||Sri Ram Jayram Jaya Jaya Ram||

Chapter -108 – Dhoha

The beginning of the ceremonial rites

The members of the family of King Janaka and Dhasharatha  were extremely happy, considered the supreme Lord, Parambhramam who arrived in the city of Mithila as a groom, therefore they forgot to notice anyone other than Lord Rama, woman folks assembled to take Harathi, followed with melodious songs and the sounds of divine musical instruments, deities showered flowers, all those woman folk felt highly pleased to watch the loveliness of the groom, and shed tears of joy, transported to a world of ecstasy. Devi Sunaya’s happiness had no bounds, cannot be described even for Devi Sharada or thousand hooded Adishesha in hundreds of Kalpa. Devi Sunayana controlled her tears, as it is inauspicious while taking Harathi of the groom, she happily offered the Harathi, and finished all those rites according to their traditions and as prescribed in the Vedas. There were five types of Mangalavadhyas, and five Geethavadhyas, the floor to the grand hall was decorated with grand carpets, after offering Harathi, Devi Sunayana offered water to Rama to wash his hands. Rama proceeded to Mandap, King Dhasharatha seated in a grand throne with his ministers, the deities showered flowers upon him, and the twice-born recited Vedas. The whole city of Mithila and the sky reverberated in the sounds of music and Dhundhubi, none of the people could talk to each other. Thus Rama entered that glorious Mandap was received with great reverence, a magnificent throne was offered to him.

Rama was surrounded with the group of beautiful women with the Mangala Harathi of earthen lamps, there was a heap of precious ornaments, gems, marvelous royal attires, was kept before him. Lord Bhrama and deities assumed the form of twice-born and witnessed the marvelous scene. They have considered Rama as the Sun in the clan of Raghu, to spread brilliance in the cluster of lotus flowers of the family; they took great pleasure in the loveliness of Rama and felt it as one of the greatest fortune. All those precious ornaments and finest garments were distributed among the attendants, musicians, dancers, etc. with great respect and they showered their blessings to Rama.

King Janaka and Dhasharatha performed all those Vedic rites and rites according to the customs in the family and they embraced each other with great satisfaction, it was one of the blissful moment of the union of the two families, the deities showered flowers upon them.  Even though the poets and intellectuals made an effort to describe the splendor of both the Kings, they failed miserably. The deities eulogized the supreme Lord Rama “Lord Bhrama created the Universe and we have seen many weddings, this is one of the opportunity we could witness the bride and groom belongs to an illustrious clan, equally wealthy and virtuous.” King Janaka invited King Dhasharatha through the beautifully carpeted pathways, and offered water to wash his hands, and reverentially took him to that grand Mandap which has exquisite artworks attracted even the saintly men. King Janaka offered the marvelous throne to King Dhasharatha and all those dignitaries on the dais; he worshiped Sage Vashishta, and got blessings from him. Janaka eulogized the glories of Kaushika that was beyond description, and then he worshiped Vamadeva who was the preceptor of Raghu clan, in this way he received all those preceptors, Sages and Rishis with great respect, and offered them marvelous seats, and received an abundance of blessings from them.