Chitrakuta, Madhya Pradesh
It was at this place where Lakshmana made a kutiya (hermitage) for them to stay. The still water of river Mandakini and floral beauty made this place the most ideal for Shri Rama to do Tapasya. Bharata, who was unaware of all this scenario created by Maa Kaikeyi whose ears were poisoned by her maid ‘Manthara’, came to meet his brother Shri Rama at Chitrakuta. He urged him to return to the kingdom and accept the crown of Ayodhya Maharaja. However, Maryada Purushottam could not go back on his word and disrespect his father, cementing the tag that he got. On seeing the firm determination of Shri Rama, Bharata decided to return back to Ayodhya with Shri Ram’s charan paduka (footwear), which he would worship every day and be placed on the throne on his behalf. Bharata was the caretaker of the Ayodhya Saamrajya for the next 14 years. Their next destination was a region located in the Dandak forest on the banks of the river Mandakini.
Dandakaranya, Chhattisgarh
‘Dandakaranya’ was the next destination where they reached during their exile. A vast territory covering the southern part of the Vindhya mountain range, it was at this place Shri Rama, Sita and, Lakshmana visited Maharishi Atri’s Ashram to seek his blessings. Maa Anusuya, a great Sati and wife of Maharishi Atri gifted ornaments to Devi Sita to make her look more beautiful. It is believed that the Sati Anusuya’s Tapasya brought the river Mandakini to the earth to overcome the drought in Chitrakuta created due to no rainfall in the last 10 years. Moving from place to place, the three of them completed a period of 10 years with complete peace along with a learning experience from many Maharishis.
Panchavati, Maharashtra
This place was suggested by Maharishi Agastya to spend the rest of the exile, situated at a distance of about 29 km down south of Dandakaranya. Tapovan, a popular place on the banks of the Godavari river is the actual Panchavati of the Ramanyana kaal. Panchavati means a place of Pancha Vata (five banyans) trees where Lakshmana built a small bamboo cottage for the three to reside. Shurpanaka, the evil sister of Ravana had her nose chopped off here following which this place got its name ‘Nasik’ from the Sanskrit word Nasika meaning ‘nose’. Her brothers, Khar and Dhushan, who came to her defence along with a bunch of other rakshasas were defeated and killed by Rama and Lakshmana. Ravana planned revenge and accordingly, he abducted Sita Devi from Panchavati to his kingdom in Lanka.
