Dasaratha Jataka is the name of the Buddhist version of
Ramayana. It tells the story of Rama. It names Rama as Rama Pandita and
Lakshmana as Lakhana kumara. The Jataka explains at the end that Lord Buddha
was Rama Pandita. Suddhodana (father of
Buddha) was king Dasharatha, Mahamaya (mother of Gautama Buddha) was the mother of
Rama, Bharata was Ananda (primary attendant of Buddha and one of the principle
disciples of Buddha). Lakkhana was Sariputta and Sita was Rahulamata.
Buddhist version of Ramayana tells us that after the death
of the queen consort, king Dasaratha, of Benares, married another queen consort
named Kaikeyi. She gave birth to a son who was named Bharata.
Pleased, king offered Kaikeyi a boon, which she accepted but
deferred its use.
When Bharata was seven years old, she demanded that he
should be anointed and made king. This angered Dasaratha and he rebuked her,
but she persisted with her demand and asked it as the boon which the king had
promised.
The king wanting to know how long he would live, consulted
astrologers, who told him that he would live for another twelve years. Then he
further suggested that his sons, Rama Pandita and Lakhana Kumara, spend twelve
years in the forest after which Rama would be made king. They proceeded to the
forest along with Sita.
The king feared that queen Kaikeyi would harm his elder
children, so he sent them into the forest for twelve years, asking them to
return after his death.
Pining for his sons, king Dasaratha died in the 9th year.
The queen ordered that the kingdom should go to Bharata but the courtiers
resisted. Agreeing with the courtiers Bharata went to the hermitage of Rama
Pandita to bring him back, but the latter advised him to administer the kingdom
till he completes twelve years in the forest.
Bharata agreed and took his brother’s footwear as a symbol
of Rama Pandita’s presence. Three years later, Rama Pandita returned and
received the kingdom. He ruled for sixteen thousand years.