RamarpaNam-115

File 115.

Dated:  September 7th, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram.

Janaka’s lineage detailed.

Lakshmi Hayagreevar is the embodiment of knowledge and bliss. Such knowledge is 14 in number. They are the 6 Angaa-s + 8 Upaangaa-s of Vedic Science. Adding Ayur Veda, Dhanur Veda, VyakarNam, Meemamsa etc. to the list, vidhya sthanam-s total to 32 in all.

One of the names given to the Lord is Madhavan. It means Maa + Dhavan, Lakshmi vallaban. Maa also means knowledge and learning. So here Madhavan means God of knowledge, that is to say, the bestower of all knowledge.

Continuing on the agenda of reciting the Gotra, Sutra, Pravaram, it was then the turn of Janaka’s lineage to be narrated.

raajaa abhuut triSu lokeSu vishrutaH svena karmaNaa |
nimiH parama dharmaatmaa sarva sattvavataam varaH

Janaka then addressing Sage Vashishta listed the names of the Kings starting from Nimi, Mithi, Pradhama Janakan up to Swarnaroma and Svaroma. To Svaroma were born two sons, the eldest one was Janaka and the youngest was Kushadhvaja. Janaka’s kingdom included Mithila and SaamkAsha to that of Kushadhvaja. SaamkAsha was annexed after its earlier ruler Sudhanva was over powered putting an end to his skirmishes over possessing Shiva’s Bow, handed down through generations to Janaka.

Next, Janaka with deep delight offered His daughters Sita and Urmila as bride to Rama, LakshmaNa and that of Kushadhvaja to Bharata, ShatrughNa.

dadaami parama priito vadhvau te munipungava ||
siitaam raamaaya bhadram te uurmilaam lakSmaNaaya vai

With that the Samaavartna, Naandhi shraada rituals were initiated followed by Gou, Bhoo, Hiranya dhana to eligible brahmaNa. The marriage was finalized to take place on the day of sidereal star Uthiram in the sons’ zodiac month of Meenam.

Sidereal date or auspicious date for conducting a marriage is important as the stars play a vital role in the life of each men and women. But in case of Gods, the stars favor coinciding with the happenings in their life.

RamarpaNam-114

File 114.

Dated:  September 6th, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram.

Recitation of Gotra, Sutra, Pravaram.

The Disc and the Conch in the hands of the Lord are not only identification marks (Swaroopa nirUpagangaL) but are also ornaments and beautiful adornments on Him. Chakarathazhwar especially is the head of all other weaponry in His hands and is worshiped foremost among many Bagavat -Bagavatas.  

Moving on to the scene of marriage preparations to Sita, as tradition goes; it is the practice to recall the lineage of the Bride and the Groom.  To this effect Vashita narrates Rama’s lineage commencing from Brahma, the creator.

In the meanwhile, Janaka desiring His brother, Kushadhvaja also to be present in the marriage talks sent words for his arrival. King Dasaratha along with His sons was also invited to give His audience in the midst of the assembly of ministers and king-folks.

As He arrived, Sage Vashita was asked to narrate Ikshvaku lineage starting from Brahma, Marichi, Kaashyapa, Surya, Manu, Ikshvaku and further down till the Last three in that blood-line as follows:

naabhaagasya bhabhuuva aja ajaat dasharatho abhavat |
asmaat dasharathaat jaatau bhraatarau raama lakSmaNau

Aja-Dasaratha-Rama, LakshmaNa.

Sage Vashita concluded saying how apt it is to propose Janaka’s daughters Sita and UrmiLa to Rama, LakshmaNa.

raama lakSmaNayoH arthe tvat sute varaye nRipa |
sadRishaabhyaam narashreSTha sadRishe daatum arhhasi

Similarly, the blood-line of Janaka equally infallible, exquisite and virtuous dynasty was narrated next.

Marriage alliance between people of equal status, as the one between Dasaratha and Janaka is ideal for the ideal couple like Rama and Sita.  

RamarpaNam-113

File 113.

Dated:  September 5th, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram.

Dasaratha and His men arriving with paraphernalia at Mithila.

Seta’s was anguishing in separation unaware of who really tied the string to the Bow. Neelamala, Her lady-friend, reassuringly informs that the strong shouldered Rama, who led by Sage Vishvamitra came there with His younger brother, had really done that.

Sita was relieved and thought, if it had been otherwise, she would have ended Her life.

Janaka then in consultation with Vishvamitra sent ambassadors to Ayodhya, carrying a letter to King Dasaratha. Immediately on reaching there they met the King and offering their respects, briefed the happenings after Rama, LakshmaNa left Ayodhya.

