Jain Ramayana - A Brief Summary of The Future and The Past

There are 63 illustrious personalities or Shalakha Purush in every half of the time cycle - 24 Tirthankars, 12 Chakravarti Kings, 9 Vasudevs, 9 Baldevs, and 9 Prativasudevs.

Jain Ramayana is the story of 8th Vasudev Narayan (Lakshman), 8th Baldev Padam (Ram) and 8th Prativasudev Raavan. It is not just a story of how Narayan Lakshman killed Pratinarayan Raavan but also the life journeys of many great souls, including Hanuman, Sita, Bharat, Bali, Sugreev, etc. 

Jain Ramayan, happened in the era after 20th Tirthankar MuniSuvrat Swami had attained Moksha. So this is the story of 51st 52nd and 53rd Shalakha Purush as per Jainism - (20 Tirthankars 7 Vasudev-Baldev-Prativasudevs and 9 Chakravarti kings had already lived before them). Other very prominent personalities in the Jain Ramayana are Hanuman and Sita. 

Both Ram and Hanuman attained Moksha in the same lifetime and are Siddha Bhagwan for Jains.

However, Jeev of Narayan Lakshman and Prativasudev Raavan are still stuck in this time cycle, currently in the 4th Narak. Jeev of Sita is currently in Brahmalok as a dev called Sitendra. Eventually all Shalakha Purush souls attain Moksha and so will Raavan, Lakshman too. Both Raavan and Lakshman will become Jain Tirthankars in the time to come. Sita will eventually become Gandhar of Tirthankar Raavan and attain Moksha too.

Future of Lakshman and Raavan before they become Tirthankars

In the era to come, Raavan and Lakhman will be together for next 7 births, after their current bhav in 4th Narak, as 1) brothers named Jindas , Sudharshan in Poorva Videh 2) Dev in Saudharma heaven 3) Jain shravaks in the same Vijayvarti city of Poorva Videh Khetra 4) Harivarsha Khetra human 5) again born in Vijyvarti city of poorva videh as prince 6) As devs in 6th devlok Lantak.

During these 6 bhavs, Sita will remain in Brahma devlok. Sita's next birth would be back in our Bharat Khetra, planet Earth as a Chakravarti King named Sarvaratna Mati. In that bhav of Sita's jeev, both Raavan and Lakshman will be born as the sons of King Sarvaratna Mati (Sita's jeev) as Meghrath (Lakhman's jeev) and Indrayudh (Raavan's jeev). This will be their 7th bhaav together after getting out of 4th hell. 

Final (Future) Bhav of Lakshman: 

From here, Meghrath will be born in Pusharadweep's Poorva Videh Khetra and become a Chakravarti King. (this would be Lakshman's 9th bhav, 1st being 4th hell and then above seven). In this Bhaav, he will take Diksha, become a Tirthankar and attain Moksha. (Pls note: this videh kshetra is different from our Jambudweep's videh kshetra. Pushkaradweep is the third cluster of planets as we discussed in earlier Jan Cosmology Blog here)

Final (Future) Bhav of Raavan and Sita: 

Meanwhile, after Indrayudh, Raavan's jeev will take three more births and then become Tirthankar (not clear from which cluster of planets, but seems unlikely from our planet Earth). Sita's Jeev will go to the 2nd Anuttar Viman after being Chakravarti King in our Bharat Kshetra, again to take birth as the Gandhar of Tirthankar Raavan. Both will attain Moksha.

What happened to Hanuman, Sita and Lakshman?

As per the Jain Ramayana, Ram lived for a total of 15,000 years. Lakshman was 12,000 years old, and Raavan was 14,000 years old. Raavan met Ram-Lakshman towards the very end of his life tenure. Lakshman spent 100 years in Kumaravastha, 300 years in Mandalik Roop, 40 years in Digvijay, and as king, ruled for 11,560 years.

Lakshman had 16,000 wives and 250 sons. All 250 of them eventually took Jain diksha with Mahabal Muni. Ram had four wives: Sita, Prabhavati, Ratinibha, and Sridama. Ram's other wives spread a false narrative against Sita that she still remembered Raavan, which led to Sita's separation from Ram. Sita eventually took Diksha under Jayabhushan Muni, who was a kevalgyaani himself. She did 33 days of Sanlekhna and was born as dev in Brahmalok with the age of 22 Sagaropam.

Once, Hanuman was doing Chaitya Vandan at Meru Parvat, and looking at the sunset, he realized the world's temporary nature. Soon, he took dikhsha from Dharmaratna Acharya along with 750 kings and attained Moksha in Sahileshi Avastha.

