Hari Aum.
Om Sri Ramaya Namah. Let us continue our study of the Valmiki Ramayana.
In the previous post, we saw the four sons of Dasharatha embracing life as householders as they served their father and the people of Ayodhya.
Bharata had left to spend time with his grandfather, the King of Kekeya. His brother, Shatrughna (twin brother of Lakshmana), also travelled with him for company (as the two were inseparable, as were Rama and Lakshmana). They enjoyed spending time with Bharata's maternal relations in Kekaya. Despite this, they did miss their father and family in Ayodhya, and they too in turn were missed by their relatives at home. Dasharatha loved his four sons equally but could not help but observe that there was something uniquely special about Rama.
He observed that Rama had now developed all the qualities required for a future king. He had mastered a wide range of subjects related to the running of a country. He was extremely skilled in knowledge of weapons and warfare but also excelled at diplomacy. He was aware of the principles of good governance and management of wealth.
He was a natural leader, both kind and compassionate and also wise and courageous. He had a number of virtues including self-control and humility, as well as the ability to conquer lower emotions such as anger and jealousy. He was deeply caring towards His people and their welfare was always His prime concern.
Dasharatha had ruled the kingdom of Kosala for many years (thousands of years in fact, as people in that yuga, called the Treta Yuga, were said to live for much longer periods of time compared with our current Kali Yuga) and felt that it would be appropriate for him to now retire and hand over the reigns of his kingdom to Rama.
This was a significant decision, however, and one that he felt should be made only after consultation with others. He therefore began by discussing this idea with his Guru as well as the sages and ministers, and they all gladly gave their approval. They held Sri Rama in the highest regard and felt that He would make an excellent king. They urged the King to retire as soon as possible and install Rama in his place!
Dasharatha was pleased with their response and then invited a number of citizens of his own kingdom along with the kings of neighbouring friendly countries to his palace to discuss the subject. (In his haste, he invited all relevant rulers except the rulers of Mithila (King Janaka, Rama's father-in-law) and of Kekeya (Bharata's grandfather)--he felt that they were busy with other matters and would hear the happy news later). They too all joyfully agreed that it was an excellent plan to install Sri Rama as King.
Filled with delight that his plan had been received so well, King Dasharatha asked his closest minister, Sumantra, to bring Rama before him. Rama arrived and, bowing at the feet of his father, sought to know how He could serve him. His father embraced him closely and told Him of his decision.
Rama was to be crowned King as soon as possible-- this was the will of not only His father, but the entire kingdom! Filled with a sense of duty, He bowed and accepted the wish of His father and people. (He did not show any great elation (or distaste) at the idea-- only acceptance of the request as a duty). After this, He returned to His own palace.
In the meantime, Rama's friends informed Queen Kausalya of the news that her son was to be crowned King by the will of the people. She was delighted upon hearing this and gave away many gifts in celebration.
Dasharatha now began to reflect that he had recently had some rather disturbing dreams suggesting that misfortune could befall him and his family. Not only this, the palace astrologers had warned that an inauspicious period was indicated for him based upon the planetary alignments.
Due to the inauspicious dreams and planetary placements, he was suddenly gripped by a sense of fear and dread that obstacles might arise to prevent his dream of seeing Rama as King from coming true. He therefore hastily summoned his ministers and key members of the public and shared these concerns with them.
He told them that, from an astrological perspective, the next day, when the moon would be in the nakshatra/ constellation called 'Pushya', was regarded as highly auspicious. Any event commencing on this day would likely be successful. This day, he said, would therefore be ideal for the ceremony to crown Rama as King.
Everyone present agreed with the King's decision, and Rama was again summoned to His father's presence. (He had been slightly alarmed at being called to see His father again so soon after meeting him and had enquired if all was well-- the minister replied saying that the King wanted to discuss an urgent matter with Him).
King Dasharatha greeted Rama with great affection and explained to Him his plan to crown Him as King the very next day.
He instructed Rama to prepare for the ceremony (which had a spiritual dimension) by performing some austerities. He was to remain in full control of His mind and senses, observe a fast along with His wife, and sleep on the ground on a mat of darbha (sacred) grass with a slab of stone as a pillow.
His friends were to guard Him on all sides, said the King, explaining that he feared that some obstacles may prevent the ceremony from taking place. Rama bowed before the King and accepted his orders. He then went to inform His wife, but being unable to find Her at their palace, went to meet His mother.
Queen Kausalya was meditating upon Narayana at the palace temple when Rama arrived. Hearing the news of Rama's upcoming coronation, Queen Sumitra, Lakshmana and Sita also arrived at the temple. When Kausalya was informed of Dasharatha's plan to crown Rama the very next day, she was overjoyed. She declared that her prayers had been answered and that she was ecstatic that Rama would soon be King. Lakshmana too, ever devoted to Rama, was very happy at the news of His brother’s upcoming coronation.
Rama then received the blessings of Queens Kausalya and Sumitra and warm congratulations from Lakshmana. He affectionately told His brother that he too would rule alongside Him, as he was dear to Him as His own life.
Rama and Sita then returned to their palace. Soon afterwards, their Guru, sage Vasishtha arrived, at the request of the King. He instructed them regarding the procedure to fast and perform worship in preparation for the coronation. Rama and Sita followed his guidance and performed the spiritual austerities as advised.
As Vasishtha left their palace, he found there was a great atmosphere of excitement and joy in the city. The people of Ayodhya, upon discovering that Rama was to be crowned King the very next day, were preparing for the grand event.
They set about decorating the entire city with colourful banners and flags, with flowers and garlands and all sorts of beautiful ornaments. A large number of people from the countryside and other parts of the kingdom also arrived at the capital eager to witness the upcoming coronation and to participate in the decoration of the city.
The streets were filled with people in high spirits celebrating the upcoming ceremony. They had waited impatiently for so long to see Rama installed as King and were ecstatic that their wishes were soon to be fulfilled. They praised Dasharatha for his excellent decision to crown Rama as King and expressed their gratitude to the Divine for blessing them with such good fortune. There was much music and dancing in the streets to celebrate the upcoming happy event!
Vasishtha made his way back to Dasharatha's palace and met the King. He informed him that Rama was observing the necessary spiritual austerities as instructed and that all arrangements had been made for His coronation the next day. The King, filled with a great sense of joy, peace and contentment, now retired to his chambers to sleep.
Accompanied by Sita, Rama performed a homam (sacred fire ceremony) to Vishnu as instructed by His Guru. They then slept on a mat of darbha grass on the floor of the temple of Vishnu at the palace. Upon waking at the sacred hour of 'brahma muhurtha' (three hours before sunrise), They performed the morning rituals of worship, including recitation of the Gayatri mantra.
The people of Ayodhya, hearing that Rama had completed all the preparatory rituals of worship, were filled with joy. In anticipation that He would come out into the streets of the city to meet them that evening, once the coronation was completed, they proceeded to decorate every street with lights (for example, ornate lampposts shaped like trees with lights on their boughs). The entire city therefore glittered and shone with beauty ready for the coronation of Rama.
To be continued......
Om Sri SitaRamabhyam Namah.
Om Namo Narayanaya.
Hari Aum Tat Sat.
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