Shringaverpur was the home of Guha, the king of Nishadas. He was a childhood friend of Shri Rama. Whenever Shri Rama went for hunting, he also accompanied Him and used to arrange for the resting and refreshments etc. Again, when by the order of His father King Dashratha, Lord Rama started for exile along with Sita and Lakshmana, their first halt was at Shringaverpur. When Nishaadraaj got the news of Rama's arrival, he came running to see Him with various gifts and requested: "O Lord, this whole land, wealth, house are all yours. And me, the downtrodden, is our servant with my family. Kindly oblige us and come to stay in our town and add to the prestige of your slave, so that everybody would say how fortunate I am that Lord Rama has come to my home. O God, all the land of my petty kingdom is yours, so you take it and rule here. At that Lord Rama replied: "Friend, you are right; your words are true. But my father has given me an altogether different order".

Seeing Shri Rama in crisis, Nishaadraaj discharged his duty as a true friend. But Lord Rama was about to show some different play. Thus, Maryadapurshottam Rama convinced his friend. He told him about his father's order. Nishaadraaj felt extrmely sorry to see Him passing the night with Sita on an uncomfortable bed of Kusha under a banyan tree. Next day, Shri Rama had to cross the river Ganges. At the bank of the Ganges, Lord Rama requested Kevat to give him a boat. At that Kevat simply said: "O Lord, I have heard that by a mere touch of your feet, a boulder had turned into a woman. My boat is made of wood that has rotten in water and lost its strength. Now I fear if by the touch of your feet, the boat also turns into a woman, my family will starve then. I have no other means to feed my family. So if you are determined to cross the river on my boat, let me wash your feet first, then I will take you across the river on my boat".

Had he wished, Nishaadraaj could have arranged for more than many boats, but recognizing the love of Kevat, he kept quiet. Lord Rama too requested His devotee in many ways, but he stayed at his insistence and said: "If you wish, I can show the place where the river is shallow, you can ford it from there. But I don't want to lose my boat. And I swear in the name of king Dashratha that without washing your feet first, I will not let you board my boat".

Ultimately, Lord Rama submitted before the boundless love of Kevat and allowed him to wash His feet first. "Okay, fetch the water and wash my feet. But be quick for I am getting late". Thus, Kevat got his desire fulfilled. Taking a tub-full of water, he sat to wash Rama's feet. Thus he got that grace of God which is rare even to the Gods and sages. After washing Rama's feet slowly with affection, Kevat himself drank Charnaamrita (water collected after washing the feet of a deity) and gave it to his family and relatives too. Thereafter, he took Shri Rama, Lakshmana and Sitaji across the river on his boat. Across the river when Lord Rama offered him Sita's ring as reward, lying flat at the feet of Shri Rama, Kevat said: "O my Lord, I got today what was rare for me even in thousand births. I have laboured all through my life, but got the real reward today only. I request you to return via the same route. Whatever grace you will give then, I will accept respectfully".

Nishaadraaj too had come along with Shri Rama across the river. He requested the God to allow him to accompany them to some more distance. Thus spending a few days with Shri Rama, Nishaadraaj returned back. Even staying at his kingdom Shringaverpur, Nishaadraaj regularly received the news of the wellbeing from Shri Rama. He had developed such a system that every news- big or small regarding Shri Rama, Lakshmana and Sita at once reached him.

On another occasion, when Bharat started for Chitrakoot along with the subjects of Ayodhya to convince Shri Rama, Nishaadraaj grew suspicious of him because of the news that a huge army is also accompanying him. He then began to think if Bharat is going to harm Shri Rama who is alone in the forests. So he decided to intercept Bharat in the way. He was determined not to allow Bharat cross the river even at the cost of his own life. He also knew very well that his small army is no match for the mighty force of Ayodhya. But still he gathered his small army and inspired his soldiers thus: "This human body is ephimeral. If it meets its death at the service of some great man and fighting brave fighters at the bank of some sacred river, such a death would be excellent. If you sacrifice your life for Shri Rama, He will embrace you all making your lives a success. That is, in both ways you will gain".

Thus, the whole subjects of Nishaadraaj's kingdom got ready to combat Bharat. But an old and experienced man suggested them to find out the truth first by meeting Bharat. So taking many kinds of gifts, Nishaadraaj went to see Bharat and as soon as Bharat knew that Nishaadraaj was a childhood friend of Shri Rama, he at once got down from his chariot and embraced him. Alongwith his subjects, Nishaadraaj too welcomed Bharat. Bharat completed his onward journey up to Chitrakoot accompanied by Nishaadraaj. Meeting with Shri Rama again in Chitrakoot was an extremely joyful experience for Nishaadraaj. Seeing his love and devotion for Shri Rama, Guru Vashishtha too embraced him and all the three mothers blessed him.

Along with Bharat, Nishaadraaj too had to return from Chitrakoot. After spending fourteen years in exile, Lord Shri Rama returned to Ayodhya and was crowned as the King of Ayodhya. During the crowning ceremony Nishaadraaj remained in the service of the Lord. At the conclusion of the ceremony, Lord Rama saw all of them off with various gifts. At that moment he said to Nishaadraaj:

JANU BHAVANA MAM SUMIRAN KAREHU |
MANA KARAM VACHAN DHARMA ANU SAREHU |
TUMH MAM SAKHA BHARATASAM BHRAATA |
SADA RAHEHU PUR AVATA JATA ||