Citrakūṭa, the Mādhurya-abode of Śrī SītāRām

Śrī Chitrakooṭ Dhāma is unparalleled and of its own kind in entire cosmos, for the reason it is the Mādhurya abode of Bhagavān Śrī SītāRāma, and It is like another Pramod-Vana (blissful-pleasure forest of Ayodhyā), and therefore surpasses all other divine-forests in its beauty and glory.

बिबुध बिपिन जहँ लगि जग माहीं । देखि रामबनु सकल सिहाहीं ॥
(श्रीरामचरितमानस २.१३८.२)

bibudha bipina jaham̐ lagi jaga māhīṃ । dēkhi rāmabanu sakala sihāhīṃ ॥
(ŚrīRāmacaritamānasa 2.138.2)

“All the forests of gods existing in the universe praise the beauty of Śrī Rāma's forest Chitrakooṭ.”

For illuminating the Vipralambh Rasa (the mellow of love and longing in separation) in the citizens and other residents of Ayodhyā (like its trees, plants, animals etc) and especially Sakhis and Gopīs of Pramodavan, Bhagavān Śrī SītāRāma leaves Ayodhyā and proceeded towards the forest. The denizens of Ayodhyā couldn't see their beloved Śrī SītāRāma going away from them to the forest, whole nature mourn at the departure of Śrī SītāRāma, therefore they all followed behind him for long and reached to the banks of Tamasā river, they were begging with Śrī Rāma “please return to Ayodhyā, please don't proceed! We all animate and inanimate beings [of Ayodhyā] are solely devoted to You, We can't live without You.” Unmindful of their homes and bodies in the love, devotion and affection over Śrī SītāRāma, they were resolved not to return without them in Ayodhyā, and they all passed the night at the roots of trees on the bank of river Tamasā. However in the night before the sun-rise, Śrī SītāRāma silently leaves the place in such a way as to elude the citizens and lead them to think that the chariot had turned back towards Ayodhyā instead of proceeding towards the forest!

Bhagavān Śrī SītāRām and Lakshmaṇ reached the hermitage of sage Bharadvāja located at the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna, and sage said after a very long time I saw You, Oh Śrī Rām, (It indicates about the earlier pastimes of Śrī Rāma) and requested them to stay near him in that pleasant place happily.

Bhagavān Śrī SītāRāma wanted a solitary place (for their divine Raas), and therefore Śrī Rāma asked sage Bharadvāja “O venerable sage, I feel We can be easily seen here by the People of the city and nearby villages, therefore please suggest me a solitary place.”

एकान्ते पश्य भगवन्नाश्रमस्थानमुत्तमम् ।
रमेत यत्र वैदेही सुखार्हा जनकात्मजा ॥
(श्रीवाल्मीकि रामायण २.५४.२६)

ēkāntē paśya bhagavann-āśrama-sthānam-uttamam ।
ramēta yatra vaidēhī sukhārhā janakātmajā ॥
(Śrī Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa 2.54.26)

“O revered one, Janaka's daughter (Sītā) deserves happiness. Suggest the excellent and solitary place for our hermitage, where she can enjoy and delight in it.”

Which place is best of all (sthānam-uttamam)? Bhagavān says  — where Śrī Sītā can enjoy and delight with him (Śrī Rām) in solitary!

In Chitrakooṭ and Pramod-Vana, there happens the most confidential Raas-leelā of Bhagavān, in which only their Sakhis can enter, none else!

सुदर्शमिह मां प्रेक्ष्य .... आगमिष्यति वैदेहीं मां चापि प्रेक्षको जनः।  — Bhagavān wanted to indirectly say “People are eager to see me and my consort Sītā, for the reason our vision (sight, Sudarsham)) causes bliss to them.”

  However, seeing our divine pastimes and disporting, everyone will know who we are actually! Therefore, I want some solitary place where we can enjoy the Raas-dance, Please suggest me such an excellent suitable place.

  Then, sage suggested him the renowned Chitrakooṭ :—

दशक्रोश इतस्तात गिरिर्यत्रनिवत्स्यसि।
महर्षिसेवितः पुण्यः सर्वतः सुखदर्शनः ॥
(श्रीवाल्मीकि रामायण २.५४.२८)

daśa-krōśa itas-tāta girir-yatra-nivatsyasi ।
maharṣi-sēvitaḥ puṇyaḥ sarvataḥ sukhadarśanaḥ ॥
(Śrī Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa 2.54.28)

Sage Bharadvāja said  —
“O dear Rāma, Sixty miles away from here is a (puṇyaḥ) sacred mountain on which You may reside. It is (maharṣi-sēvitaḥ) served and inhabited by great sages [of past and present], and It is (Sukh-darshanah) full of pleasure and charming to look at (sarvataḥ) from all its sides and everywhere.”

Sarvataḥ Sukhadarśanaḥ — It is everywhere full with bliss, happiness and charm, as it is the Mādhurya abode of Bhagavān Śrī SītāRāma.

