Rama goes back

Having lived a long life, Rama gave himself up. Many sages went with Rama. Many others wanted to go with Rama, but Rama asked them to stay back.
In Vaikuntha Rama showed himself as Vishnu. Sita came there as Lakshmi.
Rama said Where will the people go, who came along with me?
Brahma said I have created a part of the heaven for them. Also, all those who hear the Ramayana will go there. All vedas are one side and your name is heavier than that.
One who listens to the seven kandas of Ramayana will have the same gain as one gains from the Ashwamedha yagna.

With this the seven kandas of Ramayana end.

Lakshmana banished

Time or Kaala came to Rama in the guise of the sage. Rama was in court and Lakshmana was standing guard. The sage came to Lakshmana and asked for audience with Rama. Lakshmana went to Rama and said there was a visitor. Getting permission from Rama, Lakshmana brought the visitor inside.
The sage said to Rama, I have something personal and private to discuss with you. Promise that if anyone interrupts, that person will be banished for ever. One person is to stand guard at the door and not let anyone inside.

Rama asked Laksmana to stand guard. He said Please stand guard and do let anyone inside. If anyone enters, that person will be banished forever. Stand guard and be careful.

The sage and Rama went inside a room. The sage aid Rama, I am Time. I have come to remind you that your time on this earth is getting over. You need to return to your celestial kingdom.
Rama said he would do the same.

Brahma then sent the sage Durvasa there. The sage came and met Lakshmana. He said he wanted to meet Rama. Lakshmana said Rama was busy and would come meet him, when he was free.

Durvasa was angry and said He would burn the city of Ayodhya if he was not allowed to go inside.
Lakshmana thought If he was able to save the city from being destroyed, he was fine to take the banishment on his shoulder.

Lakshmana took Durvasa inside. Seeing Durvasa, Time left. Rama greeted Durvasa and asked what he wanted. Durvasa said he was hungry and had not eaten for a year and needed to be fed. Durvasa was fed.

Rama was in a dilemma. If he did not banish Lakshmana he would be known as a person who did not follow his word. If on the contrary he banished Lakshmana, he would be dead.

He asked the sages in the court what to do. They said It was proper for Rama to banish Lakshmana.

Lakshmana said It would be proper to listen to the sages.

Rama had tears in his eyes. All people in the city had wet eyes. Lakshmana took leave of all.  He stepped into the flowing waters of the river Sarayu.

Rama was heartbroken. He said there was no point in leading this life anymore. Bharata said If Rama went, he would leave also.

Rama asked Bharata to send for Shatrughna. Shatrughna crowned his Subahu the king of Mathura and left for Ayodhya.

Messages were sent everywhere that Rama had decided to end his life. Vibhishana with his rakshsas and Sugriva with the vanaras came there.

To Vibhishana Rama said Rule Lanka wisely.

To Hanumana, Rama said As long as people remember me, your name will also be taken.

Hanumana said Wherever your name is taken, I will make myself present there.
Rama said By the boon of Brahma You will be immortal. Till Sun and Moon are shining, you will remain here.
To Jambuvana, Rama said Be young again. If I am on this earth again, I will meet you once more,

Rama divided his kingdom among Lava and Kusha and decided to leave. 

Kingdom divided among sons

Rama ruled the kingdom for eleven thousand years. Slowly Kaushalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra passed away.

One day the king of Kaikeya came to Rama and asked for his help. His land was being attacked the Gandharva Lomesha.
Rama called Bharata. He said Go to the land of your mother. Defeat the Gandharva and then make your sons the kings there.

Bharata went there and defeated the gandharvas. The sons of Bharata - Pushkara and Taksha were made kings there.

Sons of Lakshmana, Angada and Chadraketu were also made kings. The kingdom of Malya was given to Angada and Chandraketu got the land of Ahshwa.

Shatrughati and Subahu, sons of Shatrughna took over the kingdom of Mathura.

