||Sri Ram Jeyram Jay Jay Ram ||

Chapter – 1 – Ayodhya Kandam

The announcement of the coronation ceremony of Rama by King Dhasharatha 

Yasyange Cha Vibhathi Bhoodharasutha Devapaga Masthake | Phale BalaVidhurgale Cha Garlam Yasyorasi Vyalarat | So Ayam Bhoothi Vibhooshana: Suravara: Sarvadhipa: Sarvadha | Sharva:  Sarvagatha: Shiva: Shashinibha: Srishankara: Pathu Mam ||

Prasannatham Ya Na Gathabhishekasthadha Namamle Vanavasa Dhukhatha:| Mukhambhujashree Raghunandhanasya Me Sadhasthu Sa  Manjjula Mangalapradha ||

Neelambhuja shyamalakomalangam Seethasamaropitha Vamabhagam | Panau Mahasayaka Charuchapam Namami Ramam Raghuvamshanatham ||

I shall prostrate before supreme Lord Shankara who has lustrous limb resembles the full moon, he is all-pervasive, he is Sharva who symbolizes auspiciousness, he is eternal, he is Lord of Lords, he is the commander of Universe and its living beings, smeared in sacred ashes all over the body, adorned in venomous serpents all over the body, and the crescent moon and the sacred river Ganga/Devapaga on the matted hair locks, and Goddess Sri Parvathi who is the daughter of Bhoosutha, attained half of the body on his left, I shall reverentially pray to that supreme Lord to protect us.

I shall prostrate before the supreme Lord Raghunandhana, whose face resembles the lustrous lotus flower, did not get over-excited with the news of coronation as the King of Ayodhya, or not disappointed or grieved about life in the dense wood, Oh! Raghunandhana, I shall pray kindly shower auspiciousness to all. I shall prostrate before Lord Rama who is the protector of Raghu clan, has the dark-color complexion body resembles a blue lotus flower, wielded in powerful bow and arrow, and seated with Devi Sita on his left.

I shall purify my mind and intellect like the mirror with the dust particles of my preceptor; I shall begin to eulogize the splendor of Rama which could provide Purusharththa/Dharma, Arththa, Kama, and Moksha. The city of Ayodhya was immersed in various festivities from the day Rama returned after his marriage with Devi Sita, and it was continued for several days, the fourteen worlds like the mountains, the clouds like fortune showered water of happiness on the people of Ayodhya. The downpour of happiness created the watercourse of welfare, Siddhi, wealth, and eventually, it attained union in the ocean like the city of Ayodhya. The male and females of the cities have resembled the eye-catching precious gems, the beauty of the city was beyond description, it resembled the one of finest pieces of the creation of Lord Bhrama. The people of the city took great pleasure in the loveliness of Ramachandra resembled the luster of the autumn moon. The three mothers, and her female companions and attendants, were immensely happy watching their charming sons and lovely daughters in law. King Dhasharatha took great pleasure in the loveliness, virtues, simplicity, and generosity of Rama. Everyone had a great desire and prayed to supreme Lord “King Dhasharatha should crown Rama who is the heir to the throne as the King of Ayodhya.”

One day, while Raghurama was seated with the members of the assembly, King Dhasharatha pleased listening to the endless fame of Rama.   The Kings of the neighboring cities were in a good relationship with King Dhasharatha who is eminent in three worlds, there was no one fortunate than him in the past, present and in the future, hence the Kings of the neighboring countries had great reverence and sincerely followed the commands of the King Dhasharatha. Moreover, he had attained Rama who symbolizes auspiciousness as the elder son. King Dhasharatha casually took a mirror and re-arranged his crown, found a gray hair near the ear, it sounds like “Oh! Rajan, declares Rama as the King of Ayodhya, in this way you can attain the piousness of your birth and life.” King Dhasharatha felt extremely happy, and on an auspicious day, King approached the preceptor Vashishta and earnestly revealed his desire to him.

King Dhasharatha speaks “Oh! Muninayak, kindly listen to me, Rama has become an expert in the administration and performance of various deeds for the welfare of the Kingdom and its people.  All those Kings of neighboring countries, people of Ayodhya, and the people in the palace, and all those associates of mine and attendants have great respect towards Rama, and they shower great reverence and love to him as they offer to me. We have attained Rama as our son with your grace; all those twice-born and their families have great admiration for him. I have learned a great lesson from my life that whoever has the intense devotion and respect to the preceptor would attain great admiration in their lives. I have gained all those happiness by worshiping dust from your feet which is capable to purify the intellect. Oh! Mune, I have only one desire left in me, it is definite that would get fulfilled with the grace of you.”

Sage Vashishta highly pleased with the simplicity of the King Dhasharatha, spoke “Oh! Rajan, order me. Oh! Rajan, your name and fame itself would fulfill all your desires. Oh! The gem among the King, all your desires would get fulfilled the moment you yearn for it.” King Dhasharatha understood that Sage Vashishta in a most pleasing mood, therefore, took that opportunity to explain with a soft voice “Oh! Mune, Let us perform coronation ceremony of Rama and crown him as the King of Ayodhya, kindly order the same and do the needful preparations for it. Let this auspicious deed take place while I am alive; let the people of Ayodhya attain the fortune of their eyes, all the things are taking place without any obstacles with the grace of supreme Lord Shiva. I have only one desire to crown Rama as the King of Ayodhya, after that, I do not bother whether I am alive or not, then I need not regret later.”

Sage Vashishta was extremely happy listening to the most promising words of King Dhashartha, and spoke “Oh! Rajan, listen to me carefully, whoever keeps enmity with Rama would undergo afflictions; therefore worship of him is the only way to get rid of all the sufferings and grief of worldly existence because he symbolizes pure love and compassion. That supreme Lord has taken birth as your son Rama. Oh! Rajan, do not make any delay; we will make all the arrangements immediately. The day on which Rama crowned as the King of Ayodhya would be the most auspicious moment in our lives.”

King Dhasharatha returned to his palace with great pleasure, called for his ministers and Sumanthra, they all stood before the King and reverentially bow down head before him, King narrated the upcoming coronation ceremony of Rama as the King of Ayodhya, they became extremely happy, experienced the sweet words of the King as cool and light downpour. The ministers with their hands folded spoke “Oh! Jagathpathe, Long live! Your decision to crown Rama as the King of Ayodhya will bring auspiciousness to the whole world, Oh! Prabho, kindly orders us to perform the preparation for the coronation ceremony at the earliest.” King Dhasharatha was highly pleased listening to the most enthusiastic words of the ministers as if the creeper found a strong branch of a tree to settle. King Dhasharatha spoke “Oh! Ministers, sincerely follow all the orders of Sage Vashishta on behalf of the preparation for the coronation ceremony.”