When Lord Rama met Nishad Raj..............

When Lord Rama left Ayodha (to fulfil his father’s order) for his exile, he eventually reached the bank of river Ganga. He along with his younger brother and Sita had no means of crossing the river.

At the bank of the river, lived a boatman Nishad who was the king of all the boatmen residing at nearby places. He had already heard of Lord Rama and was a devotee of him. When he came to know that Rama had been ordered for an exile of fourteen years and he was waiting at the shore to cross river, he hurriedly approached Rama.

He greeted Lord Rama and was extremely happy to see his Lord before him. Rama requested him to help them cross the river. To Rama’s surprise Nishad completely refused to provide them the ride across. Rama gently enquired him why he was not willing to offer them the ride like all his other customers. Nishad replied “Forgive me Lord, but all my customers are not as great as you. I have heard about you that once you touched a stone with your foot and the stone turned into a lady. I am a poor guy and this boat is my only mean to fulfil the needs of my family. If you put your great feet on my boat and something happens to my boat, how will I take care of my family".

Also read: When Lord Rama touched the stone and turned it into a lady.

Rama gently smiled on hearing such an excuse from Nishad. He tried to tell him that he should not worry and nothing will happen to his boat. But Nishad didn’t listen to any of his words. Finally Nishad said if not your feet, at least the sand of your feet must be magical so as to turn a stone into lady. So first I will properly wash your feet and then you can board my boat.

Rama agreed to this, and Nishad gracefully washed the feet of Lord and drank the water of his feet. In this way Nishad easily got to get that what otherwise is not even possible to get after years of hardships and devotion to Lord. Finally after washing Lord’s feet he allowed them to board them the boat and rode them away to the other side of the river.

On reaching the other side, Rama felt that as he was a customer to a boatman, he must pay something to Nishad for his service. But having left everything in Ayodha while leaving for exile, he had nothing to offer Nishad. Devi Sita immediately realised this and offered her ring to Rama to pay Nishad for his service.

When Rama offered the ring to Nishad, he completely refused to accept it. He told Rama that he and Lord were equal by their profession and how one should not ask for fees to someone in his own profession. Hearing this everyone was surprised that how Nishad was comparing Lord Rama equal to a boatman. But Nishad explained “ Hey Lord! I carry people from one end of this river to the other and help them cross the river. Similarly you My Lord help all of us to cross the endless journey of this life cycle and reach the other end of Moksha or freedom for the cycle of death and birth. So  we are of the same profession and Lord I don’t deserve any payment from you, all that I want is a promise that after death when I shall come to you, you too will help me cross this cycle of death and birth and will impart me the Moksha.” Rama was extremely delighted to hear such a befitting reply and he thanked Nishad for his service to them.

Having said this Rama, along with Laxman and Sita , left Nishad behind and continued his journey ahead.