(Dr.Robert Svoboda some years back released the AGHORA Triology sharing personal accounts and teachings of this Master - AGHORI VIMALANAND. Some clues, from one book, on the Esoteric meaning of RAMAYAN, upon further contemplation, is being represented below)

RAMAYAN is, RAM=ATMAN आत्मा (Soul) + AYAN(अयन)=PROGRESS (Journey) = "JOURNEY OF THE SOUL" :-)

There are several characters in this Mythology and they symbolize, as under:
RAM(आत्मा) symbolizing Atma Shakti (आत्मशक्ति )/ The Power of Soul
BHARAT(देह) symbolizing Deh Shakti (देह्शक्ति)/ The Power of Body
LAKSHMAN (एकाग्रचित्त मन) symbolizing Manah Shakti (मनः शक्ति)/ The Power of Will
SHATRUGHNA (कर्म) symbolizing Karma Shakti (कर्म शक्ति)/ The Power of Action
DASHRATH=10 Indriyas (Dash = Ten; Rath = Chariot...Mind is like a Chariot with Ten Horses, which are our external & internal senses...Eyes, Nose, Ears, Tongue, Skin, Hands, Legs, Genitals, etc...i.e., 5 Karmendriyas and 5 Gyanendriyas)
KAUSHALYA=Satva Guna (सत्त्व गुण)
KAIKEYI=Tamo Guna (तमो गुण)
SUMITRA=Rajo Guna (रजो गुण)

It is simple to understand that, Dashrath (the indriyas) under influence of Kaikeyi (tamo guna) disregards its duty towards Ram (the atma/soul) in order to offer undue favour towards Bharat (the body)...something that we all are doing 'all the time' :-)

Poor Lord Rama has been sent in exile along with his wife SITA (who is The Kundalini Shakti)
Also, he faces his worst plight when Sita Mata is abducted by Ravana (the ego). The Ego (Ravana) is supported by various warriors who are extremely powerful. One among them is Ravana's son...Meg-nad (literally means, The Sound of Clouds). It's not difficult to understand that our ever agitating Mind is clouded with the commotion of "Thoughts"...which never ever allows us to seek rest into the deeper solitude of our Inner Self. Meg-nad (The Sound of Clouds/Thoughts) who is the son of Ravana (the Ego) is too powerful to overcome. BUT !!!

BUT !!! Noone has ever been able to Stop the Power of the Soul (Ram). Ram seeks help from LAKSHMAN (Laksh means Goal; Man means Mind...Focussed or Concentrated Mind)
&
THE HANUMAN (who is Son of The Wind God)...it's through the Wind that Life Force (Pran Shakti) flows within Us. The whole Monkey Army is nothing but, forces of the Life Force transmitting Air (Pran Vayu). Thus, with the help from HANUMAN (Pran Shakti) and LAKSHMAN (Concentrated Mind), RAM (Atma) defeats RAVAN (Ego) in order to come in union with SITA (Kundalini Shakti)......What a Beautiful Story!!! Isn't Ramayana after all, "JOURNEY OF THE SOUL"???

Just a revision of characters again with some additions,
RAM = Atma (Soul) आत्मा
SITA = Kundalini Shakti (The Serpent Power) कुण्डलिनी शक्ति
LAKSH-MAN = Ekagratachitta Man (Concentrated Mind) एकाग्रचित्त मन
BHARAT = Sharir (Body) शरीर
SHATRUGHNA = Karma (Action) कर्म
DASHRATH = Indriya (Senses) ज्ञानेन्द्रियाँ+कर्मेन्द्रियाँ
KAUSHLYA = Sattva Guna सत्त्व गुण
KAIKEYI = Tamo Guna तमो गुण
SUMITRA = Rajo Guna रजो गुण

These 3 brothers represent 3 planes on which our "I" Acts...
RAVAN = The Upright "I" (Ego) अंहकार
VIBHISHAN= The Humble "I" (Surrender) समर्पण
Who is KUMBHAKARNA? Let us understand. Kumbhakarna sleeps for 6 months and is awake for 6 months. 50% Ignorant + 50% Wise. It is the "I" of a commoner, like you & me. Wise enough to advise Ravana to withdraw from fighting with Lord Rama, yet ignorant enough to join the fight, lacking Vibhishan's wisdom of Surrendering (समर्पण) at Lord's feet 'at any cost'.

Here are 3 new characters:

MANTHARA = Vices (दूर-अभ्यास) Manthara accompanies Kaikeyi (Tamo Guna) from her paternal home, i.e., Both have same Origin. Gunas (Symbolized by 3 Ranis of King Dasharath) are always malleable by nature. Kaikeyi (Tamo Guna) while in the company of Manthara (Vices) acts differently, however, when Manthara (Vices) is been driven out by Shatrughna (कर्म शक्ति) she repents for her past actions.

SUGRIVA = Su means Good + Griva means Throat = A Throat that is energized/cleansed thru Yoga/Pranayam. Needless to say, SUGRIVA being the King of Vanaras supplies Hanuman (Pran) as well as the whole Vanar Sena (Pran Vayu) to assist RAM (The Atma) is his endeavours to free SITA (The Kundalini Shakti) from RAVAN (The Ego). A sincere practitioner of Pranayam and Meditation can experience and comprehend this phenomenon in a relatively short span of time.

SHURPANAKHA :-) ..............well, this is getting funnier :-D
We all know that the very seed of the RAM & RAVAN feud started with the incident of SHURPANAKHA's nose getting slain by LAKSHMAN. It is the very begining of the tale that finally makes Ramayana - The Story. Esoterically, it refers to the 'time' when first of the endeavours of a wandering soul to reach back to its kingdom of origin starts. In Ramayana too, 13 years of exile had passed.....just after a year RAMA will be throned back to his kingdom. So, the EGO (Ravana) has to play its final game in an attempt to not let it happen. Thus, the first move is taken by Ego's Sister - SHURPANAKHA :-) Shall we explore the meaning??? SHURPA-NAKHA means BIG/LARGE-NAILS. And what do we do with our nails??? No marks for guessing that, we scratch ofcourse :-P
The moment this neophyte Sadhak sits for "Meditation" or "Jap Mala" and tries to Concentrate his/her Mind.....(An Ekagrachitta/Concentrated/Focussed Mind is LAKH-MAN).......there comes the marraige proposal from Shurpanakha. One feels scratchy & itchy here and there :-D
So next time we feel scratchy while Meditating or Japa, lets not take the Surpanakha (Nails) to get married to Lakshman :-) ....Control...Observe...Get Over...lets slay her nose and drive her out !!!!

Ofcourse get ready for Marich (The Golden Deer) to come next ;-)