Ram Rajya -- Kingdom of Lord Ram by Maharishi Valmiki

 Ram Rajya - Kingdom of Lord Ram

Maharishi Valmiki

( Ram Rajya refers to an ideal state characterized by righteousness, justice, and welfare for all citizens, based on the reign of the Hindu deity Rama in the epic Ramayana.  Ram Rajya is often referred to a utopian rule based on "the sovereignty of the people based on pure moral authority". This concept includes a ruler who is ethical, selfless, and prioritizes the well-being of the people, who in turn live in harmony and happiness. 

Key characteristics of Ram Rajya

Ethical leadership: The ruler is not arbitrary and is bound by Dharma (righteousness). The king is selfless, listens to citizens, and acts based on moral authority.

Welfare of the people: The state ensures the provision of basic necessities like food, shelter, education, and health for all citizens.

Harmony and peace: A society free from crime, disease, and sadness, where people live happily and respect each other.

Justice: It is characterized by justice, liberty, and fraternity, where moral principles are upheld by both the rulers and the ruled.

Non-violence: It is founded on the principle of non-violence, extended from one's own country to all of humanity. )

Rama Rajya is described in Yuddha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana after Rajya-Abhishekam of Lord Rama. Here is how Rama Rajya is described:

न पर्यदेवन्विधवा न च व्यालकृतं भयम् |
न व्याधिजं भयन् वापि रामे राज्यं प्रशासति || ६-१२८-९९

While Rama was ruling the kingdom, there were no widows to lament, nor there was no danger from wild animals, nor any fear born of diseases.

निर्दस्युरभवल्लोको नानर्थः कन् चिदस्पृशत् |
न च स्म वृद्धा बालानां प्रेतकार्याणि कुर्वते || ६-१२८-१००

The world was bereft of thieves and robberies. No one felt worthless nor did old people perform obsequies concerning youngsters.

सर्वं मुदितमेवासीत्सर्वो धर्मपरोअभवत् |
राममेवानुपश्यन्तो नाभ्यहिन्सन्परस्परम् || ६-१२८-१०१

Every creature felt pleased. Every one was intent on virtue. Turning their eyes towards Rama alone, creatures did not kill one another.

आसन्वर्षसहस्राणि तथा पुत्रसहस्रिणः |
निरामया विशोकाश्च रामे राज्यं प्रशासति || ६-१२८-१०२

While Rama was ruling the kingdom, people survived for thousands of years, with thousands of their progeny, all free of illness and grief.

रामो रामो राम इति प्रजानामभवन् कथाः |
रामभूतं जगाभूद्रामे राज्यं प्रशासति || ६-१२८-१०३

While Rama ruled the kingdom, the talks of the people centered round Rama, Rama and Rama. The world became Rama's world.

नित्यपुष्पा नित्यफलास्तरवः स्कन्धविस्तृताः |
कालवर्षी च पर्जन्यः सुखस्पर्शश्च मारुतः || ६-१२८-१०४

The trees there were bearing flowers and fruits regularly, without any injury by pests and insects. The clouds were raining in time and the wind was delightful to the touch.

ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः शूद्रा लोभविवर्जिताः |
स्वकर्मसु प्रवर्तन्ते तुष्ठाः स्वैरेव कर्मभिः || ६-१२८-१०५
आसन् प्रजा धर्मपरा रामे शासति नानृताः |

Brahmins (the priest-class), Kshatriyas (the warrior-class), Vaishyas (the class of merchants and agriculturists), Shudras (the servant-class) were performing their own duties, satisfied with their own work and bereft of any greed. While Rama was ruling, the people were intent on virtue and lived without telling lies.

सर्वे लक्षणसम्पन्नाः सर्वे धर्मपरायणाः || ६-१२८-१०६
दशवर्षसहस्राणि रामो राज्यमकारयत् |

All the people were endowed with excellent characteristics. All were engaged in virtue. Rama was engaged in the kingship thus for ten thousand years. 