Ayodhya and Nandigrama was divided between Lava and Kusha. 

Grief of Lava and Kusha

Throwing their veenas. the two brothers fell on the ground. How will we live without you? We know no one else other than you. You fed us when we were hungry. You brought us up and when it is time for us to look after you, you left us.

Rama asked the boys to be sent to Kaushalya. The Queens of Dahsratha consoled the boys. Lakshama, Bharata and Shatrughna went to the boys and tried to console them.

The boys were crying away. Seeing no other option, they called Rama. Rama came and all there were in tears.

Rama then decided to tear open the earth and get Sita back. Brahma seeing this came to Rama and said You are the who takes care of all, why do you destroy the creation.

The sages said to Rama, Do not grieve. Listen to the complete Ramayana again tomorrow. You will feel good.

Early morning, Rama sat in the court and his sons They had stopped at Sita's banishment. They sang the complete song about how Rama would banish Lakshamana.

The sages who had come left pleased with the song. 

Sita enters the nether world

It was a month when the song finished. Rama said - I want to know about you, Who are you?
The boys said We do not know who our father is. Our mother is Sita and we are disciples of Valmiki.

Rama hugged the boys with tears in his eyes. He said Why did I ask Sita to leave Ayodhya? O sage Valmiki, You know all and still do not tell me. Please prove Sita's purity and get her home.

People came rushing. They wanted to see Sita prove her purity.

Kaushalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra came there. They asked Rama not to Sita's test again. Once was enough.

Rama said If Sita does not prove herself, the people will talk.

He said to Valmiki - Please go to your ashrama. Sumantra will come with the chariot to fetch Sita.

Valmiki left with Sumantra. Sita wanted to know how Rama had greeted his sons. Valmiki told Sita all that had happened and said She had been asked to give a test again.

Sita took leave off all the people in the ashrama and started for Ayodhya.
Sita slowly entered the court of Rama and touched the feet of Rama.

Valmiki said - I am the son of Chavana and go with the name Valmiki. I know and can vouch for Sita's purity. Do not test Sita. Take her home with your sons.

With folded hands, Rama said I know Sita very well and know about her purity. She went through fire in the presence of the Gods. Do not say anything O sage. Let Sita prove herself again in the court.
To Sita - Rama said, Let Ayodhya see your test once again.

Sita said slowly - I will enter the fire once again. You heard the Gods and brought me back, I lived for years in the abode of a sage and there were days when I went hungry. You still want me to go through the test.? Brahma and your departed father spoke about me to you but you still want me to prove myself. I do not want to live anymore and will enter the nether world. Be my husband in all my lives.

Sita said to the earth - Mother, help this unfortunate daughter of yours.

When Sita said this, the earth split up. A golden throne came up. Mother earth called out to Sita. Sita jumped on the throne.

Rama tried to catch Sita but what he got in his hand was a lock of her hair.

Sita once she was inside the earth, shed the body and as Lakshmi, went back to wait for Rama to come back as Vishnu.  

Song of Ramayana

Rama went back with the horse and completed the sacrifice. Gifts were given to all. Valmiki went their with his disciples. Lava and Kusha were among the disciples. Rama gave seats to all. Valmiki called Lava and Kusha and said - I have taught you who to use weapons. You displayed your skills well and even Rama himself had to face defeat in your hands. I also taught you how to sing and use musical instruments. Tomorrow sing the Ramayana that I taught you. When Rama askes you who are are, say you are my disciples. When in the song you come to the point where Rama has to banish Sita, do not say anything to Rama. Come dressed as hermits.

Early morning, the two boys dressed in bark, came to the court of Rama. They had tied their hair and had a veena in each's hand. Rama asked the two boys to come where the sacrifice had happened. All came to listen to the Ramayana.

Every one was lost in the song of the boys. These were two replicas of Rama who could single handedly fight and win a battle, and also sing a song in a melodious voice.
After the first day's song. Rama asked Lakshmana to reward the boys. Gold was brought for them. Wonderful dresses were brought. The boys said they had no need for this.

