||Sri Ram Jeyram Jay Jay Ram ||

Chapter – 2 – Ayodhya Kandam

The preparation for the grand coronation ceremony of Rama

Sage Vashishta instructed the members “Oh! Members of the assembly, collect waters from the most important sacred rivers,  medicinal herbs and roots, flowers, fruits, leaves, Chamara, skin of deer, finest clothes of silk and fur, ornaments, and various auspicious Mangaladhravya for the coronation ceremony and bring the list of the ingredients needed to perform the rite.  All the celebration will take place strictly following the Vedic rites, the city should be decorated with the flags, magnificent tents, and decorate with plantain tree, mango tree, and palm tree. The streets should be decorated with Rangoli adorned with gem, the people of the city should take care of the decoration of markets. Begin all the duties with the initial veneration of Lord Ganesha, Bhoodeva/twice-born, preceptor, and deities of the clan. There should be a heap of Dwaja, Pathak, Thorana, Kalasha, and herds of horses, elephants, and numerous chariots ready for the ceremony.” The members of the palace started the preparation according to the instruction of Sage Vashishta, everyone sincerely performed their duties as desired by the Sage.  King Dhasharatha worshiped twice-born, saintly men, and deities,  and performed all those auspicious duties for the welfare of Rama.  The moment people heard of the coronation ceremony of Rama, the city reverberated with the sounds of various musical instruments.

Devi Sita and Lord Rama experienced various auspicious omens, their divine limb quivered as a mark of upcoming auspiciousness, they happily conversed each other, Rama said “ I expect Bharatha will be returning to the Ayodhya very soon, I could sense few auspicious omens, he had left the palace for several days now, we are eagerly waiting to see him. All these auspicious omens confirm the arrival of our beloved Bharatha. There is none other than beloved like Bharatha to us, therefore all these auspicious omens confirm his return to the city.” Rama was completely absorbed in the thoughts of Bharatha during day and night, like the tortoise which is cautious of its eggs and carries its thoughts in its hearts.

The woman folks in the palace enthusiastically ran all around the palace, after listening to the auspicious news about the coronation ceremony of Rama, they have resembled the powerful ocean waves in the presence of the full moon. The woman folks who brought the happiest news to the queens were received the finest clothes and ornaments as gifts. The queens began the preparation for the ceremony, they have arranged Mangalakalasha, Devi Sumithra adorned the palace and shrine with colorful Rangoli and decorated them with gems. Devi Kausalya invited several twice-born and distributed an abundance of gifts, she worshiped the deities of the clan, and serpent gods, and arranged for various offerings to the deities, she undertook vow and austerities and prayed for the welfare of her son. The beautiful young women who have a lustrous face like the moon, and the eyes of antelope sang beautifully. The male and female of the city thrilled to hear the coronation ceremony of Rama; they all sincerely prayed for Rama and began the decoration of their homes.

King Dhasharatha requested Maharishi Vashishta to advice Rama and Devi Sita about the austerities should be followed in the coming days.  Maharishi Vashishta visited the fortress of Rama and Devi Sita was reverentially greeted, they washed the feet of the Sage, and worshiped with sixteen Upacharas, the couple together prostrated before the sage, and spoke “Oh! Mahamune, your arrival to the house of your sincere servant would bring all the auspiciousness, and it would remove all the inauspiciousness, Oh! Prabho, you have taken the effort to visit me, if you have ordered I would be present before you to follow your orders. You have showered an abundance of grace upon us by making a visit to our house, we are fortunate to have you. Oh! Mune, I am waiting to follow your orders, kindly order me, a servant would get all the auspiciousness at the sincere service of his Master.” Sage Vashishta was highly pleased with the generosity of Rama and spoke “Oh! Rama, you are absolutely right. You are the jewel in the illustrious clan of Raghu. Oh! Rama, King Dhasharatha decided to proclaim you as the King of Ayodhya and he has made a grand arrangement for that ceremony, you have to follow strict austerities to achieve the grace of the supreme Lord.” Vashishta highly praised Rama’s virtues and discipline and returned to the palace.