Ram Rajya – The heavenly rule of Ram

People have no clue about the glorious acts of Lord Ram but want to live in Ram Rajya.

People ignorantly praise and clamour for Ram Rajya without understanding the sacrifice and dedication that went into building it.

Ram Rajya is not just the rule of Ram, it is the rule of Dharma of which Ram was the supreme embodiment.

Lord Ram followed Dharma, at all costs, even at the cost of sacrificing his wife, his unborn children and his ownself.

During Ram Rajya, not only Ram, but people themselves followed Ram and tread faithfully on the path of Dharma.

Here are some of the extracts of Ram Rajya from the Rama Charitra Manas of Tulasidas:

Rama’s ascension to the throne brought joy to all the three spheres and ended all their sorrows. No one bore enmity to another; Rama’s glory had obliterated all disharmony.(4)

Devoted to duty each according to his own caste and stage of life, the people trod the path of the Vedas and enjoyed happiness. They knew no fear, nor sorrow nor disease. (20)

No where in the kingdom was there anyone who suffered from affliction of any kind – whether of the body, or proceeding from divine or supernatural agencies or that caused by another living being. All men loved one another . Each conducted oneself in accordance with Dharma and were devoted to the precepts of the Vedas.(1)

Dharma with its four pillars (viz., truth, purity, compassion and charity) reigned everywhere throughout the world; no one even dreamt of sin. Men and women alike were devoted to Ramas worship and all were qualified for final beatitude. (2)

There was no premature death nor suffering of any kind; everyone was comely and sound of body. No one was destitute, afflicted or miserable; no one was stupid or devoid of auspicious marks.(3)

All the men and women were unaffectedly good, pious and virtuous; all were clever and accomplished. Everyone recognized the merits of others and was learned and wise; All were grateful for kindness and the services and benefits received from others and were guilelessly prudent.(4)

Delight in these divine exploits is the reward of knowing his infinite greatness – so declare the greatest of sages and ascetics. The happiness and prosperity of Rama’s reign were more than even Shesha (the serpent-god) and Sarasvathi (the goddess of learning) could describe.(3)

All were generous and charitable; men and women alike were devoted to the feet of the Brahmanas. Every husband was pledged to a vow of monogamy and the wives too were devoted to their husband in thought, word and deed.(4)

Throughout the realm of Rama, a rod (stick) was never seen save in the hands of the ascetics; the word “difference” too had ceased to exist except among the dancers in a dancing party. Even the word “conquer” was heard only with reference to the mind (for the only victory known was self-conquest).(22)

Trees in the forest blossomed and bore fruit throughout the year; the elephant and the lion lived together as friends. Birds and beasts of every description had forgotten their natural animosities and lived in the greatest harmony with one another.(1)

Birds sang and beasts fearlessly moved about in the woods in distinct herds, making merry all the time. The breezes breathed cool, soft and fragrant; bees hummed even as they moved about laden with honey.(2)

Listen, O king of the birds, during Rama’s reign there was not a creature in this world, animate or inanimate, that was liable to any of the sufferings attributable to time, past conduct, personal temperament and character. (21)

Creepers and trees dropped honey to those who asked for it; cows yielded milk to one’s heart’s content. The earth was ever rich with crops; even in the Treta Yuga the conditions of the Sat Yuga prevailed.(3)

Conscious of the fact that the Ruler of the earth was no other than the Universal Spirit, the mountains brought to light their mines containing jewels of every description. Every river carried in it excellent water, cool, limpid and pleasant to the taste.(4)

The oceans kept within their bounds and scattered jewels on their shores for men to gather. Ponds were all thick with lotuses and every quarter(the whole nation) was clear and bright.(5)

The moon flooded the earth with her rays, while the sun shone just as much as was necessary. Similarly clouds poured forth showers for the mere asking so long as Rama was king.(23)

