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There is a big argument that the events that are recorded after Rama returns from Lanka victorious are actually not true at all. It is believed that Valmiki never wrote this piece of literature called “Uttararamayana”.

Because it is only after the events that lead to Ravana’s death, Rama’s character turns out to be questionable – something purists frown at.

And normally, our interest in Ramayana usually ends with Rama killing Ravana and with him riding into Ayodhya, with the whole city celebrating with pomp and glory. Yes, a happy ending of the epic that taught us countless of lessons.

Do we know how Rama and Lakshmana ended their mortal lives? Because the lives of Rama and Lakshmana were as meaningful after the war as it was before it.

We need to understand that Rama was an avatar of Vishnu and the way these avatars end their lives on Earth are interesting stories.

So, here goes

What caused the end of Sita?

It all started with the agnipariksha of Sita

Rama returned victorious from the war in Lanka, and everyone in Ayodhya celebrated his victory. They took him to be their king, and he celebrated over 10,000 years on the throne. But people gossiped and some of them gossiped and doubted Sita’s chastity because she had spent so much time in Ravana’s home.

Rama could not handle these rumors and doubted Sita’s purity. Sita, who could not take this doubt, jumped into the fire. And because Sita was so pure, the fire did not burn her, and all the gods sang of her purity.

But Rama’s first priority was always his praja, his subjects, and hence, he banished her from the kingdom.

And so, Sita left for her second exile, pregnant, and settled herself in sage Valmiki’s ashram.

Rama, continued to rule righteously and held many yagnas and one of them was the Ashwamedha Yagna

In this yagna, a horse was let loose and the horse had to be caught – just like a game. All the royals pursued this horse with their chariots and tried to capture it.

But in the end, two small children from the forest caught it. And when the royals like Lakshmana, Sugreev, Hanuman tried to recapture them from these children, they were all defeated by them.

These two children were none other than sons of Rama who were in Sita’s womb when she was exiled. They were raised by Sita in sage Valmiki’s ashram, and because they are Rama’s sons, they could not be defeated in the battle

In the end, Rama, hearing the news that somehow most of his valiant warriors had failed to recapture the horse had failed, tried to engage with these boys himself. Sita, who was looking for the boys is aghast to find Rama trying to battle against his own sons.

That is when she tell Rama about Luv and Kush – his twin sons.

Because Luv and Kush were born away from Ayodhya, the doubts would be raised again. And that is why Rama doubted Sita’s chastity a second time

But Sita was now too annoyed with Rama on being told to perform another test of her chastity, and appealed to mother earth to take her away. And Mother Earth obliged.

And it was appropriate for Bhumi to take Sita away. Bhumi, who bears the weight of billions of beings on herself and suffers in silence – the same misfortune Sita had to bear all her life.

And so, the story of Sita ends.

What caused the end of Lakshmana?

Kala, the god of time, in the disguise of a sadhu, came to have an audience with Lord Rama.

Rama gave strict orders to Lakshmana to not let anyone in while he was having a meeting with Kala. Anyone who would enter, Rama would kill him personally.

Lakshmana stood guard outside’s Rama’s quarters, sage Durvasa also requested audience with Lord Rama

Sage Durvasa was a hot-tempered sage and was infamous for his curses. Laxmana refused to let Sage Durvasa in. The last time Laxmana had disobeyed Rama’s orders, Sita was kidnaped. He would not repeat such a folly again.

Sage Durvasa threatens to curse the whole of Ayodhya of misfortune, and hence, Laxmana disobeys Rama and walks into his quarters.

Rama would have to kill Laxmana, as per his vow. But Laxmana refused to bring this sin upon Rama.

And hence, Laxmana walked into the Sarayu river and ended his life.

Actually, this was a cue for Rama to end his life too, as sage Durvasa tells him after he meets him and after Laxmana leaves the palace.

This was the plan to leave the mortal body, and hence, Rama also followed Laxmana into the Sarayu river and left his kingdom to Luv and Kush to rule.

And thus, Rama’s stay on the planet ended.

Many interpretations say that Rama knew beforehand what was going to happen. He only put the wheel into motion, so that everyone whose time was done in this world has to depart.

And this is how Rama executed the plan to wrap up his endeavors and bringing an end to a glorious epic.

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