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Devotees of Sri Rama
1. Vanara devotees of Sri Rama (Puranic):
• Hanuman: Served Sri Rama by bringing him to Sugreeva at Rishyamuka Parvata, searching for Devi Sita and bringing her news to Sri Rama by crossing the ocean to Lanka, serving as an envoy of Sri Rama at Lanka and creating terror among the demons by setting Lanka on fire, carrying Sri Rama on his shoulders during the march to Lanka, slaying the key generals Jambumali, Dhumraksha, Akampana, Devantaka, Trishira and Nikumbha in the battle, bringing the mountain of herbs twice from the Himalayas, first when Indrajit discharged the Brahmastra and second when Ravana injured Lakshmana, giving the news of Sri Rama's return to Guha and Bharata and bringing sacred waters of rivers during the coronation of Sri Rama.• Sugreeva: Served Sri Rama by sending the vanaras to search for Devi Sita in different directions, ordering the vanaras to march towards Lanka as per the instructions of Sri Rama, guarding the rear side of the army at Lanka and slaying the key generals Praghasa, Kumbha, Virupaksha and Mahodara in the battle.
• Vinata: Served Sri Rama by leading the vanara army searching for Devi Sita in the eastern direction
• Angada: Served Sri Rama by leading the vanara army searching for Devi Sita in the southern direction, carrying Lakshmana on his shoulders during the march to Lanka, guarding the center of the army (along with Nila) at Lanka, serving as an envoy of Sri Rama when the army reached Lanka and slaying the key generals Vajradamstra, Narantaka, Kampana, Prajangha and Mahaparshva in the battle.
• Sushena: Served Sri Rama by leading the vanara army searching for Devi Sita in the western direction, guarding the middle part of the vanara army (along with Jambavan and Vegadarshi) while marching towards the ocean, guarding the belly position of the army (along with Jambavan and Vegadarshi) at Lanka, slaying general Vidyunmali at Lanka and bringing waters from the eastern sea during the coronation of Sri Rama
• Shatabali: Served Sri Rama by leading the vanara army searching for Devi Sita in the northern direction
• Jambavan: Served Sri Rama by awakening Hanuman and motivating him to cross the ocean (during the search in the southern direction), guarding the middle part of the vanara army (along with Sushena and Vegadarshi) while marching towards the ocean, guarding the belly position of the army (along with Sushena and Vegadarshi) at Lanka, telling Hanuman to bring Sanjeevani herb from Himalayas when Indrajit felled the entire vanara army including Sri Rama and Lakshmana with Brahmastra, and bringing sacred waters of rivers during the coronation of Sri Rama
• Nila: Served Sri Rama by exploring the ways for the vanara army to march towards the ocean, guarding the center of the army (along with Angada) at Lanka, and slaying the key generals Nikumbha, Prahasta and Mahodara in the battle.
• Gaja: Served Sri Rama by leading the vanara army in the front (along with Gavaya and Gajaksha) while marching towards the ocean.
• Gavaya: Served Sri Rama by leading the vanara army in the front (along with Gaja and Gajaksha) while marching towards the ocean and bringing waters from the western sea during the coronation of Sri Rama.
• Gajaksha: Served Sri Rama by leading the vanara army in the front (along with Gaja and Gavaya) while marching towards the ocean.
• Rishabha: Served Sri Rama by guarding the right side of the vanara army while marching towards the ocean, guarding the right side of the army at Lanka, slaying general Mahaparshva in the battle, and bringing sacred waters of rivers and southern sea during the coronation of Sri Rama.
• Gandhamadana: Served Sri Rama by guarding the left side of the vanara army while marching towards the ocean and guarding the left side of the army at Lanka.
• Vegadarshi: Served Sri Rama by guarding the middle part of the vanara army (along with Jambavan and Sushena) while marching towards the ocean, guarding the belly position of the army (along with Jambavan and Sushena) at Lanka, and bringing sacred waters of rivers during the coronation of Sri Rama.
• Nala: Served Sri Rama by playing the key architect role in building the bridge to Lanka, slaying general Pratapana in the battle, and bringing waters from the northern sea during the coronation of Sri Rama.
• Mainda: Served Sri Rama by slaying generals Vajramushti and Yupaksha in the battle.
• Dwivida: Served Sri Rama by slaying generals Ashaniprabha and Shonitaksha in the battle.
• Sampati: Served Sri Rama by slaying general Prajangha in the battle.
