile Bharata and Sathrugna came back to Ayodhya and with out knowing that Rama went to Vanvas, they went to Rama's place straight. When they didn't find Rama there, they knew everything happened from others. Bharata was so angry that he scolded his own mother Kaikeyi for becoming cause of Rama's exile and Dasaratha's death. He immediately started with all his family members to meet Rama. When he met Rama on Badragiri, he wept like a kid at Rama's feet and informed about their father Dasaratha's death. Rama also felt sad and they did last penance to their father in river Ganga.

      Bharata requested Rama to come back and rule Ayodhya. Even Kaikeyi requested Rama to do so saying that she took her boon back. But Rama said that it's his father's word that he should complete 14 years of Vanvas so he must follow it. According to rules of royalty, If any king didn't rule for 14 continuous years, he is not eligible to rule again. That's why Kaikeyi asked Rama to exile for 14 years. So Bharata told Rama that he will kill himself if Rama didnt come to Ayodhya after completing Vanvas. He asked Rama to give his Padukas (chappals) and promised that till Rama's return to Ayodhya, his padukas will rule Ayodhya on his be half. Bharata took Rama's padukas on his head and went back to Ayodhya with his family. From then Rama's padukas ruled Ayodhya till Rama's coming back to Ayodhya. That's the reason Rama could rule Ayodhya even after 14 years of vanvas.