The Meaning of रामायण (Rāmāyaṇa)

The word 'Rāmāyaṇa' can be derived in two ways:

It is convenient to derive the name 'Rāmāyaṇa' from the word Rāmā (Sita), and it is in fact approved by sage Vālmiki and Shri Rāma also.

Rāmā (Raamaa) is the name of Sita, the consort of Bhagavan Shri Rāma. Sri Rāma is the foremost among those who delights others, however Sita is the one who delights even Rāma, therefore she is called ‘Rāmā (Raamaa)’.

Rāmāyaṇa is primarily the Sublime-legend — the life-story (glorification of exalted divine nature, disposition, exploits and conducts) of the Naayikaa (heroine), Sita. It is Nāyikā-Pradhān-Kāvya. Glorification of Sita Ji is the prime objective of Rāmāyaṇa, it takes the precedence over the exploits of Shri Rama. Therefore, Sage Valmiki himself said ‘'Rāmāyaṇa’ is ‘Sita-Charitam’ - the life-story, the description of exalted character, sweetest disposition, exploits and greatness of Sita Ji, and this is the reason it is hailed as the best Ramayana among 1 billion Vedic-Ramayanas. After Sita-Charitam, it is the story of her dearest consort Shri Rama.

Shri Valmiki Ramayana is the single Aarsha-scripture where the sublime-legend of “Shri Ji” is the prime-focus and primary-aspect of the story, otherwise character of Shri Ji is hidden and almost secondary to Bhagavan everywhere else! Valmiki Ramayana is dedicated for her. Sage Valmiki revealed her exalted-character and exceedingly sweet disposition, softness, grace, elegance, beauty, Purushkarita (mediatrix) for all Jivas, and hailed her Naarinaam-uttama (as the best among all-ladies) so that everyone could surrender to her and learn from her life-story.

It is the natural tendency of the heart to feel most for the Naayikaa, She brings aadrata (आद्रता) in Bhava (sentiments), and the Naayikaa is really so sweet that she controls and preaches even Bhagavan Rama in favor of Jivas. Sage Valmiki although enquired divine sage Narada about such a Nara (Purusha) who is completely Absolute like in every aspect, Yet when He got the divine vision of the illustrious conducts, sweetest disposition and greatness of Naayikaa, Sita Ji, he felt most for her and made her sublime-legend asthe primary aspect of ‘Rāmāyaṇa’.

इतिहासश्रेष्ठेन रामायणेन कारागृह वास कर्त्र्या वैभव उच्यते ॥५॥

“Among all Itihasa-s (Ramayana and Mahabharata), Sri Ramayana has the superior authority, (as) through Sri Ramayana alone the glory of the one (Janak-nandini Kishori Sita Ji) who made herself in captive (of Ravana to preach and reveal him the glory of Sri Ram) is told.”

Sita Ji has taken the leading role as Purushkara, so that Jivas could achieve Bhagavan Shri Rama. She suffers the torments by demons and demonesses, Yet she is ever prepared and ready to advocate before Rama for Jivas, Oh my sweet prince, be more soft! She bore extreme torments, but not even a slight of bitterness gets any place in her heart. No other scripture elucidates so beautifully the sweet disposition of Shri Ji. When a devotee takes it as the story of Sita, It is named as “Shri Ramayana”!

The name 'Raamaa' comes many times for Sita Ji in Valmiki Ramayana e.g.

बालेव रमते सीताऽबालचन्द्रनिभानना ।
रामा रामे ह्यधीनात्मा विजनेऽपि वने सती ॥
(वाल्मीकि रामायण २.६०.१०)

bālēva ramatē sītā'bālacandranibhānanā ।
rāmā rāmē hyadhīnātmā vijanē'pi vanē satī ॥
(vālmīki rāmāyaṇa 2.60.10)

“The beautiful Sītā, whose face glows like a full moon,
That Raamaa's (Sita's) heart is completely absorbed in Rāma,
even though staying in a lonely forest, She is enjoying it like a little girl.”

Bhagavan himself relished most the story of Ramayana:

In spite of being the crown jewel among all dheerodaatt Nayaka-s (great heroes) ever born or appeared on this earth, Shri Rama himself relished and enjoyed the story of Ramayana with full attention along with his people, when it was sung by Lava-Kusha in his court. So, How could a hero like Rama enjoy his own glorification?

