Sacred story of Lord Ram’s stay in Chitrakoot
Shri Ram left Ayodhya and set forth on the path of Vanvas. .Lord Ram went straight to Rishi Bhardwaj and humbly asked:
"Hey Rishi, we have left Ayodhya. Guru Vishvamitra once told me that without the permission of a true saint or acharya, one should never step forward. If he is not present, one must seek guidance from another true saint, for otherwise many obstacles may arise on the path. Today Guru Vashisht and Guru Vishvamitra are not here. Therefore, considering you as their form, I wish to ask you—please guide me, where shall I go?"
Rishi Bhardwaj, knowing well that Ram Ji is none other than the Avatār of Lord Narayan, replied with folded hands:
"Hey Ram Ji, You are the Lord of all three worlds, present everywhere.
(Jal mein Ram hai, thal mein Ram hai,
Jal hi Ram hai, thal hi Ram hai.")
But Lord Ram insisted humbly, "I wish to obey your guidance. Please guide us where we should go."
At this, Rishi Bhardwaj directed Lord Ram towards Chitrakoot, saying, "There is a cave there—stay there."
Oh Lord Ram please Stay there for 11 years, 11 months, 11 days, 11 hours, 11 minutes, 11 seconds, and 11 nanoseconds. Thereafter you may leave for the next place.
( Stay of Lord Ram for 11 years, 11 months, 11 days, 11 hours, 11 minutes, 11 seconds, and 11 nanoseconds. From this arose the sacred significance of 11:11. Even today, whenever we coincidentally see the time 11:11, whether in the morning or night, it is considered a sign that angels and divine beings are listening to our prayers. At that very moment, one should sincerely pray—without looking at the clock intentionally.)
In Chitrakoot, many demons used to trouble the saints and rishis. To protect them and to end these evil disturbances, Lord Ram began holding spiritual gatherings (satsangs).
Every day, great saints would arrive and sit to listen to Lord Ram’s satsang. Those rishis who were deeply absorbed in meditation continued their samadhi, but others, upon hearing that Lord Ram Himself was delivering satsang in Chitrakoot, the one who were about to go to msamadhi prefer to visit chitrakoot and get the divine sight of Lod Ram. Such was the divine aura that the news spread across the world, drawing saints and seekers alike to Chitrakoot.
One day at Trimbakeshwar, saints were bathing in the holy Godavari River while chanting sacred mantras. One of them after taking the bath in Godavari River spoke:
"Let us all now go to Chitrakoot, where Lord Ram Himself is delivering satsang."
(It is said that whenever saints bathe in rivers with holy chants, the river becomes spiritually purified. This was the mercy given by Lord Shiva to Maa Ganga—that wherever saints take sacred baths, the river is sanctified.)
Hearing this conversation, Maa Godavari herself developed a deep yearning. She prayed internally:
"O Lord, may I too have the divine sight of Lord Ram, may I listen to His satsang, and behold the assembly of great saints."
Lord Ram accepted Maa Godavari’s prayer and granted her presence in the cave of Chitrakoot. Since then, it is believed that the Godavari River flows into the Chitrakoot cave mysteriously—no one knows from where it comes or where it goes.
All saints used to listen Lord ram Satsang sitting in the cave in the godavider river flow .In this way, even the Godavari River herself was blessed to hear the divine words of the Lord, and with the touch of saints, she became even more purified.Such is the greatness of satsang.
It is said that a single true satsang in one’s life can guide the soul towards salvation. ✨
Read More Articles Click here-