The Tirthankaras
Jain Ramayana, Part 1: Ram, Lakshman and Sita
जैन रामायण, भाग 1: राम, लक्ष्मण और सीता · જૈન રામાયણ, ભાગ 1: રામ, લક્ષ્મણ અને સીતા
A prince who walks into the forest so that his brother can wear the crown
- 5 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- Best shared with a grown-up
In the Jain telling of the Ramayana, Ram leaves Ayodhya of his own choice so that his father's promise can be kept, and in the forest a sword, a bird and a false cry lead to the day Sita is carried away.
What it teaches Keeping one's word Selflessness Compassion
The opening of the children's telling
Long ago in the city of Ayodhya there lived a kind prince named Ram. He had a loving wife named Sita, and a brother named Lakshman who loved him very much.
One day Ram's father, King Dashrath, wanted to become a monk. Queen Kaikeyi asked him to make her son Bharat the king instead of Ram. Ram smiled. That is fine, he said. Bharat is my brother. But Bharat did not want to take Ram's place. So Ram said, I will go and live in the forest. Then Bharat will be king. Sita and Lakshman went with him, because they loved him.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
A promise kept with a glad heart is a gift to everyone around us.
To talk about together
Ram chose to leave so that Bharat could accept the throne. Have you ever given something up so that someone else could be happy?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.