Rama asked who had composed this. The boys said This is a song listening to which the childless are blessed with children. The fruits of a sacrifice can be achieved by listening to this. Even before your birth, the great sage Valmiki had composed this song. In Adi Kanda is your birth. In Ayodhya Kanda is your becoming crown prince. On the words of Kaikeyi, the king sent you to the forest. Leaving the people crying, you left for the forest. The king died in shock. His body was preserved in oil. Bharata came and performed the last rites of the king. In Aranya Kanda Sita was taken away by Ravana. In Kishkindhya Kanda Sugriva became king. In Sundar Kanda, the ocean was crossed and in Lanka Kanda, Ravana was killed. Sita had to go through the fire and Vibhishana was made king.

When the boys came to the point where Sita was banished by Rama, they were chocking.

Rama falls

Rama was grieving for his brothers when Lava and Kusha decided to return and fight. They shot arrows and the darkness vanished.
It was a fierce battle. Sometimes Rama had to take a step backwards and sometimes the brothers.
Struck by an arrow of the brother, Rama fell on the ground. Rama got up.
Lava shot an arrow and like a noose, the weapon wrapped itself around Rama's neck. Kusha shot an arrow which struck Rama. Rama fell on the ground.

Rama was in pain. The two brothers went to Rama. They started taking Rama's jewels and the crown. Hanumana and Jambuvana, being immortal were senseless, not dying as they were immortal. Taking their prize, the brothers rushed home. They decided to take Hanumana and Jambuvana as their prisoners.

Sita was wondering what had happened to her sons when they appeared. Happily they started telling Sita about their battles and how they had defeated Shatrughna, Lakshmana, Bharata and Rama. They also said they had got two prisoners. As they were huge in size, the brothers had not been able to get them inside the hut so had kept them outside. They then started showing the jewels they had got.

Sita recognized the jewels. She started lamenting. What have you done? You have killed your own father. I am want to go see Rama before the vultures swoon down on him.

The two brothers started crying. Coming outside, Sita saw Hanumana and Jambuvana, tied up. Sita said You have done something which you should never have. Hanumana is your elder brother, He jumped and crossed the ocean for me. You have killed your father. I will consume poison and kill myself. I do not want to live this life. Untie Hanumana and Jambuvana immediately.

To Hanumana, Sita said Please Do not tell anyone about this. They did not know who you were which is why they fought you.

Sita then ran to see Rama, with the two brothers behind her. Seeing Rama, she fell down at his feet and said Please forgive your sons who fought you unknowingly.

The two brothers said Mother, You never told us who our father was. How were we to know that we sons of Rama? We have killed our father and will not live this life. We will kill ourselves by jumping into the fire.

Sita said I will enter the fire first and you can do what you want to, after that.

Three fire pyres were built and burnt.

Valmiki had been meditating and saw blood in front of this eyes. He knew he was needed in his ashrama. He immediately rushed and came to the ashrama.

There were jackals and vultures everywhere. He asked Sita what had happened.

Sita said Lava and Kusha fought and killed their father and uncles. You taught them how to use weapons and see what has happened.

Valmiki said Do not worry. Rama and his brothers will come alive. The others who have fallen will also come alive. I will tell you all. Come inside the ashrama with your sons.

He asked Lava and Kusha to sprinkle holy water on all who had fallen. This was an elixir and as soon as the water touched them, the dead people sat up. Sita was relieved to see Rama and his brothers get up. Valmiki asked Sita to go inside with her sons.

Rama saw Valmiki and asked about the two boys, Valmiki asked Rama to go and complete the sacrifice. When it was time, he would come to Rama. 

