Lord Rama was the son of Dashrath, king of Ayodhya. His mother’s name was Kausalya. Rama is also known as “Maryaada Purshottam.” Rama was the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu who killed demon king Ravana and restored dharma on the earth. He was an ideal king of all time. Rama was very handsome and his skin had a bluish shade. Ramarajya is the phrase used in India for best governance. He used to treat his subjects as his children.
Interesting Facts About Lord Rama
The epic Ramayana is based on the life of Lord Rama, a life where each event is a big lesson, from each we can learn much. Among those amazing events and stories, here are the Most Interesting And Lesser Known Facts About Lord Rama.
1. Rama’s Return to Vaikuntha
Rama would not return Vaikuntha as Hanuman wouldn’t allow Yama to enter Ayodhya in order to claim Rama. To divert Hanuman’s attention Rama dropped his ring through a crack in the floor and sent Hanuman to fetch it back for him. After going down Hanuman reached the land of serpents and asked the King for Rama’s ring. The king showed Hanuman a vault filled with rings all of which were Rama’s. He told a shocked Hanuman that when a Rama is to die in the cycle of time, he drops a ring down the crack so that a Hanuman can be diverted from his guard.
2. Rama – The 394th Name of Vishnu
According to Vishnu Sahasranama, a list of thousand names of Lord Vishnu, Rama is the 394th name of Lord Vishnu.
3. Rama’s Sister
Lord Rama also had an elder sister, Shanta, daughter of Dasharatha and Kaushalya.
4. His Admiration For His Devotees
Lord Rama always admired his bhaktas. Once during the building of the bridge to Lanka, Lord Hanuman was hefting huge mountain tops into the sea to build the bridge to Lanka. He noticed a tiny spider brushing small dust particles into the water with its legs to assist Lord Rama. He was about to brush the spider out of the way of his own serious work, when Ramachandra admonished him, saying, “Give up your pride! This spider’s devotional service is just as satisfying to me as yours. You are serving me according to your capacity, and he is serving me according to his capacity.”
5. Lord Rama Sent Lakshman To Learn From Ravana
While Ravana was dying, Lord Ram asked Laxmana to go up to him to learn all that Ravana had to offer. At his behest, Ravana rendered a discourse in politics and dharma to Laxmana.
6. The Golden Period – Rama Rajya
It is believed, Ayodhya was ruled by Lord Rama for eleven thousand years. This golden period was adjudged as Rama Rajya.
7. Rama Didn’t Have All the Kalas
According to some beliefs, Rama Avatar is not considered to be a Purna avatar. His incarnation was having 14 Kalas and only Shri Krishna’s avatar has all 16 Kalas. This was done on purpose because Ravana had a boon and he was not immune to humans. If Rama’s avatar had been the Purna avatar, he would not have been classified as a human. He is also called Purna Purusha. The two missing Kalas were Paripurna & Swarupavasthitha. This explains why he had to take help from monkeys and he cried as a normal human when Sita was abducted.
8. The Naming of Lord Rama
Lord Rama’s name was given by Vashishtha Maharshi, the guru of the Raghu dynasty. His name had a significant meaning, as it’s composed of two “Beeja Aksharas” – the Agni Beeja (Ra) and the Amrutha Beeja (Ma). While the Agni Beeja served to vitalize his soul and body, the Amrutha Beeja rejuvenated him from all the fatigue.
9. Death’s meeting with Lord Rama
The messenger of death himself came to meet Lord Rama in Ayodhya and requested him to return to Baikuntha as his task was completed. The gods were depressed and anxious as Lord Vishnu was not among them. Lord Rama replied as he was on earth for doing good and as he has done so he is ready to return at the very moment to the higher world. As he was ready, Sage Durvasa came to the palace, argued with Lakshmana, and asked Lord Rama to serve him whatever is ready to eat.
As all was set for Lord Rama to get back to Vishnu Lok, the moment or event was obstructed. Also, the entering of Durvasa made failed Lakshmana’s vow to stop whoever comes into the palace so he was to be vanquished from the kingdom. All these events stopped Lord Rama to stay in Ayodhya and not to leave until 11800 years were completed.
10. Rama’s final sentences
To Vibhisana: Rule over your kingdom righteously. Do not falsify your promise. Being well pleased enjoy as long as the moon, the sun, and the earth remain. Then at the (proper) time come to my place.
To Hanuman: O lord of monkeys, as long as my stories go on (being narrated) on the earth, remain on the earth. At the (proper) time. O you of a good vow, go to me.
To Jambavat: When Dvapara (age) will come, I shall again be born on the earth in the family of Yadus for destroying the burden of the earth. O best of bears, I shall (then) fight with you.
Both Vibhisana and Hanuman are Asthachiranjibis and are believed to be still roaming on the Earth to assist Kalki Avatar in battling Kali Danav. Lord Vishnu later took birth as Lord Krishna where he fought Jambavat and married his daughter, Jambhavati.