Rama's Exile in Buddhist and Jain Ramayanas: A Journey Toward Enlightenment or Dharma?
The story of Rama, the righteous prince of Ayodhya, holds deep significance across many Indian religious traditions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. While the core structure of the Ramayana remains recognizable across these traditions, the motivations and philosophical underpinnings of Rama’s journey often shift dramatically. One of the most notable differences arises in the portrayal of Rama’s departure to the forest.
In the Hindu tradition, particularly in the Valmiki Ramayana, Rama's exile is an act of supreme Dharma—a moral and ethical duty fulfilled in obedience to his father's word. However, in the Buddhist and Jain retellings of the Ramayana, Rama’s decision to leave is framed not as obedience to royal command but as a conscious step toward renunciation, a quest for spiritual liberation, mirroring the paths of the Buddha or Mahavira.
This divergence reveals a deeper philosophical shift between the traditions: while the Hindu Rama upholds Dharma as a model of ideal conduct in society, the Buddhist and Jain Ramas are seekers of ultimate truth, choosing renunciation over duty.
The Hindu View: Upholding Dharma
In the Valmiki Ramayana, Rama’s exile is a test of character and Dharma. When his stepmother Kaikeyi demands that her son Bharata be crowned king and Rama be exiled to the forest for fourteen years, Rama accepts the decision without protest. He sees it as his moral obligation to uphold his father's honor and keep a promise, even though it brings personal loss.
Rama’s calm acceptance of exile becomes a lesson in ideal conduct. He does not question the injustice or argue for his rights. Instead, he sets a powerful example of selflessness and devotion to duty, which has influenced Indian ethical and cultural thought for centuries. His journey is not to escape from the world, but to live within it, upholding values, even under the harshest conditions.
Rama in this narrative is deeply engaged with the world. He is a king-in-waiting, a devoted son, a protective brother, and later a heroic warrior and ruler. His life is a model of righteous action, not detachment from the world.
The Buddhist Ramayana: The Renunciate Prince
In contrast, Buddhist versions of the Ramayana, such as the Dasaratha Jataka and the Tibetan Ramayana, present a very different picture. Here, Rama's departure to the forest is voluntary. He is not exiled by royal command but chooses to leave in search of a higher truth.
In the Tibetan version, Rama overhears a conversation about the political complications his presence might cause in the succession of the throne. He realizes that his father is troubled and wishes to step down. Rather than force a choice, Rama quietly leaves the palace, choosing a life of contemplation over royal comforts. His detachment is presented in much the same way as the historical Buddha’s departure from his palace to seek enlightenment.
In these Buddhist retellings, Rama is not a political hero but a spiritual one. The focus shifts from action in the world to renunciation of it. His forest journey is not about fulfilling promises but about removing himself from the illusions of power, attachment, and desire. The goal is not to establish an ideal kingdom, but to attain inner peace and wisdom.
The Jain Ramayana: Detachment and Non-Violence
Similarly, the Jain Ramayanas, particularly the Pauma Chariyam written by Vimalasuri, portray Rama not as a warrior-hero but as a detached soul striving for spiritual purity. In this narrative, Rama chooses to leave Ayodhya because he feels that his presence in the palace is no longer necessary. He believes that his true role lies in spreading Dharma—understood here as a path of non-violence and renunciation.
Jain philosophy places high value on non-attachment, non-violence, and asceticism. Accordingly, Rama in the Jain versions avoids violence whenever possible. Interestingly, in some Jain versions, the task of killing Ravana is left to Lakshmana, not Rama. Rama, being committed to non-violence, cannot take life—even that of a demon king. Eventually, after fulfilling his worldly roles, Rama renounces the world and becomes a Jain monk.
This Rama is not a warrior upholding social order but a monk in the making, whose ultimate goal is liberation from the cycle of rebirths. His exile is a step toward spiritual awakening, not a political or ethical sacrifice.
Enlightenment Versus Dharma
The contrast between these versions of the Ramayana highlights a core philosophical difference. In the Hindu tradition, Rama is the embodiment of Dharma. He remains in the world, acts within it, and becomes a ruler who protects the moral fabric of society. Dharma here means righteous action, responsibility, and social ethics.
In the Buddhist and Jain traditions, however, the goal of life is not to uphold social order but to transcend it. Enlightenment—freedom from desire, attachment, and the cycle of birth and death—is the highest aim. Rama’s departure to the forest thus becomes symbolic of inner awakening rather than outer duty.
In the Hindu Ramayana, Rama returns from exile to establish Ram Rajya—an ideal kingdom. In the Buddhist and Jain versions, there is no such return to worldly power. The hero’s journey ends not in coronation, but in renunciation.
Final Reflections
The figure of Rama has been adapted across religious traditions, each reshaping his story to reflect its own ideals. While the Valmiki Ramayana presents Rama as the perfect human upholding Dharma within the world, the Buddhist and Jain Ramayanas reimagine him as a spiritual seeker stepping away from the world.
This distinction is not merely narrative—it reflects the broader spiritual goals of each tradition. For Hinduism, Dharma is the foundation of life and society. For Buddhism and Jainism, renunciation is the path to truth. Both perspectives offer deep insights into the human quest for meaning, and together they enrich the legacy of Rama as a timeless figure of moral and spiritual significance.