गोलाङ्गूलानुचरितो वानरर्क्षनिषेवितः।
चित्रकूट इति ख्यातो गन्धमादनसन्निभः॥
(श्रीवाल्मीकि रामायण २.५४.२९)  

gōlāṅgūlānucaritō vānara-rkṣa-niṣēvitaḥ।
citrakūṭa iti khyātō gandhamādana-sannibhaḥ॥
(Śrī Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa 2.54.29)  

“It is wandered and inhabited by Gōlāṅgūlas, Vānaras and bears, etc. It is renowned by the name Chitrakooṭ, resembling the sacred Gandhamādana mountain.”

Bhagavān Śrī SītāRāma stayed there in the hermitage of Maharshi Bharadvāja for a night and in the morning when they were leaving for Citrakūṭa, Maharshi said to Śrī Rāma: —  

वासमौपयिकं मन्ये तव राम महाबल ।
नानानगगणोपेतः किन्नरोरगसेवितः।
मयूरनादाभिरुतो गजराजनिषेवितः ॥
गम्यतां भवता शैलश्चित्रकूटः स विश्रुतः।
पुण्यश्च रमणीयश्च बहुमूलफलायुतः ॥
(श्रीवाल्मीकि रामायण २.५४.३९-४०)    

vāsamaupayikaṃ manyē tava rāma mahābala  ।
nānānagagaṇōpētaḥ kinnarōragasēvitaḥ।
mayūra-nādābhirutō gajarāja-niṣēvitaḥ॥
gamyatāṃ bhavatā śailaś-citrakūṭaḥ sa viśrutaḥ।
puṇyaśca ramaṇīyaśca bahumūlaphalāyutaḥ॥
(Śrī Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa 2.54.39-40)  

“I consider the abode of Chitrakooṭ as the right place for you to dwell, Oh Śrī Rāma, possessed of great strength! You set off for that renowned, sacred and lovely mountain Chitrakuta which is adorned with clusters of trees of every description, is inhabited by Kinnaras and Uragas, is rendered charming by the cries of peacocks and abounding with lordly elephants and bountiful with tubers and fruits.”  

There are forests with various kinds of trees, like forests predominant with heavenly Parijāta trees, hence known as Parijāta-vana.

तत्र कुञ्जरयूथानि मृगयूथानि चाभितः ।
विचरन्ति वनान्तेस्मिन् तानि द्रक्ष्यसि राघव ॥
(श्रीवाल्मीकि रामायण २.५४.४१)  

tatra kuñjarayūthāni mṛgayūthāni cābhitaḥ ।
vicaranti vanāntēsmin tāni drakṣyasi rāghava ॥
(Śrī Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa 2.54.41)  

“There, the herds of elephants and troops of deer wander all around in the woodlands, you will see them Oh Rāma!”  

सरित्प्रस्रवणप्रस्थान् दरीकन्दरनिर्झरान्।
चरतः सीतया सार्धं नन्दिष्यति मनस्तव ॥
(श्रीवाल्मीकि रामायण २.५४.४२)  

saritprasravaṇaprasthān darīkandaranirjharān।
carataḥ sītayā sārdhaṃ nandiṣyati manastava ॥
(Śrī Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa 2.54.42)  

  “Your heart will be filled with joy while you wander with Sita beholding the rivers, waterfalls, peaks of mountains, caves and rivulets (mountain-torrents).”

    प्रहृष्टको यष्टिककोकिलस्वनै र्विनादितं तं वसुधाधरं शिवम् ।
मृगैश्च मत्तैर्बहुभिश्च कुञ्जरैः सुरम्यमासाद्य समावसाश्रमम् ॥
(श्रीवाल्मीकि रामायण २.५४.४३)

prahṛṣṭakō yaṣṭikakōkilasvanai rvināditaṃ taṃ vasudhādharaṃ śivam ।
mṛgaiśca mattairbahubhiśca kuñjaraiḥ suramyamāsādya samāvasāśramam ॥
(Śrī Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa 2.54.43)

    “That auspicious and absolutely beautiful Chitrakooṭ mountain resounds  with the melodious notes of delighted lapwings and cuckoos, as well as with many kinds of the amorous deer and many tuskers (elephants). You may reach and live in your own Āṡrama.”

This way the beauty and glory of Chitrakooṭ is incomparable and infinite.

Bhagavān Śrī SītāRāma taken abode in that auspicious and absolutely beautiful Chitrakooṭ and started living there happily. Śrī Rāma with Sītā used to roam and frolic together in those sacred and enchantingly beautiful forests, rivers, waterfalls, caves of Chitrakooṭ.

On the other side, the Sakhis and Gopīs (cowherd-ladies) of Pramodavan had not returned back to Ayodhyā, instead they were searching their beloved SītāRāma. Unable to hold their lives without SītāRāma, in their longing to see them again, they somehow reached to the Chitrakooṭ while searching the divine couple SītāRāma and found them. They also stayed there with SītāRāma in Chitrakooṭ, and then Śrī Rāma, Sītā and Sakhis enjoyed the divine Rasa dance there.

All glories to Śrī SītāRāma and Chitrakoot-Dhāma!

Next :  Citrakūṭa, the most auspicious mountain