2. Sages associated with Sri Rama (Puranic):
• Sage Vasishtha: Associated with Sri Rama. Kula-guru of Sri Rama. Guided the Ashwamedha Yagna and Putrakameshti Yagnas of king Dasharatha. (Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 13)
• Sage Rishyashringa: Associated with Sri Rama. Performed the Putrakameshti Yagna of king Dasharatha after which Sri Rama incarnated. (Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 15)
• Sage Vibhandaka: Associated with Sri Rama. Father of sage Rishyashringa (who performed the Putrakameshti Yagna of king Dasharatha). (Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 9)
• Sage Vishwamitra: Associated with Sri Rama. Took Sri Rama and Lakshmana during their boyhood to protect his yagna at Siddhashrama. (Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 22 to 50)
• Sage Gautama: Associated with Sri Rama. Sri Rama visited the erstwhile hermitage of sage Gautama at the outskirts of Mithila and delivered Devi Ahalya. (Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 49)
• Sage Bharadwaja: Associated with Sri Rama. Sri Rama visited the hermitage of sage Bharadwaja at Prayaga during his forest exile. (Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 54 to 55)
• Sage Valmiki: Associated with Sri Rama. Sri Rama visited the hermitage of sage Valmiki while entering Chitrakoota during his forest exile. (Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 56)
• Sage Atri: Associated with Sri Rama. Sri Rama visited the hermitage of sage Atri and Devi Anusuya while leaving Chitrakoota during his forest exile. (Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 116)
• Sage Sharabhanga: Associated with Sri Rama. Sri Rama visited the hermitage of sage Sharabhanga inside the Dandakaranya forest during his forest exile. (Valmiki Ramayana - Aranya Kanda - 5)
• Sage Suteekshna: Associated with Sri Rama. Sri Rama visited the hermitage of sage Suteekshna inside the Dandakaranya forest during his forest exile. Sri Rama revisited the hermitage after 10 years. (Valmiki Ramayana - Aranya Kanda - 7 to 8, 11)
• Sage Agastya's brother: Associated with Sri Rama. Sri Rama visited the hermitage of the brother of sage Agastya near the Panchavati forest during his forest exile. (Valmiki Ramayana - Aranya Kanda - 11)
• Sage Agastya: Associated with Sri Rama. Sri Rama visited the hermitage of sage Agastya near the Panchavati forest during his forest exile. Sage Agastya gave divine weapons to Sri Rama. (Valmiki Ramayana - Aranya Kanda - 12 to 13)
• Sage Matanga: Associated with Sri Rama. Sri Rama visited the hermitage of sage Matanga and Shabari near the Pampa Sarovar during his forest exile. (Valmiki Ramayana - Aranya Kanda - 74)
• Sage Swayamprabha: Associated with Sri Rama. A lady ascetic whom the vanaras (led by Angada) met in the Riksha Cavity while searching for Devi Sita. She helped the vanaras during their search. (Valmiki Ramayana - Kishkindha Kanda - 50 to 52)
3. Kings associated with Sri Rama (Puranic):
• King Dasharatha: Father of Sri Rama.• King Janaka: Foster-father of Devi Sita and father of Urmila (wife of Lakshmana).
• King Kushadhvaja: Brother of king Janaka and father of Mandavi and Shrutakirti (wives of Bharata and Shatrughna).
• Guha: King of the Nishadas. Served Sri Rama by extending his hospitality to Sri Rama at Shringaverapura during his forest exile.
• King Ravana: King Ravana was actually a Dwarapala (gatekeeper) of Vaikuntha who was cursed by the Kumaras to be born on earth (and later get redeemed by an incarnation of Lord Vishnu).
• King Vibhisana: Served Sri Rama by sending spies to Lanka during the battle with Ravana and telling about the secret of Indrajit's worshipping at Nikumbhila sanctuary, thus leading to the slaying of Indrajit by Lakshmana.
4. Other devotees of Sri Rama (Puranic):
• Sabari: Served Sri Rama by extending her hospitality to Sri Rama at Matanga Ashrama near Pampa Sarovar. (Valmiki Ramayana - Aranya Kanda - 74)• Jatayu: Served Sri Rama by fighting with Ravana and giving up his life when Devi Sita was being abducted by him. Sri Rama performed the last rites of Jatayu. (Valmiki Ramayana - Aranya Kanda - 67 to 68)
- Pilgrimages (Thirupullam Bhutangudi Divya Desam) (Thiruputkuzhi Divya Desam)
• Sampati: Brother of Jatayu. Served Sri Rama by giving information about Devi Sita (staying at Lanka) to the vanaras. (Valmiki Ramayana - Kishkindha Kanda - 56 to 63)
5. Saint devotees of Sri Rama (Historical):
•
Ramananda (14th – 15th Century CE): Devotee of Sri Rama based on the knowledge of Brahman. Guru of Kabirdas, Ravidas and other saints. Founder of Ramananda Sampradaya.•
Bammera Pothana (1450 - 1510 CE): Devotee of Sri Rama and Lord Shiva. Translated the Srimad Bhagavatam from Sanskrit to Telugu which is known as Pothana Bhagavatam or Srimad Andhra Maha Bhagavatam. He also wrote Veerabhadhra Vijayamu which describes the deeds of Lord Veerabhadhra.•
Tulsidas (1532 - 1623 CE): Devotee of Sri Rama. Got the darshan of Bhakta Hanuman at Kashi and Sri Rama at Chitrakoot. Composed Ramcharitmanas describing the life of Sri Rama in Awadhi language which had great impact on the devotees of Sri Rama.•
Samartha Ramdas (1608 - 1682 CE): Devotee of Sri Rama. Composed Dasabodha, a text dealing with various aspects of spiritual life in Marathi.•
Bhadrachala Ramadasu (1620 - 1688 CE): Devotee of Sri Rama. Composed Ramadasu Keertanalu which are devotional kirtanas dedicated to Sri Rama in Telegu.•
Thyagaraja (1767 - 1847 CE): Devotee of Sri Rama. One of the Trinity of Carnatic Music. Composed thousands of devotional compositions (including Pancharatna Kritis) in praise of Rama mostly in Telegu.•
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (1836 - 1886 CE): Devotee of Mother Kali at Dakshineshwar along with Rama and Krishna. Performed sadhanas of Sri Rama with the attitude of Hanuman and Sri Krishna with the attitude of Gopis. Also performed sadhanas of Advaita Vedanta, Islam and Christanity. Summarized his realization of various sadhanas in a concise but profound statement - Jato Mat, Tato Path (As many Faiths, so many Paths).