Dasaratha was pleased and exclaimed, was it the sound of the Bow breaking, I heard the other day? As a measure of His happiness, He then presented gifts to the ambassadors with gold and apparels simultaneously requiring the marriage declaration be carried to people all over. The drummers did the job, the way Jaambavan did at the time Lord Thiruvikrama measured the length and breadth of the universe.

People were rejoiced and joined in procession along with the army of men, mortar and mobiles in the form of horses, elephants and chariots, as though the end time sea is swirling forth. The flags and masts resembled the white clouds that were displaced to earth from heaven.  The glitter of the ornaments they were wearing diminished lightning glare.

Dasaratha with His three crown princess, Vashishta, Bharata, ShatrugNa, they all joined the procession amidst praising, blessings, applauding and songs of benediction. They all reached Mithila at dawn and King Janaka received them, as though Moon Lord is receiving the Sun-God.

Then Kushadvaja, brother of Janaka was invited for the marriage function followed by Vashishta explaining the Ikshvaku lineage and Sadaananada that of Janaka.

Janaka giving more details about Kushadvaja, proposes his daughters as wives of Bharata, ShatrugNa.  Next, they all decided on the date of marriage, its timing etc.

A Hindu marriage encompasses the rituals like:

Vara prEshaNam.

Vaak dhanam.

Vara pooja.

Piri maNia suththudal.

Mownji suththudal.

KooRai uduththal.

Maangalya daaraNam.

PaaNi grahaNam.

Sapthapathi.

Prathaana homam.

Ammi mithiththal.

Laaja homam.

Pravishya homam.

Parts of it are mundane. Rest all Vedic requirements.

RamarpaNam-112

File 112.

Dated:  September 04, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram.

Rama and Mithila-vaasi-s

Sri Rangam, the first and foremost of the 108 Divya Desams is renowned as ‘bhoo loka Vaikundam’. All the 10 Alwars have sung in praise of Lord Sri Ranganatha of this temple in 247 exclusive ‘Pasurams’.

Lord Ranganatha and Rama are connected to one another in more than one way.  The Lord was in Ayodhya as the presiding deity of the Royal temple there. He then was brought to Sri Rangam by VibheeshaNa and consecrated here.

Rama gave the ‘praNavakaara vimana’ along with the Lord as a parting gift to VibheeshaNa. While returning home he rested on the isle of Sri Rangam for performance of ‘pavithrotsavam’ to the Lord. VibheeshaNa then left to his kingdom, as the Lord didn’t budge to go with him.

The people of Mithila were questioning to themselves as to why should Rama be asked to string the bow; instead should He not be married to Sita with due honors and prayers.  Everyone was looking at Rama with their eyes wide open without a whisker.  

Then they saw and heard Rama lifting the bow and the sound that followed, missing every other action of resting it on His thumb and stringing it swiftly.

Devas feared the sound as though the seven worlds have given way, as if the snake-God had tossed them out, held by Him on his head thus far.

The people took time to read the real happenings. Relieved of the shock thereby were happy and said to one another:

He the son of Dasaratha is lotus eyed. Oh! He is dark complexioned like the pregnant clouds. Flowers would not vie with Him in softness or gentleness.  No, Not a human and must be the Lord of the milky ocean, they concurred.

Divided were they. Taking sides with Sita and Rama, the people there, started eulogizing them both. One group said Sita should borrow 1000 more eyes to have a glimpse of Rama. Others defied saying that Rama too, should doth on each such occasion. Turning to LakshmaNa, they said the world is fortunate to have them both and thanked Sage Vishvamitra to have brought them there.

Meanwhile, Neelamala, a lady-friend of Sita, unfurled the message that Rama will be Her groom.

Rama had to bend the bow to win Sita and Her vara-mala. Lord Ranganatha had to bend River Cauvery to win a caressing garland around Him.

RamarpaNam-111

File 111.

Dated: September 03, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram.

Kambar’s portrayal of Sita KalyaNam.

Sage Valmiki’s narration of Sita KalyaNam was brief. But Kambar portrays it with song, dance and entertainment at each house hold, as if it were the marriage of one of their family members.

Rama’s longing for Sita, in Her separation, is portrayed next. Where ever He looks, Sita only is seen. The otherwise cool ocean is hot. The Moon instead of arousing the happy mood is causing distress, as though killer white venom to Him, He wonders.

Next the scene shifts to the Assembly hall where the Bow was brought by 60000 people of Elephant strength and stony waist. People around started doubting whether Mt. Meru had shaped into a Bow or it the Mt. Mandira, the stick used in the churning of the milky-ocean or it the rain-bow or the Snake-god serving as mattress to Lord VishNu?

