RamarpaNam-83,84

File 84.

Dated: July 25^th, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram.

Mithila pravEsam.

Manojavam Matruta tulaya vegam jitendriyam budhimatam varishtam |

Vathathmajam vaanara yuda mukyam Sri Rama dhootam sirasa namami ||

We generally see Hanuman in many of the temples with anjali mudhra.  In few places we see Him holding the Sanjeevini mount on His left hand and fashioning abhaya mudhra by the right. What does that mean?

When Pirati shows Her abhaya mudhra, it amounts to saving us from Bhagavat swatantiryam. Hanuman with His anjali mudhra conveys that we need no fear of worldly distractions. As He crossed the ocean of salt water by Rama bhakti we shall cross the Samsara, the cycle of births and deaths, a meta-physical ailment by Hanumath bhakti. Sanjeevini in His other hand symbolizes His ability to ward off physical ailments. The former concerns the life after and the later, the present life what we enjoy and enthrall.

Coming to the Story of Ahalya and Her re-union with Sage Gautama, Rama after offering reverence to the Sage, moved on to Mithila.

raamo api paramaam puujaam gautamasya mahaamuneH |
sakaashaat vidhivat praapya jagaama mithilaam tataH ||

Lead by Vishvamitra, Rama LakshmaNa proceeding on the north easterly direction arrived at the city of Mithila.

tataH praak uttaraam gatvaa raamaH saumitriNaa saha |
vishvaamitram purasahkRitya yajna vaaTam upaagamat ||

There King Janaka was in the midst of performing an Yajna, to be concluded for another 12 days.  To seek the blessing of the great Sages who have arrived for the Yajna, Vishvamitra took Rama LakshmaNa straight there.

saadhvii yajna samRiddhiH hi janakasya mahaatmanaH |

They were received with due honors and the gladdened Vishvamitra enquired in detail about the Yajna, its purpose and the proceedings in the rituals.  The Royal priest, Sadaananda conducting the rituals was then introduced to all of them.

papracCha kushalam raajno yajnasya ca niraamayam |

The King observed that the arrival of Vishvamitra with Rama LakshmaNa was itself was the fruit obliged by the Gods pleased by the rituals.

adya yajna phalam praaptam bhagavad darshanaat mayaa |

Looking at Rama LakshmaNa, He enquired as to who they are and how come they were brought there etc.

imau kumaarau bhadram te deva tulya paraakramau |

Vishvamitra replying to Janaka narrated in brief, the coming of Rama LakshmaNa to Siddhashrama and the elimination of the demons spoiling His efforts at that place, their trip to the City of Vishaala, blessing Ahalya and making her reunite with Sage Gautama and their gracing of the Yajna as well as to have a look, incidentally, at the Shiva dhanush kept with Janaka.

mahaadhanuSi jijnaasaam kartum aagamanam tathaa |

On hearing all these Shataananda, who incidentally is the son of Ahalya, felt worth narrating the story of Vishvamitra to Rama LakshmaNa.

The saying goes that Guru should be praised in His presence and that is what Shataananda was doing now.