Jai Sriman Narayana !!
Yasmin
Thu Divasey Raja Chakre Go Dhanam Uththamam |
Thasmin
Thu Divasey Shuro Yudhajith Samupeyivan ||
Puthra:
Kekaya Rajasya Sakshath Bharatha Mathula: |
Dhrushtva Prushtva Cha Kushalam Rajanam Idham Abraveeth
||
Kekeya
Adhipathi Raja Snehath Kushalam Abraveeth |
Yesham
Kushalakamo Asi Thesham Samprathi Anamayam ||
Svashriyam
Mama Rajendra Dhrushtu Kamo Mahipathi: |
Thatha
Artham Upayatho Aham Ayodhyayam Raghunandana ||
The
valorous King Yudhajith, brother of Kaikeyi and maternal uncle of Bharatha,
arrived on the day of various charities done in abundance by King Dhasharatha. King Yudhajith enquired the welfare of King
Dhasharatha and spoke “ The ruler of Kingdom of Kekaya, your father-in-law
enquired the wellbeing of all of you and they are all doing very well. Oh! Rajendra, my father would like to see
Bharatha, the son of my sister Kaikeyi that is why I have travelled to the city
of Ayodhya. Oh! Mahipathey, I have
heard the news that you all have arrived in Mithila along with your sons for their
marriage. I had the intense desire to
witness my sister’s son Bharatha and proceeded to Mithila.” King Dhasharatha who finds immense pleasure
in receiving his guests, invited Yudhajith with all the respect and honors. On that night they all took pleasurable
moments in the company of their sons. On
the next day after completing the early morning ritual, arrived in the hall
where the Vedic ritual was proposed to conduct, keeping the eminent Sages at
forefront. At the auspicious hour, Rama along with his brothers adorned in
various jewels, tied the auspicious thread on their wrist before the prominent
Sages. Sage Vashishta said “ Oh!
Narashreshta, King Dhasharatha performed the auspicious thread ceremony to
their sons, and waiting for performing the remaining ceremony of marriage
according to the Swadharma of the family of brides and bridegrooms”. After listening to Sage Vashishta, King
Janaka replied reverentially “Is there any need to wait for the permission to
enter in to your own home? and I earnestly pray not to hesitate, Mithila is the
Kingdom of yours as well. Oh!
Munishreshta, my daughters are already
present before the altar of Fire and well prepared to perform the thread ceremony,
like the radiant blaze before the altar of Fire. We are already waiting before the Altar of
fire. Let us perform the auspicious ceremony
without any impediments.” Soon King
Dhasharatha entered with his four sons along with the assembled Sages. King Janaka requested Sage Vashishta to
perform the marriage ceremony of Rama.
In that grand marriage hall decked with flowers and various alluring fragrances
and sandal paste, there were various
colors and patterns of vessels in Gold, earthen and various spatula and required
materials to perform the ritual of fire along with necessary ingredients like
Ghee, milk, water, yellow rice, sprouted pulses, rice flakes etc.. Sage
Vishwamithra, Sage Vashishta, Sage Shathananda along with the eminent Sages
took seat before the Altar of fire and sanctified all those materials kept
before the fire of altar for the performance of auspicious ritual by sprinkling
the yellow rice on them. The resplendent
Sage Vashishta overlaid the sacred grass with the Vedic chants in a particular
order on the fire of alter; he prepared fire by rubbing the woods and placed it
in the Altar. Further, Sage Vashishta methodically
poured the oblation to the fire along with the Vedic chants. At that moment, King Janaka led Sita who was
marvelously decked with various ornaments, before the fire of Altar and made
her seated before Raghava. King Janaka
addressed to Rama who is the enhancer of delight of Kousalya,
“
Iyam Sita Mama Sutha Saha Dharma Chari
Thava ||
Prathiccha
Cha Yenam Badhram They Panim Gruhanishva
Panina |”
“This
is my daughter Sita, I shall wish you to accept her as your better half to
perform all the righteous deeds with you, let safeness be with you and take her
palm into yours. She will be a chaste
wife to you and will follow you like your shadow.” After saying so, King Janaka poured water into
Rama’s hands followed by Vedic hymns.
The divine drum beats were followed, deities and the sages assembled
were showered flowers on the newly wedded divine couple. King Janaka was in a state of ecstacy, at the
successful completion of the wedding of his daughter. Further, King Janaka offered Urmila’s hands
to Lakshmana, Mandavi’s hands to Bharatha and Shruthakirthi’s hands to
Shathrungna respectively. King Janaka
said “ Oh! Rama, Lakshmana, Bharatha and Shathrunga, virtuous brothers from the
Kakustha Dynasty, please proceed for the further ceremony without lapse of
time.” All the four bridegrooms followed
by their brides, holding their hands into their, sincerely performed additional
ceremonies at the instructions of Sage Vashishta, along with the recitation of
Vedic hymns, the bridegrooms and brides performed circumambulation of sacred
fire, Sages and King Janaka and the family of Raghu’s dynasty. They have performed the remaining ritual
according to the scriptures at the instruction of Sage Vashishta and fruitfully
completed the custom. The deities and
sages were showered flowers, divine drum beats reverberated all over the place and
celestial Apsaras were danced to the tune of mellifluous music of Gandharvas, in
this way the grand marriage ceremony of divine couple were successfully
completed. The music and dance of
celestial Gandharvas and celestial Apsaras were overflowed; the newly wedded
couple took circumambulation of the sacred fire three times. Shortly, the legatees of Raghu emerged from
the wedding hall with their wives accompanied by families and Sages and Rishis. King
Dhasharatha affectionately looked at his sons and daughter-in-laws.
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
