|| Jai Sriman Narayana ||
The supreme Lord Vishnu was born as Rama in
the illustrious clan of Ikshvaku/Raghu/Solar dynasty; he was born as elder son
to Devi Kausalya and King Dhasharatha under the constellation of Gemini, with
the birth star Punarvasu. He carried
out early education under the guidance of Sage Vashishta, later Rama along with
Lakshman was assigned to protect the Yaga of Sage Vishwamithra, he sincerely
followed the instructions of Sage Vishwamithra, he killed dreadful demon
Thataka and numerous demons, and he removed the curse of Devi Ahalya who is
chaste wife of Sage Gauthama. He traveled to the Kingdom of Mithila, in the great assembly Rama tied the powerful
bow of Lord Shiva, and received Devi Sita as wedded wife; he crushed the pride
of Bhargavarama/Parashurama. Rama was
brave, courageous as well as wise; hence King Dhasharatha decided to perform coronation
ceremony to Rama who is heir to the throne.
Though the arrangements for the coronation ceremony was taken place in
full swing, due to the plotting of Mandhara and the promises given to Devi
Kausalya resulted in exile of Rama, Sita and Lakshman from the Kingdom of
Ayodhya. Rama along with Devi Sita and Lakshman moved
to Shringiberipuram, he made close association with Guha who was chief of
tribal clan, Rama visited Sage Bharadhvaja in his hermitage, Rama at the
instruction of Sage Bharadhvaja moved to the hills of Chithrakoota. Bharatha visited Rama with the grave news of
death of Dhasharatha was pacified and offered his Padhuka, eventually he performed final rite for his
father. Rama moved to the dense wood of
Dhandakaranya, he killed haughty demon Viradha and numerous demons. Rama met Sage Sharabhanga, Sage Sutheekshna, Sage Agasthya and illustrious Rishis, he
reverentially greeted them, promised to
kill Ravana and protect the world from the atrocities of Ravana. Rama obtained various Asthra and Shasthras
from the Rishis and explored through the dense wood. In the meanwhile, Shoorpanakha was humiliated
by cutting off her nose, Dhooshana and Thrishirass were mortified, they
accompanied with fourteen thousand demons and fought with Rama, ultimately all
the demons were killed in Janasthana.
Ravana was raged at the death of numerous demons in Janasthana, with the
help of Mareecha who is a great illusionist, chased Rama and Lakshman far off
from the hermitage, eventually Devi Sita was abducted by Ravana. Jatayu who was approached to protect Devi
Sita from the clutches of Ravana was severely wounded. Rama and Lakshman met Jatayu on their way,
Rama collected all the information about the abduction of Devi Sita from Jatayu
was deeply dejected, he performed final rite for Jatayu. Rama conducted rigorous search for Devi Sita. He met Kabandha and Shabari and provided
liberation to them. Rama had an
encounter with Hanuman on the river bank of Pampa was taken to Sugreevah, a
peace treaty was formed between Rama and Sugreevah. Rama killed Vali and crowned Sugreevah as King
of Kishkindha. Soon, a huge army of monkey
warriors were assigned in all directions to conduct meticulous search of Devi
Sita. The mighty warrior Hanuman met
elderly Sampathi, he sincerely followed the advice of Sampathi, crossed the vast ocean of hundreds of Yojana,
met Devi Sita who was completely distraught at the separation from Rama, she was relentlessly contemplating upon Lord
Rama, in the Ashoka Vatika. Hanuman reverentially
greeted Devi Sita and offered the ring of Lord Rama, he pacified her and encouraged
her to be optimistic. Hanuman vehemently
destroyed the pleasure garden of Ravana, killed five chief of army men, seven
sons of assembly men, and Akshakumara, consequently Lanka was burnt in to
ashes. The precious gem Choodamani
obtained from Devi Sita by Hanuman was respectfully offered to Lord Rama, and
described all the information about Devi Sita. Rama was highly pleased and
embraced Hanuman. Rama and Lakshman,
with the help of Sugreevah and mighty warriors of monkeys arrived at the sea
shore, with the help of Nala and numerous monkey warriors a huge bridge was
constructed across the vast ocean. Rama
has a fierce battle with Ravana, at the end of the vicious battle all the demon
clans were destroyed, he crowned Vibheeshana as King of Lanka. Devi Sita was sanctified in the fire and obtained
various boons from all the deities. Rama along with Devi Sita, and Sugreevah with
all the monkey warriors were traveled in a grand flower chariot/Pushpkavimanam
to Nandigram, in the meantime Rama visited the hermitage of Sage Bharadhvaja, and
Hanuman was already instructed to meet Bharatha in the Nandigram. Rama removed the matted hair locks and
saffron robe, attired in a magnificent garment, reverentially greeted his
mothers. On an auspicious day, grand
coronation ceremony of Rama along with Devi Sita was performed. During his regime, there were no natural
calamities, child death, subjects were extremely contented and happy, women
were blessed with husbands of long life, there were no famine, fear, or crime,
people were sincerely followed righteousness.
Lord Rama performed hundreds of Ashwamedha Yaga, and performed abundance
of charities to priestly class. In this
way, Rama wisely ruled his Kingdom for eleven thousand years.
|| Jai Sriman Narayana ||
Courtesy - Ajay Srivatsa Iyer