Rama comes to fight

Rama with his army reached the ashrama. Rama saw his brothers lying on the ground.
Lava and Kushan heard the noise of the army approaching. They realized Rama was coming and were eager to fight and defeat Rama.
Sita heard the noise and wondered what this was. Sita said I ask you to be careful. I have you two only in my life. If something happens to you, I will not be alive. Do not pick up battles when you do not have to.
The brothers told Sita to go inside and told her not to worry. They then went and changed their dress and picked by their bows and arrows.
The people were amazed to see three Ramas facing each other.
The wise ones said Sita was five months pregnant and Lakshaman had left her in this forest.
Rama thought the same and wondered if they were his sons.

Rama went to the boys and said I am the son of Dashratha. I am amazed to see you two. You look like me, walk like me and have similar weapons like me. Tell me who are you? Are you my sons?

The brothers were quiet. They did not know who their father was. They decided they will go and ask about their father later.

They said Where have you heard that sons fight their father? Are you scared and trying to please us?
Rama said I have big warriors with me and a huge army. Will you alone be able to fight me? When you fall in battle, people will say I killed two boys. Choose whom you want to fight.

Lava said to Kusha - Let us first destroy the army of Rama.
Lava and Kusha started their battle. The horses and elephants were first killed. The rakshasas and vanaras then attacked.
Lava said to Kusha See these vanaras, bears and rakshasas coming to fight us.
They started shooting arrows.

Soon most of the vanaras and rakshasas had fallen.
Lifting a mountain, Sugriva attacked. The brothers cut off the mountain with an arrow, and with another arrow, Sugriva fell. Angada jumped at the brothers but an arrow cut his hourney and he too fell.
Hanumana then attacked with a mountain but an arrow cut off the mountain. Another arrow hit Hanumana and he fell on the ground senseless.
Seeing Hanumana fall, the vanaras started fleeing.

Rama was amazed. he had come with a huge army and now only a handful of people were left.

Lava and Kusha said You army has left you. Most are dead and the remaining have fled.

Rama said I am there and will kill you two. I still fell you are my sons and that is why you are able to display such skills.

The brothers said Do not address us as your sons and thus make us weak. We will fight you.

Rama started shooting arrows. The sky became dark. Not sure what to do, the brothers fled from there. 

Bharata falls

Lava waited and watched Kusha fight Bharata. He thought Kusha is fighting well but he has become proud, having defeated Shatrughna. I will go to him, only when he needs help.

Kusha and Bharata were having a fierce battle. Kusha finished off the army of Bharata. Only seven soldiers were left. They asked Bharata to surrender and flee.
Bharata said A Kshatriya does not flee. Pointing to Kusha, he said See my soldiers want to run.
Kusha said let them go and inform Rama. Maybe Rama will come and fight.
Bharata said I am seeing Rama in you. If I loose today I will not be offended. You have the same skill and strength as Rama.
Kusha said You talk about Rama. What will he do when you fall in battle. If Rama defeats us that will be a blotch in our names. If I leave you, Lava will laugh at me.
Bharata said You talk of Lava. he will not be able to escape from Lakshmana.
Hearing this Lava came and said Lakshmana has fallen long back.

A battle started between Kusha and Bharata. Kusha cut off all arrows fired by Bharata and then finally he invoked an arrow. The arrow pierced Bharata. Bharata fell.

Lava went and embraced Kusha. They went to the nearby river and washed off the blood from their bodies. Changing their clothes, they went to their mother.

Sita said I was worried about you. What happened?
The brothers said The kings that had come hunting are gone now.

The soldiers who had escaped went to Rama and told him about the fall of Lakshmana and Bharata.

Rama fainted. Coming to his senses, he had tears in his eyes.

Sugriva said There is no point in grieving. We should go and fight.

Rama said That is well said. What is the point in me being here when my brothers lie in battlefield.

Getting a huge army ready, Rama started for battle.

Lakshmana falls

The people said to Rama Two boys Lava and Kusha had captured the horse. When Shatrughna had tried to get the horse back, a battle had happened and Shatrughna had fallen.
Rama was shocked. How could this happen.
Bharata and Lakshmana said a warrior went to battle to fight and was not sure if he would return back alive or not.
Lakshmana said I knew something like this would happen when Sita was asked to leave, without any fault of hers. If you permit now, we two will go and get the two boys for you.