The story of the Bow as to how it came to Janaka’s possession and Sage Vishvamitra’s intuitive look at both Rama and the Bow, conveying the message to give a try at it was well understood by Rama.

He rose to give a look at it. The people witnessing too looked with awe and thought, will He be able to fulfill the pledge of King Janaka, as otherwise Sita along with them will be left with no choice than to meet the funeral pyre.

People were asking to themselves why is that Janaka is so cruel to pledge a trial of strength to marry Sita? Sage Vishvamitra is He not ashamed to approve the same, asked themselves with a frown.

As they were talking so, Rama walked like a lion, the gait to which Elephants or the Serpents would shy. Taking a graceful look He lifted the Bow and what happened next was not to the imagination of any body.

Rama, the God-incarnate though is beyond all emotions of sorrow and separation subjects Himself so, to play it truly. This otherwise is called ’’ Avataaratil maipaadu ‘’.  

RamarpaNam-109

File 109

Dated: August 30th, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram.

VilliRuthu Melliyal thoL Thoindaan.

SudarshaNaazhwar, Chakkrathaazhwar, Sudarshna Narasimhar are the various names and form of Hethirajan and He the latent force behind all other weaponry of Lord VishNu. Sanganidhi, Padmanidhi standing guard in their temple bless the nine-fold wealth to all His Bhaktas.

Now back to the story of Ramayana:

Rama inspected the Bow brought on a trolley of eight wheels, helped by 5000 men of high energy.  It was so colossal that when none of the Gods, Demi-gods, Demons, Gandharva-Yaksha-Kinnaras could shake, lift or hold it properly, would they be able to string it then?

na etat sura gaNaaH sarve sa asuraa na ca raakSasaaH |
ga.ndharva yakSa pravaraaH sa kinnara mahoragaaH

Rama upon the word of the sage Vishvamitra, grasping it at the middle playfully grabbed the bow. While thousands of men were witnessing, He held it upright gripping by His foot-thump and stringed it as well. As He was stretching the string to test its stiffness, it broke in the middle. The people assembled saw it being lifted followed by the sound missing the actions in between.

Kambar’s portrayal of the sequence in the following words is vivid and brief as the act itself.

Eduththathu kaNdanar; iRRadu kEttanar.

Janaka was happy that His pledge had come true. Sita too was impressed over Rama’s valor. She reached Him with the vara-maala on hand. Rama however did not accept it instantly.  Rather wished that to happen with the consent of His parents. And so ministers were dispatched to Ayodhya carrying the marriage proposal from Janaka.

King Dasharatha was briefed about the happenings. Overjoyed by this He consulted the matter of marriage of Seetha with Rama to all His ministers and teachers. They all unanimously agreed to the proposal and planned to travel to Mithila the next day.

Love at first sight but marriage at parents’ will-Do they work well? Rama made it happen not by Himself but keeping Vishvamitra in the front.

RamarpaNam-108

File 108

Dated: August 29th, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram.

Shivas’ bow yields to Rama’s will.

Anjaneya born of Anjana, a Hero and the dispeller of Janaki’s sorrow as well as head of all monkey army, He the annihilator of Akshayakumara and the fear of Lank, to Him we bow and propitiate.

He being the God of the nine ‘Raasi-s’, all the prayers offered to Him, please the ‘Navagraghas’ as well. Invoking His blessings, we move on to the story of Sita KalyaNa.

While narrating the tale of Shiva’s bow, King Janaka also mentioned the reason for it being there. The birth of Sita and the Kanya sulkha He had kept for Her marriage are explained next.

atha me kRiSataH kSetram laa.ngalaat utthitaa mama ||

kSetram shodhayataa labdhvaa naamnaa siitaa iti vishrutaa.

She is named Sita, as She was found on the ploughing mark at the Yajna saala.

She having reached marriageable age offered that if Rama can string the Bow, His daughter Sita will be married to Him.

vishvaamitraH sa raamaH tu shrutvaa janaka bhaaSitam |

vatsa raama dhanuH pashya iti raaghavam abraviit ||

Vishvamitra permitted Rama to have a look at the Bow. Rama desiring to feel the Bow took it with ease and tied the string. As He stretched the string to test its toughness and it broke in the middle with a thunderous sound.

tasya shabdo mahaan aasiit nirhghaata sama niHsvanaH |

Dasaratha was pleased that His pledge had come true and that Sita will be a worthy bride to brave Rama.  He then sent His ministers to Ayodhya carrying the marriage proposal

siitaa praaNaiH bahumataa deyaa raamaaya me sutaa ||

and invite to solemnise the occasion.

