||Sri Ram Jeyram Jay Jay Ram ||

 

Chapter – 56– Ayodhya Kandam

 The concluding part of Ayodhya Kandam - Bharatha's life in Nandigauv

Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana lived in that beautiful hermitage in the Chitrakoot, it was like Gnana, Bhakti and Vairagya personified on the Earth. The sages and Rishis, preceptors, ministers, King Janaka, and the people of Ayodhya and Mithila were besieged with the pain of separation of Rama and Sita. They were contemplated upon Lord Rama, and traveled in utter silence, they have crossed the river Yamuna, that day they did not consume a meal. On the next day, they have crossed the river Ganga and arrived in the village Shrungabheripura. Guha was already arranged for their comfortable stay and meals; they have crossed river Gomathi on the fourth day, and took a bath in it, and reached the city of Ayodhya. King Janaka stayed in the Kingdom of Ayodhya for four days and took an inspection of the administration of the Kingdom and the duties of the Kingdom was assigned to preceptors, Bharatha and Ministers, and returned to Mithila. The people of Ayodhya sincerely followed the instructions of the preceptors and lived happily.

 

The people of Ayodhya conducted fasting and various austerities to extend their life span to see Rama’s return after Vanavasa, they sacrificed luxuries and ornaments and waited for the return of Rama. Bharatha instructed the ministers and attendants in the administration of the Kingdom, they sincerely followed his instructions,  Bharatha called for Shathrughna and instructed him to take care of mothers, he called for twice-born and prostrated before them, and spoke with folded hands “Oh! Vipradevatha, kindly inform about everything, whether it is minor or major issues, good or bad in the Kingdom of Ayodhya from time to time.” He invited the people of Ayodhya and his families, and he went to meet Preceptors with Shathrughna and prostrated before them and spoke “Oh! Swami, with your permission I shall take leave to conduct the life of a Tapasvi.” Preceptors replied “Oh! Bharatha, whatever you do would be for the welfare of the Kingdom and its people, it must be the essence of the righteousness as well.”

 

Bhartha felt highly pleased with the advice of preceptors, he called for the astrologers and found an auspicious day to install the Padhukas of Rama on the throne of Ayodhya, and eventually, the throne was sanctified with the Padhukas of Rama. Bharatha who symbolizes righteousness, prostrated before his mothers and took permission from the preceptors, and settled in the hermitage in Nandigauv close to the city of Ayodhya. He attired in saffron robes, has matted hair locks, adorned in rosary beads, slept on the divine grass, consumed fruits, and fiber roots, he sincerely followed austerities, and Niyama and conducted Rishidharma. He abandoned all those worldly pleasures by words, actions, and heart. The throne of Ayodhya roused jealousy in Lord Indra. The wealth of King Dhasharatha put shame on Kubera, even though Bharatha lived like a honey bee in the wood of Champaka, the honeybees never take honey from the flowers of Champaka.   Bharatha has no interest in wealth or the throne of Ayodhya. Whoever attains intense devotion at the lotus feet of Rama would abandon the worldly matters and bondage like spew.

 

Bharatha's devotion to Rama was like the Chathaka which is famous for its sincerity, and the Swan for its intelligence to separate the milk from the water.  Thus Bharatha started living in the hermitage of Nandigauv, his body emaciated due to the rigorous fasting and austerities, the strength of the body and brilliance of the face remained. His fire like devotion to Rama was blazing day by day. His righteousness multiplied, like the scarcity of the water does not stop the water plants to grow and the lotus flowers to blossom. He was free from grief, sincerely followed Niyama, Dhamam, Shamam, Samyamam, and Upavasa, that sparkled like the stars in the sky as the heart of Bharatha. His faith and devotion were like the pole star/Dhruva, Rama’s return after Vanavasa was the full moon, and contemplation upon Rama cemented his devotion. His love for Rama was pure and unblemished, shone like Chandra amid the stars. Bharatha’s austerities, renunciation, virtues, splendor, and life in Nandigauv was beyond description, that was caused perplexity in Adishesha, Sharadha,  and Lord Ganesha.

 

Bharatha gave instructions to conduct the detailed worship of the sandals of Rama, with intense devotion and faith. His heart filled with devotion to Rama and Sita, he constantly recited the name of Rama and shed tears. Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita lived in the woods. Bharatha living in the city of Ayodhya undertook the life of a Tapasvi and undertook extreme austerities. Everyone praised Bharatha’s devotion and love to Rama. The saintly men and ascetics felt gloomy watching the extreme penance and fasting of Bharatha. The Maharishis felt ashamed of themselves watching the extreme austerities of Bharatha. The legend of Bharatha and his austerities in the Nandigauv is the source of happiness and auspiciousness, it removes the evilness in the Kaliera, it removes sufferings and sins, and it removes the darkness of ignorance as well. It removes the Mahamoha/Jeeva who completely soaked in worldly matters/ of the Jeeva like the brilliance of sunrays. It’s like Mrigaraja/lion who kills the herd of untamed elephants like sins, it removes all the sufferings of the worldly existence, it gives bliss to the devotees, it removes the hurdles of worldly existence, and it is the essence of Sri Rama Bhakti.

 

If Bharatha was not born, who would instruct those Vratha, Niyama, Yama, Shama, Dhama, which is not understandable even for ascetics? He is the essence of Sri Ramaprema. Who would remove the sufferings of worldly existence, extreme afflictions, sufferings of poverty, impurities of the mind, with their fame other than Bharatha? Who would transform the evil mind as the dwelling place of Sri Rama?

 

Tulsidas Maharaj speaks “Whoever listens to the legend of Bharatha with intense devotion and faith, would attain extreme devotion at the lotus feet of Lord Rama and Devi Sita, and they would get relieved from the interest in worldly matters.”