A mine of beauty, virtuous and modest, Sita was ever devoted to Her lord. She knew the greatness of the All-merciful Lord and adored His lotus-feet with a devoted heart.(2)

Although there were many man-servants and maid-servants in Her palace, all expert in the art of service, She did all household work with Her own hands and carried out the behests of Ramachandra.(3)

Sita invariably did what would afford delight to the All-merciful, conversant as She was with the art of service. Devoid of pride and conceit, She waited upon Kausalya and all the other mothers-in-law in the palace. (4)

Uma, (continues Lord Siva,) Sita was no other than Goddess Rama, the Mother of the universe, who is adored even by Brahmå and other gods and is ever flawless.(5)

In every house the people recited the Puranas and narrated Rama’s holy exploits of a diverse character. Men and women alike joined in hymning Rama’s praises and days and nights passed on unnoticed.(4)

Not a thousand Sheshas(serpant Gods) could tell all the happiness and prosperity of the people of Ayodhya, where Rama reigned as King.(23)

All great sages like Nårada, Sanaka and others came to Ayodhya everyday to have a sight of the Lord of Kosala, and forgot all their asceticism to the world the moment they saw the city,

with its attics built of gold and jewels and having splendid pavements laid in diverse colours. A most beautiful boundary wall with its battlements painted in different colours enclosed the city on all sides,

as though the nine planets had mustered a large army and besieged Amaravati (Indra’s capital). The ground (the streets and squares etc.,) was so beautifully paved with crystals of various colours that the mind of the greatest Sages would be enraptured at the sight.

The glistening palaces were so high as to reach the skies; their shining pinnacles put to shame as it were, the effulgence of the sun and the moon. Latticed windows made of diverse precious stones shone here and there; while every house was lit up with jewels that served as lamps.( (1-4)

The mansions were illumined by jewels that served as so many lamps and had shining thresholds made of coral, pillars of jewels and walls of gold inlaid with emeralds, which were as lovely as though they had been built by the Creator (Brahma) himself.  Beautiful, charming and commodious as the palaces were, they had their courtyards inlayed with crystal, and every gate thereof was provided with doors of gold embossed with diamonds.

Everyone had a flower garden planted in a characteristic design and trimmed with the greatest care, in which beautiful and lovely creepers of every variety blossomed all the year round as in the spring season.

Bees hummed in a pleasant strain and a delightful breeze breathed cool, soft and fragrant. Birds of all kinds, reared by the children, sang in melodious notes and looked graceful in their flight.

Peacocks, swans, cranes and pigeons presented a most lovely sight on the houses, warbling and dancing in a variety of ways at the sight of their own shadow reflected everywhere (on the glossy surface of the roofs and balconies).

The children taught parrots and Mainas to repeat the words, Rama, Raghupati (the Lord of the Raghus), the Protector of His devotees.

The gates of the royal palace were magnificent in everyway; the streets, cross-roads and bazars were all splendid.(1-4)

The bazars were splendid beyond description; things could be had without any price there. How can anyone describe the wealth of the city where the Abode of Lakshmi Himself reigned as King?

The cloth- merchants, bankers and other dealers sat at their shops like so many Kuberas (gods of riches).

All men and women, children and aged folk alike were happy, all of good conduct and comely in appearance.

The best of all and beautiful in everyway was the royal ghat, where men of all the four castes could bathe. All along the bank stood temples sacred to the gods and surrounded by lovely groves.(2)

The splendour of the city defied all description; its outskirts too were most picturesque. The very sight of the city with its groves and gardens, wells and ponds, drove away all one’s sins.(4)

Its peerless ponds and tanks and charming and spacious wells looked so beautiful with their elegant flights of steps and limpid water that even gods and sages were fascinated by their sight. The lakes were adorned with many-coloured lotuses and resounded with the cooing of the numerous birds and the humming of the bees; the notes of the cuckoos and other birds invited the wayfarers to rest in the delightful gardens.