Ramayana- A Way to Attain Moksha

Difference between Adhyatma Ramayana and Valmiki Ramayana

The events in the Adhyatma Ramayana unfold itself through the narration of Lord Shiva to Sri Parvati. All major characters are incarnations of gods and goddesses contrary to Valmiki Ramayana; Rama as the incarnation of Para Brahma, Sita as Yoga Maya, Lakshman as Adi Shesha. Rama shows his ‘viswaroop’ (his real image) to Kausalya in Adhyatma Ramayana version. Narada visits Sri Ram before his coronation function arranged by Dasaradha to remind him of his real mission on Earth. Another noteworthy change is that as per Adhyatma Ramayana, the real reason behind Mandhara’s gossiping against Rama is to make a way to Rama’s ‘vanavasa’. It is depicted as Goddess Saraswathi makes Mandhara and Kaikeyi for this purpose. The story of Sage Valmiki being a barbaric thief in his prior life is an interpretation seen only in Adhyatma Ramayana, not in Valmiki Ramayana. The most important deviation is that Ravana really didn’t kidnap Sita, but Maya Sita only, an illusion created by the goddess. In other words, Rama questioning the chastity of Sita after the killing of Ravana has been justified by the poet here. In Adhyatma Ramayana, we could see Rama worshipping Lord Shiva before his mission to kill Ravana, maybe a development to satisfy the Shiva tradition also. These additions along with the events in the real Ramayana confirm author’s intention of telling the story of Rama, the ultimate god.
Adhyatma Ramayana is divided into several sections named ‘kanda’, as,

Bala Kanda
Ayodhya Kanda
Aranya Kanda
Kishkinda Kanda
Sundara Kanda
Yuddha Kanda and
Uttara Kanda

Bala Kanda
Sri Rama! Rama! Rama! Sri Ramachandra! Jaya
Sri Rama! Rama! Rama! Sri Ramabhadra! Jaya
Sri Rama! Rama! Rama! Sitabhirama! Rama
Sri Rama! Rama! Rama! Lokabhirama! Jaya
Sri Rama! Rama! Rama! Ravananthaka! Jaya
Sri Rama! Mama hridi ramatham Rama! Rama!
Sri Raghavaatmaarama! Sri Rama! Ramavata!
Sri Rama ramaneeya vigraha! Namosthuthe!

Ezhuthachan begins his great epic work by worshipping all his gods and teachers. Most critiques try to find out clues for the background of the poet from these lines. Then, he discusses the advantages of reading, and listening to the life-story of Rama. Those who read Ramayana every day and even listening to the very name of Rama will sure to get ‘mukthi’ or ‘moksha’. The story develops through the conversation between Lord Shiva and Goddess Uma.

Goddess Uma requests Lord Shiva to talk about the story of Rama and the importance of listening to the story of it. She says ‘Rama’ is the most precious name in the world, so she needs to tell the story so that she will get to know the ultimate truth. Lord Shiva narrates the story of Rama in a nutshell to Uma and then asks her to reveal the ‘Rama Tatva (the real idea or truth behind Rama to Hanuman, the devotee of Rama.

Rama Tatva
Rama is the one and only one Para Brahma. He has no qualities, emotions, birth, decay or death. He is omnipotent, omnipresent, god of all gods, witness of everything. You need to know this is Rama."