With the marriage offer from Janaka, Rama did not jump to okay it. As an obedient disciple and as respectful son waited for the consent of Vishvamitra and for the concurrence of His parents. That is to say, He preferred the meeting of the mind of the elders to conclude the marriage proposal over meeting of the eyes between Him and Sita Maata.

RamarpaNam-107

File 107.

Dated: Aug. 28th, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram.

Shiva’s bow as Veerya Sulkha.

Paramapada Naadan has incarnated into Archaa idols in several Divya Desams. 106 of them in this world are particularly important as Alwars have sung in praise of these Lords, collectively in their 4000 Divya Prabandams. Of the five statuses, Archaavataram is the closest and the most accessible one for worship by all and sundry.  

In Ramavataar His bow is the inseparable aspect of Rama and no Rama Idol is worshiped without the same.  But the bow he sported during His schooling is called ‘kalvichilai’. The one held at the time of His marriage with Sita was different from what He got from Parasurama’s encounter. This ‘VishNu Danush’ is again different from the one used against RavaNa, in the ultimate fight of the Good over Evil.

‘Silai’ , ‘Vill’ , ‘Karmugam’ , ‘Sargam’ are the different names used to denote His Bow and Azhwar mentions in one of His Pasurams regarding His inalienable association with the Bow as follows.

‘villiRutu melliyal ThOL Thoindaan’ befitting the context of the Shiva Danush and that as bet for Sita’s marriage.

Next day King Janaka appeared in His assembly and Vishvamitra after introducing asked Janaka to show the Shiva’s bow to Rama, LakshmaNa, as they had come to have a glimpse of the same.

darshanaat asya dhanuSo yathaa iSTam pratiyaasyataH

Janaka, before calling for its exhibition, narrated its long history as to how that bow came to His hands, starting from the days of Daksha Prajaapati and Devaraadan, the 6th descendant of Nimi.

Sita is named VaidEhi, as Her ancestor, Nimi was cursed to go body less – Vi + Dedha.

She is named Janaki, as Nimi’s fallen body was churned for a successor to be born – Janaka.

She is named Maithili, as the action of churning is called ‘maththagam’

Rama, LakshmaNa though were not aware of nor informed of the purpose of their visit, Vishvamitra calls it their desire to see the Shiva Danush in the custody of Janaka. To which Rama, LakshmaNa neither objected nor spoke otherwise bringing out the

Acharya paaratantriyam.

RamarpaNam-106

File 106

Dated: August 27th, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram

Vishvamitra turns Brahma-Rishi.

Vijaya Raghavan means the Victorious Rama. Not only He parlays His enemies, He wins over the poor by gifts, Rishis by Service and the outer world by His Dharma. So He is called Vijaya Raghavan or PoretRu Naayanar.

How Vishvamitra won over His senses is narrated by Shataananda in the reminder of the story.

atha haimavatiim raama disham tyaktvaa mahaamuniH |
puurvaam disham anupraapya tapaH tepe sudaaruNam

Leaving the north, Vishvamitra reached the Eastern corridor and commenced extremely severe penance without food or water and stood a skeleton for thousand years. In the south He could give up nothing. In the west He Indulged in Kaama in the company of Menaka but resolved to overcome the same in the North. He having fallen victim to Kobha, resolved to overcome the same in the East. Going food less and keeping dump, overcame all the obstacles.

On completing 1000 years He cooked food to break the fasting, When Indra came to His door steps in the guise of a Brahmana and took it in alms.  Vishvamitra, thinking it be a test for His control over appetite gave away every thing to Indra and starved without showing a word of anger or dejection, conforming to His vow of dumpiness.

atha varSa sahasram ca na ucChvasan munipungavaH |

Another 1000 years He continued His penance breathless making all the three worlds to tremble. At that all the Gods appealed to Brahma to proclaim that Brahma-Rishi title is achieved by Vishvamitra. Sage Vashishta too reaffirmed the same with blessings words.

diirgham aayuH ca te brahman dadaami sa marud gaNaH ||
svasti praapnuhi bhadram te gacCha saumya yathaa sukham

Vishvamitra appealed further that if Brahman-hood is to stay permanently, He be blessed with AUM and vaSat syllables along with Vedas’ in its entirety be revealed to Him.

AUM kaaro atha vaSaT kaaro vedaaH ca varayantu maam

King Janaka reverentially paid His gratitude to the Sage for having graced the Yajna while Vishvamitra and Rama, LakshmaNa too retired to respective places.

Vishvamitra after achieving His goal could have shown His pride to Vashishta, His arch rival. But He didn’t do that, as otherwise He would be un-worthy of His Brahma-Rishi title. This goes to prove that scholarliness brings humbleness.

