Rama Not Worshiped In Krishna Mahabharata Times?

I came across a discussion in the web whether Lord Rama was worshiped during the period of Mahabharata and Lord Krishna.

With my limited knowledge of the Epics,Ramayana and Mahabharata, I verified facts.

Viswaroopa Of Vishnu.

There is no mention of anyone , let alone Krishna, worshiping Lord Rama during the Mahabharata period.

Reasons are quite a few.

1.In Indian Philosophy, Individual worship, or collective worship is not encouraged.

Nor the idol worship is allowed /mentioned in the Vedas.

However one finds the worship of Gods by performing penance was undertaken.

In the Puranas and the Epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata, The Trimurti, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Devi were worshiped in the form of penance, mainly to get material benefit, Power or Knowledge.

Indra was also worshiped in the same way.

However the practice of worshiping a Living One or a Deified One like Rama was not in practice.

In the case of Rama,many Rishis,many commoners, and even Rakshasas including Ravana knew Rama as an Avatar.

But the fervent worship in our present style we have now was not there.

Intense personal devotion to Rama by Hanuman,Sabari and a few others was in vogue.

In the same way,Rama was not worshiped during the Mahabharata period.

2.As Indian philosophy is of the view that personal enlightenment is by one’s efforts and action with God as a facilitator,not by God as the sole provider of Salvation,(Gnana , Karma and Raja Yoga)

(Visishtadvains , some others and those who follow Bhakthi Marga would differ with me here), worshiping for Salvation was

in theform of penance, supplemented by effort in following Dharma as prescribed in the Vedas.

I am also aware that if one has to perform good actions and be pious , God’s Benevolence is needed.

One needs the Blessings of the Lord to even think of Him.

At the same time, Indian Philosophy is equally forceful in saying that one can attain Moksha by one’s efforts alone.

This divergence of views is the speciality of Hinduism.

These points can not be argued upon as they do not fall within the purview of Logic but Experience and Intuition.

3. Yet there is no doubt that Lord Rama was venerated during the Mahabharata times.

Lord Krishna Himself appeared in the form of Rama to Jambhavantha before marrying his daughter Jambavathi.

And we had Hanuman revealing Himself to Bhima and extolling Rama, when Bhima tried to pick up a quarrel with Hanuman.

4.Lord Rama had shown his Viswaroopa to Bharghav Rama.

Ramayana is narrated thrice in Mahabharata by Lomasa, Markandeya and Hanuman .

.Rama’s Viswaroopa.

‘”Lomasa continued, ‘Hearing this, Dasaratha’s son blazed up in wrath and said, ‘I have heard what thou hast said, and even pardoned thee. O son of Bhrigu’s race, thou art full of vanity. Through the Grandsire’s grace thou hast obtained energy that is superior to that of the Kshatriyas. And it is for this that thou insultest me. Behold me now in my native form: I give thee sight.’ Then Rama of Bhrigu’s race beheld in the body of Dasaratha’s son the Adityas with the Vasus, the Rudras, the Sadhyas with the Marutas, the Pitris, Hutasana, the stellar constellations and the planets, the Gandharvas, the Rakshasas, the Yakshas, the Rivers, the tirthas, those eternal Rishis identified with Brahma and called the Valkhilyas, the celestial Rishis, the Seas and Mountains, the Vedas with the Upanishads and Vashats and the sacrifices, the Samans in their living form, the Science of weapons, O Bharata, and the Clouds with rain and lightning, O Yudhishthira! And the illustrious Vishnu then shot that shaft. And at this the earth was filled with sounds of thunder, and burning meteors. O Bharata, began to flash through the welkin. And showers of dust and rain fell upon the surface of the earth. And whirlwinds and frightful sounds convulsed everything, and the earth herself began to quake. And shot by the hand of Rama, that shalt, confounding by its energy the other Rama, came back blazing into Rama’s hands. And Bhargava, who had thus been deprived of his senses, regaining consciousness and life, bowed unto Rama–that manifestation of Vishnu’s power. And commanded by Vishnu, he proceeded to the mountains of Mahendra.( Mahabharata , Vana Parva,Tirtha Yatra Parva , Section XCIX)

http://www.mahabharataonline.com/translation/mahabharata_03099.php

https://www.quora.com/Hindu-Mythology/Why-is-Lord-Ram-not-worshipped-during-time-of-Lord-Krishna-When-did-Ram-become-Lord-Ram