||Sri Ram Jayram Jaya Jaya Ram||

Chapter – 22 – Dhoha – 21

Tulsidas Maharaj speaks “ The mutual understanding, co-operation, kindness, respect, humility, pleasing personality, and the relationship with the family members of these four brothers Ram, Lakshman, Bharath, and Shathrughna symbolizes the sweetness and the fragrance of the water in the river.  My endless desires and pitiable state represents the weightiness of that sacred water. This mysterious water like the legend of Rama is capable to destroy the thirst like endless desires of the Jeeva, and highly promising to the listener, it removes all the impurities of the mind and intellect of the listener, it enhances the devotion at the lotus feet of Supreme Lord Rama, it removes all the evil effects of the Kali era, it removes all the miseries and sorrows of this era, it removes the sufferings of worldly existence, it provides contentment and satisfaction to the listener. The glorious legend of Rama destroys the sins, miseries, sufferings of poverty, impurities, etc. it eradicates Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Madha, Moha, and Mathscharya, it enhances pure intellect and sense of renunciation in the listener.  Whoever takes a dip in this water of legend of Ramakatha and taste its water would get rid of the sins and Thapathraya/sufferings caused by body consciousness, attachments to people and attachments to material things.  Whoever does not take a dip in this glorious water like Ramakatha are unfortunate of the evilness of the Kali era, these Jeevas constantly chases after the sensual pleasures and material well-being, get troubled with extreme thirst and run after the illusion of images of water caused by the extreme heat. Finally, get disappointed like the deer’s that run behind the illusion of water.”

Tulsidas Maharaj brilliantly describes the glorious legend of Rama like serene water of rich sweetness and fragrance, and the virtues of Lord Rama, according to his intellect, and takes dip in this sacred water, offering initial salutations to Lord Shankara and Goddess Bhavani. He prostrates before the lotus feet of  supreme Lord Raghupathi and adores them in his heart, and begins to describe the conversion between the illustrious Sages Kakabhushundi and Sage Bharadhwaja which spread immense bliss to the listeners.

The illustrious sage Bharadhwaja who is an ardent devotee of Lord Rama lives in the Prayaga, symbolizes Tapa/asceticism, Shama/appeasement, Dhama/self-restraint has achieved the highest state of Paramarththa with his constant austerities. During the auspicious month of Magh, the people from various lands arrive in the King of Theertha, Prayagraj for a holy dip in this Theertha.  The deities, demons, Kinnaras, and humans assemble on this riverbank and sincerely undertake holy dip in this water, and worships the supreme Lord Bindu Madhav.   They offer salutations to the Akshayavata and get themselves sanctified.  The hermitage of Sage Bharadhwaja is the dwelling place of illustrious Rishis and Sages are one of the beautiful and sanctified places in the  Prayagraj and it is a sheltered place for all those saintly people who arrives to take a dip in the Prayagraj.  The Rishis and Sages assembled in this hermitage takes bath in the early hours of dawn, engages in various spiritual and religious rites, and spend the remaining hours in the glorious chants and listening to the marvelous legends of supreme Lord Hari.