Ram wondered how Hanuman could leave such luxuries and took Diksha. Saudharma Indra was amazed at 'karm leela' even Ram was doubting dharma, it was due to Ram's raag of affection for Lakshman.

Two devas once took Lakshman's 'Pariksha' and showed him crying ladies on the death of Shri Ram. Saddened to see this, Lakshman couldn't absorb the shock and died immediately. The Devas were shocked and felt miserable, as they were just trying to test Lakshman.

Ram was in deep, deep shock when told that Lakshman wasn't alive. He called many vaidyas and astrologers and did all sorts of things, like yantra and mantra, to get him back alive. In deep shock, Ram carried Lakshman's body with him everywhere on his shoulders and used to bathe him and apply Chandan paste over him. 

Seeing this, Jatayu Dev (who was born in Mahendra Devlok) came to help. He gave bodh and eventually convinced Ram to let go of Lakshman's body.

What happened to Ram?

Ram finally gave the kingdom to Anangdev (son of Luv), and along with Shatryghan, Vibhishan, and 16,000 other kings, they took Diksha under Muni Suvrat Rishi (he was in the lineage of Sh Muni Suvrat Swami Bhagwan, the 20th Tirthankar).

After 60 years of 'tapasya' and 'sadhana', Ram went alone and first attained Avadhi Gyaan. Immediately, he learned how Lakshman died due to two devs and that he is currently in the fourth hell. In one of the previous bhavs also Ram & Lakshman were brothers named Dhandutt (Ram) and Vasudutt (Lakshman). Ram realized it was actually the past karmas coming to play and forgave the devs.

Ram did extreme tapaysa of 1 month, 2 month, 3/4 month fasts and attained Keval Gyaan. After attaining Keval Gyaan, Ram gave Bodh to others for the last 25 years of his 15,000 years long human life before attaining Moskha.

What happened to Bali and other stories in Jain Ramayan?

Jain Ramayan is full of detailed life descriptions of many souls. The entire life history, their past lives, the origin of Rakshas Vansh and Vaanar Vansh, and so much more.

There is an interesting story of how King Bali defeated Raavan, lifted him with his left hand and engulfed him under his arms, took a round of four seas and returned. Raavan apologized. Thereafter Bali took diksha and became Jain Monk. One day he was meditating on the Mount Kailash, when Raavan was going over the same. Reminded of past, Raavan tried to lift him with entire Ashtapad Mountain. Raavan being extremely powerful himself, lifted entire mountain. In order to save other being living on Ashtapad, Bali while a Jain monk now, pressed the mountain with his toe and crushed Raavan. Raavan again apologized and performed Chaitya Vandan and did Astaprakari Pooja of Bhagwan Rishabh dev. He did the pooja with so much bhaav that Nagendra Dharnendra, showered blessings and gave Raavan the Amodh Vijaya Shakti and Roopvikari Vidhya.

Muni Bali attained Keval Gyaan at that time, and a grand celebration followed. Finally, Bali attained Moksha.

There are numerous stories in Jain Ramayan. How the Rakshas brother kings Mali - Sumali were defeated by Vidhyadhar King Indra. In the battle Indra killed Mali. Sumali fled to Pataal-lanka. In Patal-lanka Sumali with his wife Preetimati had a son named Ratnashrva. Ratnashrva was the father of Raavan with his wife Kaiksi. Eventually Ravan went on Digvijay and defeated the same King Indra. 

Other prominent Jain Ramayana figures, like Bharat (Ram's younger brother), also took Diksha and attained Moksha. Even queen Kaikei, wife of King Dashrath, attained Moksha in the same bhav. The epic contains many interesting stories and anecdotes about Narad Muni, Nal, Neer, Angad, and many other kevalgyan Muni.

Origins of Rakshas Vansh & Anecdotes

There are many detailed anecdotes about the past lives of all prominent figures in this epic. There are details about the lineage of both Ram and Raavan as well. The Rakshash lineage can be traced to King Dhanvahan of Lanka. He ruled during the time of our Second Tirthankar Ajithnath Bhagwan. He handed over the reins to his son Maharakshah, took Diksha, and attained Moksha

There is a beautiful anecdote about how, after Lakshman's death, Luv & Kush came to Ram, took Diksha under Amrit Ghosh Rishi, and both attained moksha in the same bhava.

There is also a brief story about how Sita, after becoming dev in Brahmalok, came down to Ram, did a mayavi Rachna of herself, and tried to sway Muni Ram. But un-waivered he stood. Later, Dev Sitendra apologized. Ram went on to attain Keval Gyaan after a very strong tap and gave bodh to many many souls before becoming Siddha Bhagawan.

PS: It's tough to summarize an epic in a few words; my best try above. Micchami Dukkadam, if anything, I wrote wrongly or misinterpreted.