RamarpaNam-105

File 105.

Date: August 24th, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram.

Vishvamitra’s self esteem.

We worship Rama in idol form and He is of different sizes and dimensions in various temples. Vaduvur Rama idol is tall and artistic. Trichy Ponmalai Rama is small but equally attractive. The idols of LakshmaNa, Sita and Hanuman have relative dimensions in size as per the sculpture sastra.  If the main deity is small, all other deities will be still smaller in relative proportions. That way Hanuman will be the smallest in size relatively, but obviously the greatest in rendering service to the Lord.

Rama, Sita and LakshmaNa represent the syllables ‘’a’’ ‘’u’’ and ‘’ma’’ in the one letter word ‘’Oum’’.  Sita is VishNu pratama kingkari. LakshmaNa is the next in service of Divya Dambapti. But Hanuman is the ideal servant of both Sita Rama as well as the first Bhagata kingkara.

Smaller the idols, easier the ways to serve Them, while in Archaa ThirumEni.

Returning to the story of Vishvamitra we observe that

rambhaam apsarasam shakraH saha sarvaiH marut gaNaiH |
uvaaca aatma hitam vaakyam ahitam kaushikasya ca

Indra bent on spoiling His penance directed Rambha, the celestial dancer, to undertake actions good to Him and bad to the Sage.

Rambha fearing the wrath of the Sage refuse to help Indra.  But assuring that He will go with her as a cuckoo bird and that Love-God, Manmadha will arouse Vishvamitra into loving her.

kokilo hRidaya graahii maadhave rucira drume |
aham kandarpa sahitaH sthaasyaami tava paarshvataH

Vishvamitra, knowing that she had come at the behest of Indra to interrupt his penance, cursed her to turn a stone for 10000 long years.

dasha varSa sahasraaNi shailii sthaasyasi durhbhage

Having heard the angry words of that great-saint Love-god and Indra went missing and the poor Rambha became a statue.

Vishvamitra repenting to have lost His temper decides to undertake another round of penance, this time in the Eastern corridor, to conquer His own senses.

In an attempt to get over lust, unwittingly He gave way to anger. So He needs to redo His penance with a resolution to that effect.

taavat yaavat hi me praaptam braahmaNyam tapasaa aarjitam

Lust and Anger is the twin enemy to be conquered for all our actions to be pure and sublime. Even for a Sage like Vishvamitra it was not that easy. But determination of His tall order will be required to overcome as well.

RamarpaNam-104

File 104.

Jai Sri Ram.

Vishvamitra turned Maha-Rishi from Kingly Rishi.

In case if Vishvamitra, there were several impediments to His tryst with Brahma-Rishi. In the South the celestial cow was the cause. In the west, King Ambareesha was the cause. Despite all these, He was relentless. His efforts, the impediments, His perseverance coupled with the grace of Gods took him towards His goal of becoming a Brahma-Rishi. With the fulfillment of His wish, He would become a Siddha. However Saint-hood and God-hood are different.

Gods during incarnation also undergo such trials and tribulations. But that does not diminish the status of God-hood, as their role is to educate and guide the people by such chosen sufferings.

Rama for example holding His bow and arrow indicates His Savior role. Krishna holding a butter ball in His hands indicates Atmas chosen for His enjoyment. We are therefore the subject of anubhavam and rakshaNam for and by Him.

Vishvamitra on continuing His severe penance, Brahma appeared and accorded ‘Rishi’ honors to him, whereas Vishvamitra was expecting to be crowned the 'Brahma-Rishi' or ultimate sage-ship title to Him.

RiSiH tvam asi bhadram te sva arjitaiH karhmabhiH shubhaiH

Then came Menaka, a distinguished apsara of Deva loka and started to play swimming sport in the holy lake. Vishvamitra, seduced by her feminine features got enticed with her for 10 long years. Realistion came very late to Him that he should have won over the lust and bid adieu to her.

menakaam madhuraiH vaakyaiH visRijya kushika aatmajaH ||
uttaram parvatam raama vishvaamitro jagaama ha

He therefore, moved northward and close to the banks of the river Kosi He further undertook severe penance by which the gods seemingly were annoyed. They all approached Brahma and made known their consent for Him being called a ‘Maharishi’.

maharSi shabdam labhataam saadhu ayam kushika aatmajaH

Will He be satisfied by that?  No, motivated by the progress from a King to Raja Rishi, to Rishi and now to Maha-Rishi, readied Himself to further penance surviving on air alone. That way there was no stopping Him.

So, Be aware, move forward and stop not till the goal is reached.