Hari Aum.
I hope all readers have had a wonderful Rama Navami celebration. I attended a Sita Rama kalyanam event for the first time and found it wonderful-- would highly recommend attending one if you haven't so far (I hope to participate in these again in the future).
Let us return to our study of the Valmiki Ramayana. I wanted to write this post a couple of weeks ago but, like this time last year, I am once again grappling with material for an upcoming dance examination in a few months (now that I am in year two, the syllabus is at least three times what it was last year-- lots of Sanskrit slokas to memorise from the ancient text called the Abhinaya Darpana and some complicated dance pieces-- so I am panicking slightly! I intend to do what I can and leave the rest to Rama-- it is not particularly easy to find time to study in the midst of work and home responsibilities so I will definitely need His help to pass, am keeping my fingers crossed!).
In the last post on the Ramayana, we read about the wedding of Rama and Sita and of their siblings too. It was a very happy occasion and after all the festivities had been completed in Mithila, it was time to return to Ayodhya.
King Dasharatha was in very good spirits as he set off for his kingdom accompanied by his four sons and their brides, the sages and the army. As the father of an avatar, he was blissfully unaware of the many perils that unfortunately lay in wait for him and his son, Rama!
The first of these perils appeared even before they had arrived at Ayodhya. After travelling for some time, Dasharatha and his entourage heard the loud screeches of birds of prey which appeared to be an ominous sign (the behaviour of birds and animals in those days was interpreted to indicate upcoming good and bad events). However, at the same time, a number of deer of gentle appearance crossed the path in front of them from left to right-- this was regarded as a good sign!
In confusion, the King turned to his Guru, sage Vasishtha, and enquired as to the reason for these mixed signs. What did this mean, he wondered. Why, he asked, did he feel gripped by a strange fear and sorrow. The sage explained that the screaming birds of prey did indeed indicate that grave danger was approaching. However, he said the presence of the deer was reassuring.
As Vasishtha and Dasharatha mulled over this matter, an extraordinary change suddenly took place in the weather. Dark clouds appeared and rapidly obscured the sun. A dreadful wind began to blow with such terrible force that several trees were uprooted and great clouds of dust filled the air. A tempest had begun completely out-of-the-blue!
The entire area was covered by a strange darkness and many people lost consciousness; the only people who remained conscious and standing were Vasishtha and the other sages, as well as King Dasharatha and his sons.
As they peered through the darkness, trying to make sense of what was happening, they saw a shadowy figure approaching. They were able to make out that this was none other than sage Parashurama, an exceedingly fierce avatar of Narayana/Vishnu.
The purpose for which this avatar had manifested had been for the elimination of evil-minded warriors and kings (kshatriyas) and He had completed His task in full. He had destroyed countless wicked kings and their supporters and had thus made His contribution towards the restoration of dharma/righteousness upon Earth.
Parashurama blazed with spiritual power as He moved rapidly towards them. He held a divine axe in His right hand, and the bow of Vishnu rested upon His left shoulder. In His left hand, He held arrows that flashed like lightning in the gloom. He appeared to be no less fearsome than Lord Shiva Himself when He dissolved the universe at the end of a great cycle of time.
Seeing Him approach, Vasishtha and the other sages immediately bowed and offered Him worship. He accepted this graciously but then, to the great dismay of Dasharatha, singled out Rama for His attention.
Addressing Rama, sage Parashurama spoke the following words:
"O Rama!", He said. "I have heard of Your power and Your feat in breaking the bow of Lord Shiva"
"Here, take My mighty bow and, after fitting an arrow, draw it to full length. After I see You perform this feat, I will challenge You to combat with Me. Take this as an opportunity to prove Your valour!".
Hearing these unwelcome words, King Dasharatha was gripped with a terrible sense of dread. Placing his hands together in worship, he addressed sage Parashurama. He reminded the sage that, having completed His work as an avatar, He had said He would give up all war! He was to have retired to the sacred mountain (known as Mahendra) to meditate and perform austerities for the welfare of the world.
Why then, asked the King, had He come here now! Declaring that the avatar had surely arrived with the purpose of annihilating him, he stated that if Rama were to be slain, it would be as though they had all been destroyed by Him. He therefore pleaded with Parashurama to show compassion and spare his beloved son.
Parashurama, however, showed no sign of even noticing the King's presence. He addressed Rama again saying that the divine bow He wielded belonged to Vishnu, and that this was equal in power to that of Lord Shiva. This bow had been placed in the care of His ancestors and had been inherited by Him. He again declared His wish to see Rama wield it and to fight Him.
Rama had so far, out of respect for His father, remained silent. However, upon being challenged in this way, He responded.
He said:
"O noble sage, I have heard of the work that You have performed on Earth and I approve of it. You appear to despise Me due to my birth as a kshatriya/warrior and question my power. I accept Your challenge and shall demonstrate My strength to satisfy You!".
Saying these words, Rama extended His hands and accepted the divine bow and arrow from sage Parashurama. As the bow of Vishnu was transferred from one of His avatars to the other, so too was all the divine power. As Rama accepted the divine bow, He seemed to withdraw all the power of Parashurama into Himself.
Rama then proceeded to lift the bow of Vishnu, and fitting an arrow, drew it to full length. He then addressed Parashurama in an angry tone as follows.
"As You are both a sage, and the nephew of Vishvamitra, I must honour You-- I cannot release this arrow at You therefore! However, an arrow drawn upon the bow of Vishnu cannot go without hitting its mark. As an alternative to striking You, I will release this arrow and take away the fruits of Your asceticism, namely the ownership of various divine realms!"
As Rama held aloft the bow of Vishnu for the first time, ready to release the divine arrow, various celestials appeared the heavens above to witness the glorious sight.
Parashurama too gazed at Rama in wonder and bowing His head, spoke in a low tone. He said:
"O Rama! By Your ability to not only wield My divine bow but also withdraw My power, I know You to be an avatar of Vishnu Himself. May all be well with You! Release the arrow for the purpose You have stated; the loss of My power in Your presence is not a matter of shame for Me as I stand in the presence of the Lord of all the worlds! Upon Your doing so, I shall retire to Mount Mahendra and perform austerities!"
Even as He spoke, Rama released the divine arrow. As He did so, all the darkness lifted and pleasant weather was restored. Parashurama then went around Him as a mark of respect and departed for His abode on Mount Mahendra.
Rama then gave the bow of Vishnu to Varuna, the demi-god of water, for safe-keeping. Having done so, He greeted His Guru, Vasishtha, and the other sages.
Next, He turned to His father, whom He observed was in a state of deep despair. It appeared that he had not even realised that the challenge was over and that his son had been victorious! Rama approached Dasharatha and addressed him with a gentle and soothing tone:
"Dear father", He said, "Parashurama has departed. Let our army, headed by you, now proceed to Ayodhya".
Hearing these words, Dasharatha started and gazed upon his son. Realising that Parashurama had gone, and that Rama was still alive and well, the King was filled with tremendous joy. He clasped Rama in a loving embrace, feeling as though both of them had been granted a new lease of life.
Dasharatha then conveyed the happy news to his army, and they all travelled rapidly to Ayodhya without any further obstacles! Upon arrival, they received a grand welcome from their excited family and citizens!
This concludes the narration of the most unusual event of an encounter between two avatars of Lord Vishnu!
Om Sri Ramaya Namah.
Om Vishnave Namah.
Om Namo Narayanaya.
Hari Aum Tat Sat
P.S. The birthdays of Hanuman and Parashurama occur this month and are wonderful times for spiritual practice.
Om Namo Narayanaya.
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