The title of the Ramayana means “Rama’s Journey” in Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language, and the motif of journeys, both physical and metaphysical, is present throughout the epic. Rama’s journey takes physical form as soon as the sage Viswamithra appears at Dasaratha’s palace in need of Rama’s assistance. During this first journey, Rama travels far across the country of Kosala, accompanied by the sage Viswamithra and his brother Lakshmana. He encounters new landscapes and new sights, as is typical of many journeys, while he travels toward a deeper understanding of himself as a spiritual being.

Later in his life, Rama leaves the comforts of Ayodhya to journey to the forest as an exile. The vivid details of his journey as he takes his leave of Ayodhya, when he is followed by hordes of people, emphasize Rama’s willingness to undertake difficult travel on his own, as befits a seeker of spiritual enlightenment and virtue. With Sita and Lakshmana, Rama escapes the camp when his followers are sleeping to carry on his journey properly, unaided by the company and reassurances of the loyal masses. Finally, Rama’s journey to Lanka to recover Sita from

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