Rama Arrives on Ramagiri

When the Kevali's words revealed that Rama was a charama-sharira, destined for moksha (liberation) in this very life, all the kings bowed with cries of victory, and Shuraprabha, the pure-hearted king of Vamshasthalapura, served Rama, Lakshmana and Sita with devotion and begged them to come into his city of shining palaces. Rama declined and instead sat, like a swan, on a great rock in a lotus grove on the peak of Vamshagiri, as lovely as a peak of the Himalaya, amid kunda, bakula, malati, ashoka and naga trees, lakes of blooming lotuses and ground studded with gems of five colours.

By the king's order, devoted servants raised lofty pavilions of painted cloth for Rama, with fluttering banners, auspicious pots and royal insignia such as the parasol, chowries and throne, and wherever Rama set foot the local kings brought beds, seats, vessels of gems and gold, cardamom, cloves, dried fruits and sweets, priceless garments and ornaments, fragrant food, curd, milk, ghee and many grains. In the pavilions there was singing, dancing like that of celestial nymphs, music, tales of merit and constant charity, so that no supplicant ever went away empty-handed.

On Vamshagiri Rama had thousands of wondrous Jina temples (chaityalayas) built, with strong pillars, fitting proportions, latticed windows and arched gateways, encircled by walls and moats and adorned with banners, where great festivals continually resounded with mridanga, vina, flute, cymbals, conch and bheri drums. In them were enthroned five-coloured images of the Jinas, perfect in every auspicious mark and worshipped by all beings.

One day Rama told Lakshmana that they had lived long and happily here, the temples had spread their pure fame and the king had served them well, but if they stayed their purpose would not be achieved; these pleasures were like a disease that would not leave him until restraint dawned, beings reap in future births what they sow, and like a river's current, the days of life and youth never return. He proposed going to the Dandaka forest, said to lie by the river Karnarava, where bhumigocharis (earth-bound humans without magical sciences) do not go and Bharata's command does not reach, to build a dwelling there by the shore of the ocean, and Lakshmana replied that whatever he commanded would be done.

The two heroes set out from Vamshagiri with Sita; King Shuraprabha accompanied them a long way and was sent back only with great difficulty, returning to his city in deep sorrow, for separation from Rama grieved everyone. Gautama tells Shrenika that because Rama adorned that great mountain, rich in many minerals, with rows of splendid Jina temples, which lead worthy souls to right faith, Vamshagiri came to be called Ramagiri and became famous throughout the earth.