Rama leaving Sita in Forest

This writeup deals with the question of Rama leaving Sita in Forest according to Adhyatma Ramayana.

Sita says to Rama, "All the devatas requested me to come to Vaikunta, They say, Rama is always together with Sita, who are currently on earth, once she comes to Vaikunta he will also come and stay there to rule devatas."
On hearing this, Rama says, "I will create a negative rumour about you in the world and leave you in forest on that pretext. You reach vaikunta by piercing the earth and stay there, I will also come there subsequently".
After sometime, Rama asks the assembled ministers, "Are there negative rumours about me or sita, or kaikeyi, or other members of the rulers ?, pls tell me without fear".
Minister Vijaya says "All the people of ayodhya are doubting the character of the Queen Sita after being abducted by Ravana, and they say that they also have to follow your example and tolerate bad character of their wives, because yatha raja tatha praja, So as ruler , so are the subjects."
Rama asks all ministers, they all say that the all the people of Ayodhya are of the same opinion.
Then, Rama asks Lakshmana to leave Sita in Forest.
The story of just one washerman casting doubt on Sita and Rama leaving her on that count is not there in Adhyatma Ramayan. All the people of Ayodhya asked for removing Sita as a Queen.

Prabhu's comment on this issue :
spiritual Story told in the disguise of historical story.
Rama represents the Self - Atman. Sita represents the Jivatman - ego self. Remember Sita was born to Earth - Representing body of human being - made up of mud - annamaya kosha. Sita ws kidnapped by Ravana - 10 headed monster -representing afflicted sense organs (5+5). Hanuman is the mind. After resqueing Sita, subjects of Rama - representing thoughts, vasanas were ruled by the Self and Jivatman united with the Self. The vasanas show negative qualities - thought process.Jivatman is forced to depart from Atman. Jivatman becomes one with the body - Body conciousness.

My additional commentary :
Sita = Jiva atman (Ego self)
Rama = Atman
When Ego self reaches a stage of Vaikunta (state of without blemish, vi + kunta = vaikunta = No drawbacks), it enables the Indriyas to be ruled by Devatas (divine qualities) properly. Hence devatas requested Sita to reach vaikunta first, meaning purified intellect is needed first, before Atman is realised as Paramatman.
Rama leaving Sita in forest is symbolic of dropping of ego when intellect is purified.