Had Shri Rama been the prime-focus of the story of Ramayana, being the best among all heroes ever appeared on the earth could he relish his story and even tell others to listen it carefully? Certainly not! otherwise He would have got the blemish of enjoying the self-glorification!

The sole reason behind Shri Rama enjoying the Ramayana is it being primarily the story of his dearest consort Sita, it is Naayika (heroine) oriented Kavya! The heroine of Ramayana-Itihasa is none but his own consort Sita, so Shri Rama relished the Ramayana sung by Kusha-Lava with full attention! The story of Ramayana brought a great comfort to Shri Rama’s distressed heart in separation of Sita Ji.

इमौ मुनी पार्थिवलक्षणान्वितौ कुशीलवौ चैव महातपस्विनौ ।
ममापि तद् भूतिकरं प्रवक्ष्यते महानुभावं चरितं निबोधत ॥
[Valmiki Ramayana 1.4.31]

Shri Rāma said to his courtiers :
"Please enjoy this great efficacious legend (of Sita),
which is full of esoteric meaning,
that is also good for my own welfare,
from these great Tapasvis, Kuṡa and Lava
who shine with ascetic as well as princely qualities.”

ततस्तु तौ रामवचः प्रचोदिता वगायतां मार्गविधानसम्पदा ।
स चापि रामः परिषद्गतः शनै र्बुभूषया सक्तमना बभूव ह ॥
[Valmiki Ramayana 1.4.32]

“At the request of Rāma, Kusha and Lava sang the epic-poem, in the Mārga style. Rāma also listened to it intently to find peace of mind.” So Shri Rama relished the legend of Sita with full attention for his own welfare and peace of mind as his heart was perturbed in separation of his dearest consort. And here, Shri Rama approves Shri Ramayana is primarily the great efficacious legend of Sita Ji.

Valmiki Ji gave the name “Sita-Charitam” to “Ramayana” as it is based upon “sītāyāḥ caritam mahat (the exploits of Sita is greatest)”! And this way, Valmiki and Shri Rama both approved Raamaayaah (Sita's) Ayanam (life-story) is the primary aspect of Ramayana!

काव्यम् रामायणम् कृत्स्नम् सीतायाः चरितम् महत्।
पौलस्त्य वधम् इति एवम् चकार चरित व्रतः ॥
(वाल्मीकि रामायण१-४-७)

kāvyam rāmāyaṇam kṛtsnam sītāyāḥ caritam mahat।
paulastya vadham iti ēvam cakāra carita vrataḥ ॥
(vālmīki rāmāyaṇa1-4-7)

“That sage Valmiki with observed sacred vows has rendered the entire epic in the name of 'Ramayana', 'Sublime Legend of Sita' and 'elimination of Ravana'. (Sītāyāḥ caritam) Sita's Charit (legend, glory, conduct) is the primary aspect and (Paulastya vadha) Ravana's elimination by Rama is secondary in the epic of Ramayana.”

It has been tradition to give many names to Kavya-s just like Ramayana is given its first name "Sita-Charitam", similarly Mahabharat and Bhagavatam can be called as "Krishna-charita" where focus is on Bhagavan's divine leela, and Shri Ji's lifestory is almost completely hidden. Therefore to understand the exalted character, sweetest disposition, divine nature of Shri Ji, one has to take refuge in Shri Ramayana.

Obviously, the hero of Ramayana is Bhagavan Shri Rama, Sita is the driving force behind the efforts of Shri Rama, both are complimentary to each other, that greatest hero does everything for his heroine, what doesn't he do for her?

The first sage of cosmos BrahmA appears before all and eulogizes Shri Rama:-

आदिकाव्यमिदं राम त्वयि सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्।
नह्यन्योऽर्हति कव्यानां यशोभाग् राघवादृते।
[Valmiki Ramayana 7.98.18]

Lord BrahmA prayed to Shri Ram: Oh, Raghava! The Aadi-Kavya (the first epic poem Ramayana) is entirely based on Your illustrious exploits. You are the one who is glorified everywhere in the first and foremost among poems, Ramayana! And none other than You can be worthy of all the fame, eulogies, praises and poems!

This way we can say Shri Ramayana is the story of Shri Sita (Rāmā) and Shri Rāma, though primary-aspect is the legend of Sita Ji. And therefore the definition would be "Rāmāyah Rāmayoh ayanam iti Rāmāyaṇam".

SitaRama-Charan-Chancharik, Ravi Shankar

।।SitaRam।।

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