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 ‘’.