Ayodhyakand

Ayodhyakanda, also called Ayodhya Kanda, is the second book (kanda) of the Ramayana, an ancient Indian epic traditionally attributed to the sage Valmiki. It centers on events in Ayodhya and surrounding matters that set the epic’s course, particularly the decision that leads Rama into exile.

The plot begins with King Dasharatha’s plan to crown Rama as successor. Kaikeyi, influenced by her maid Manthara, invokes two promised boons and demands Rama’s exile and the installation of her son Bharata on the throne. Rama, revered for his adherence to dharma, agrees to go into exile for fourteen years to fulfill his father’s vow and preserve family honour. He is joined by his wife Sita and his loyal brother Lakshmana as they depart for the forest. The narrative covers the preparations for exile, the farewell from Ayodhya, and the early phase of their life in the forest.

Bharata later journeys to the forest to persuade Rama to return, but Rama refuses to abandon his vow. Bharata brings Rama’s sandals back to Ayodhya, placing them on the throne as a symbolic rightful ruler while he himself acts as steward until Rama’s return.

Significance: Ayodhyakanda establishes central themes of duty, virtue, and righteous leadership that recur throughout the Ramayana. It introduces key characters and the framework of Rama’s dharma under exile, preparing the reader for the forest life depicted in the Aranyakanda and the events that follow. The book ends with Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana entering exile, setting the stage for the epic’s subsequent episodes.