Rama agreed. Bharata and Lakshmana left with their armies. They came Valmiki's ashrama was. They saw the ground and realized it would be fierce battle. Seeing Shatrughna lying, they could not control their grief. They said Valiant One, who killed Lavana on the banks of Yamuna, lies on the ground.
The lieutenants came and said this was not the time for sorrow. They got and got ready.

Sita heard the noise of the army. She asked Lava and Kusha what was the noise about.
The boys said Mother Do not worry. It must be a king who has coming hunting. We will go and see what they want.

Pacifying Sita, the boys went to see who had come. Seeing the two boys, the people said it seemed that twin Rama was standing there. If only Rama himself was there, it would have seemed like tree Ramas there.

Lakshmana and Bharata were amazed. They wanted to know who these boys were.

The boys said Our family tree should be of no interest to anyone. There are twelve hundred boys who learn from Valmiki and we are two of those. The sage has gone somewhere leaving us to guard this place. See Shatrughna, son of Dashratha, lying there. He came to fight us and met his end with his army. Who are you?

Lakshmana said We are four borthers and of that the youngest is Shatrughna. Do you think you will escape after killing Shatrughna?

A battle started. While Kusha and Bharata fought, Lava fought with Lakshmana. Bharata was riding on an elephant while Lakshmana was on a chariot. Lakshmana was amazed to see the skills of archery of the brothers and wanted to know who had taught them this. He said I was able to kill Indrajit, the valiant son of Ravana. I did not fear that but today I feel scared of my life. I will not think more and will fight away.
Seeing Lava's battle, Lakshmana's army started fleeing.
Lakshaman tried all the weapons that he knew and all were combated by Lava. Soon Lakshmana's quiver was empty. Lakshaman surrendered. Lava said I will not let you escape back. You will meet your end today. if you can dodge my arrow, I will not kill you.
Lava then invoked a weapon of Shiva. Lakshama fell, struck by that arrow.

With Lakshmana falling, Lava went to assist Kusha.

Shatrughna falls

It was time for the horse to be brought back. Shatrughna was asked to do the needful. Shatrughna was told that the horse had been taken captive. He saw the two boys playing with the horse and asked who they were and why they had captured the horse.
Lava and Kusha said We know you are strong and we also want you to take the horse away. Do the needful but you will have to fight for that.
Shatrughna tried but was unable to defeat the boys. He then asked his army to attack.
Kusha said to Lava, You wait while I deal with the army.
Kusha released an arow. Except Shatrughna all fell. River of blood began flowing.
Kusha said O Shatrughna, where is your army now. I am the younger of the two brothers. Come fight me now.
Lava said to Kusha - You killed the army now let me deal with Shatrughna.
Kusha asked Lava to move back. Shatrughna fired arrows which were easily combated by Kusha.
Shatrughna's quiver was empty. He said I am amazed at your skill. Let this end now. Give me the horse and go home.
Kusha smiled and released an arrow. The arrow struck Shatrughna and he fell.
The brothers went to their mother and said Kings had come to the ashrama. We played with them and are back.

Sita unaware bathed her sons and fed them.

Seven people were alive from the battle. They rushed to Ayodhya to inform about the fall of Shatrughna. 

