Leaving Ayodhya, when Shri Ram met a king for the first time, know who was his friends?:

News India Live, Digital Desk: The Mahagatha of Ramayana is not just a story, but a living example of renunciation, dignity, love and devotion. Every affair of this saga teaches us deep lessons of life. One such is a very emotional and inspiring episode, when Lord Shri Rama, along with mother, Sita and brother Lakshmana, renounce the Rajsukh of Ayodhya and leave for exile.

This was the journey that made a prince Maryada Purushottam. Come on, today we take you to the same golden page of Ramayana, from where the real struggle of exile and the pastimes of God begins.

Leaving the palace and first step towards the forest

When Sri Rama’s chariot moved forward by crossing the boundaries of Ayodhya, he was left behind him, the huge splendor, the palace and the Ayodhya residents. After several days of visit, the three reached the banks of the Tamsa River. They moving from there Shringverpur Arrived, which was situated on the banks of river Ganges.

It was the kingdom of King Guh of Nishad. Nishadraj Guh was very good friends and devotees of Shri Ram. As soon as he came to know that Lord Shri Ram had visited his kingdom, he left everything and ran to welcome him.

Visiting Nishadraj: A friend’s true devotion

Nishadraj saw that his lord, who was addicted to gold on the soft shaya, has lying on the ground and lying on the ground today. Seeing this, his heart was filled with pain. He pleaded with Sri Rama, Sita and Laxman to rest in his palace, but Shri Rama politely refused, following the saints religion. The night, the three spent the three under a tree on the banks of the Ganges.

That amazing dialogue: When Kewat washed the feet of the Lord

The next morning, time came to cross the Ganges river. Nishadraj asked his most trusted Kewat (sailor) to bring the boat. When the Kewat came and he placed a condition before Lord Shri Rama seated in his boat.

He folded his hands and said, “Lord, I have heard that the stone rock had also become a beautiful woman (Ahilya) by the touch of your feet. I am a small boat, which is made of wood and this is the only means to raise my family.

Lord Rama smiled seeing this naive and loving cleverness of Kewat. He allowed Kewat to wash his feet. Kewat washed the feet of the Lord with great love and devotion and was blessed by drinking that Charanamrit.

When the Ganges crossed, Mata Sita took off her ring and wanted to unload the boat as a boat, but Kewat flatly refused to take her. He said, “Lord, today I have crossed this small river, when my last time comes, you should cross this Bhavsagar (ocean of life-death). That will be my wages.”

Prayag and Chitrakoot: New Hide of exile

After crossing the Ganges, Shri Ram, Sita and Lakshmana reached Prayagraj, where there is a holy confluence of Ganga-Yamuna and invisible Saraswati. Here he rested in the ashram of Maharishi Bhardwaj and took blessings from him.

Maharishi Bhardwaj only gave him the best place to stay in exile, Chitrakoot Advised to go. He told that that mountain is very calm, beautiful and lustful to ascetic. By obeying Maharishi, all three crossed the Yamuna river and walked towards Chitrakoot and started living there by making their huts there.

This journey was not just to reach from one place to another, but it is a wonderful story of abandoning the pleasures of the palace and adopting a monk life in the lap of nature, which still gives us the message of selfless friendship, true devotion and following religion.