Rama’s departure to the forest immerses the entire Ayodhya, the Veda Brahmanas, Dasaratha, Vasishta and the royal queens in untold sorrow. Describing the heartbreaking sight, Valmiki shows that Rama, unable to see Dasaratha’s viraha tapa that seems to intensify every moment He tarries, urges Sumantra to drive the chariot without any further delay. But the saint poet Thyagaraja, no doubt moved by the poignancy of the situation, sees it as a point where the story gets a twist and expands in special ways, pointed out Erode Sri Balaji in a discourse. In a song, he refers to the chariot as ‘Visva Manoratha,’ one driven by the Universal and Cosmic Will, and not merely by Sumantra or by personal preference, indicating the profound significance of Rama Avatar. It is a drama scripted and enacted by the Lord, and every character merely fulfills the role allotted to each one of them. Who is shown to be happier than Kaikeyi when the news of Rama’s coronation is conveyed to her by Manthara? So overjoyed is she that she spontaneously presents her invaluable necklace to Manthara. It is not in Kaikeyi to cause harm to Rama; but she plays the pivotal role to enable the Lord fulfill His Sankalpa of bringing about the fall of Ravana. The course of Rama’s vana vasa also is a cause for the Lord to reward and bless His devotees by mingling with them as an ordinary human being. Guha, the sages of Dandakaranya, Sabhari, Jatayu, and others are able to experience His presence and be blessed. Rama’s Sankalpa works out Sugriva’s destiny and makes him the ruler of the vanara kingdom. Rama’s assurance of protection to all those who seek His feet when Vibhishana seeks Him is the very essence of Divine Will, offering hope, relief and redemption for humanity regardless of one’s merits or sins.