The sacrifice begins

Rama said Ashwamedha Yagna has many merits and I will perform this.
Getting to know this, Brahma asked Vishwakarma to build a site where the sacrifice would be held.
Vishwakarma went to Ayodhya. He went Bharata and Lakshmana who gave him all that was needed to build the site.
A grand site was built with four pits where the fires would burn. Material needed for the sacrifice were arranged. Huge rooms were built studded with gems and pearls. The Gods came to see this. The site was ready in a month.
All great sages were invited.
Vanaras came to participate and also kings from various places were invited.
Rama sat for the sacrifice. It was necessary for the wife to also sit and participate in the sacrifice. The golden Sita was brought there to sit alongside Rama. Vibhishana came with his rakshsas. The sages who used to run when they saw rakshasas were pleasantly surprised to see the rakshasas bowing down to all.
The horse was got ready to start its journey. Shatrughna was given charge of the horse.
The horse started roaming freely followed by Shatrughna and his army.
The horse reached the land of Parvata and the king there was conquered by Shatrughna.
The horse went northwards towards the Himalayas. The king there tried to capture the horse and was defeated by Shatrughna.
The horse then went westwards and was captured by tribals who lived on horse meat. Shatrughna defeated them. Going Southwards, the horse then came near the ashrama of Valmiki.
Valmiki knew this would happen. He had asked Lava and Kusha to guard the ashrama. The two brothers were skilled in the arts of using weapons of every kind.
The two brothers were playing when they saw the horse near their ashrama. The horse was under a tree. They went close and saw that this was the horse from Ayodhya.
They took the horse, tied it inside the ashrama and went to tell their mother about this.

Ila

Rama said -
There was once a king called Ila. One day, the king went hunting. He ended up on the Kailsaha mountain. There were lovely lakes and trees there. Shiva and Parvati were there enjoying each other's company. They entered a lake and Shiva was transformed into a woman. This was a curse that Shiva had put on the forest, that anyone who came there would become a woman. Shiva andparvati were playing there in the waters of the lake when Ila entered the forest. The moment he stepped there, he became a woman. All who had come with the king became women.
The king, having become a woman, began covering himself. He rushed and prayed to Shiva to relieve him of this calamity.
Shiva said I will not be able to make you a man. Even I have to become a woman when I come here, so why did you come here? Remain a woman.
Ila then begged Parvati and asked her to help him. Parvati said there is not much I can do. Still, I will will help you. You will become a man for a month and then become a woman the next month. This cycle will continue. You will not remember what you did a woman, when you are a man, and similarly you will not remember what you did as a man, when you are a woman.

As a man, Ila went to his kingdom. He lived for a month. Then as a woman he went to the forest. In the forest where Ila went as a woman, was a lake. Budha, son of Chandra, used to meditate there. He saw Ila and seeing her he was lost in love. The meditation was broken. he said he was lost seeing the beauty of the woman roaming in the forest and wanted to have her. Ila agreed and lived for a month with Budha. After a month, becoming a man, Ila went back and Budha resumed his meditation.,
This cycle continued till one day the female Ila became pregnant and a son was born, who was named Pururava.

One day Budha noticed that his beautiful consort suddenly changed into a man. Budha was shocked to see this. He was shocked that he had made love to a man. Getting to know the truth, Budha then asked the sages, how would Ila get rid of the curse and how would be relieved of the sin of making love to a man. The sages said All this had been done unknowingly and would not be considered a sin. If Ila pleased Shiva through meditation, the curse would go away.

Ila then prayed to Shiva by performing the Ashwedha sacrifice, who pleased, restored Ila's masculinity.

Bharata, Shatrughna and Lakshmana were amazed to hear this.

Sacrifice

One day Rama called his brothers and said he wanted to perform the Rajsuya sacrifice. He had killed a brahmana and thus wanted to atone for his sins.
Bharata said - No this is not proper. Rajsuya sacrifice is a cause of destruction. A king Sashadhar had done this and his family was destroyed. When the God Varuna did this, the water animals began dying. When Indra did this, the battle between asuras and Gods started. Sagara, our ancestor, did it and lost his sons.
Harishchandra did this and had to roam like a beggar,
Lakshmana said I suggest you perform the horse sacrifice, Ashwamedha Yagna. In earlier times, Indra had performed this sacrifice as he had killed Vrittasura, the son of a brahman.
Rama said I had wanted to perform the Rajsuya sacrifice but I think now I will perform the Ashweda sacrifice.