||Sri Ram Jeyram Jay Jay Ram ||

Chapter – 44– Ayodhya Kandam

The blissful life of people of Ayodhya in the woods

On the next day morning, Prabhu who removes the sins of Jeeva like Surya took a dip in Devanadhi Ganga, and sincerely followed the instructions of Sage Vashishta and Vamadeva, performed all the ancestral rites, according to the Veda, in this way the Prabu who burn the accumulated sins of the Jeeva and the sacred river Ganga purifies the Jeeva, he performed all the final rites of his father. The people of Ayodhya spend days and night around the hermitage of Prabhu, after two days, Rama pleasantly spoke to the preceptor “Oh! Swami,  I am watching the people of Ayodhya are having a difficult time living in the woods, consuming fruits and fiber roots and drinking water from the river. Whenever I see Bharatha, Shathrughna, mothers, and ministers I feel each second as Yuga, therefore kindly return to Ayodhya with everyone. It is not advisable to leave the Kingdom in our father’s absence, kindly forgive my words. Oh! Swami, you can do as you wish.”

Sage Vashishta speaks “Oh! Rama who symbolizes righteousness, it is nothing wrong the way you speak, let these people live with you for another two days and get themselves relieved from sorrows of separation from you, keep themselves blissful and serene in your presence.” The people of Ayodhya came to know about Rama’s decision to send them back to Ayodhya, they shattered, like passengers caught in a ferry in the middle of the ocean battered by the heavy downpour. The promising words of Sage Vashishta provided them coolness of the breeze. They took a dip in the Payasvini thrice a day, and prostrated before Rama and took his Dharshan at their heart’s content. In this way, they have got rid of grief and went to explore in the beautiful woods packed with the auspicious trees, there were several watercourses carrying crystal clear waters, there was a cool and highly fragrant breeze, removed the Thapathraya of the people. There were several trees, shrubs, creepers, grasses, varieties of flowers and fruits, the entire wood was marvelous and beyond words. The ponds were filled with the lotus flowers,  packed in several species of water birds, buzzing sounds of a pack of honey bees, several types of birds and animals, were lived in complete harmony.

The tribes of Kiratha, and Kola, served the people of Ayodhya with honey, fruits, fiber roots, sprouted grains in vessels made of leaves, they were explaining the nature of the fruits and its goodness, etc. In this way, they have received their guests with great respect. The money offered to them was refused with respect, and all they wanted devotion to Rama, “You all are highly fortunate to be with Rama, we are lowly clan, and it was the grace of Rama we could serve you. Rama showered an abundance of grace upon Nishadharaja, we want to be a part of the blessings of Rama, kindly consider us as devotees of Rama and shower your grace upon us, kindly accept those fruits, and fiber roots and shower your blessings on us. You all are our lovely guests in the forest, but we are unfortunate to serve you all, we have born in the untouchable clan. Oh! Swami, what would we offer to you? We have wooden pieces and leaves with us. We will not steal your clothes or vessels. We were cruel people take pleasure in killing animals; we have born in the lowly clan, wicked, cruel, and deceitful.  We were engaged in sins day and night; still, we did not get clothes to cover our body or food to retreat our hunger. We have attained righteousness in the presence of Raghunandhana.  We have got relieved from all those deceitful deeds from the day we have worshiped the lotus feet of Rama.” The people of Ayodhya became emotional and praised them abundantly.

The people of Ayodhya praised the Beela and Kola tribes and felt extremely happy watching their devotion and love on Rama and Devi Sita. Tulsidas speaks it was the grace of Rama that made the iron ferry like the tribal people who constantly engaged in wicked deeds crossed the ocean of Samsara like the wooden ferry, with their devotion. The people of Ayodhya took great pleasure wandering all over the forest with the tribal people and enjoyed the stunning beauty of the wood, like the peacock and frogs, gets highly pleased with the first downpour. They have passed days like minutes, Devi Sita sincerely served her mothers-in-law, assuming her divine forms, she engaged in the service of them relentlessly, it was known to Rama, none of them realized it. Devi Sita is Maya of the supreme Lord.  The mothers-in-law were highly pleased with her service, blessed, and advised her. Devi Kaikeyi deeply regretted watching the love and affection of the Rama, Sita, and Lakshman. Devi Kaikeyi requested help from Mother Earth and Yama, but both of them could not give death to her.  Whoever disrespects Rama won’t attain even the hell, it is famous in scriptures, and Veda, even the intellectuals affirm it. There was only one apprehension lingered in them, it was will Ram return to Ayodhya or not?

Bharatha did not sleep in the night or hunger in the day, he was extremely anxious like the fish in the muddy pond worried about the scarcity of water. He thought “My mother has destroyed the peace in the family like the insects destroyed the fully grown crops when it was almost ready to cut off. How did the coronation ceremony of Rama take place? I am not seeing any way out of this problem, I hope he will follow the instructions of the preceptor and return to Ayodhya. But the preceptor will not compel Rama, he always looks for the wellness of Rama.  Definitely, Raghurama will return If Devi Kausalya compels him, but it is doubtful whether she would do that or not? I am a sincere servant; therefore he won’t take notice of my words. Moreover, I am an unfortunate one, and God is not in favor of me. If I compel Rama that would be considered as a grave sin, a servant has no right to do that.” Thus Bharatha kept thinking of various things, but none of them could give peace, in this way he spends the whole night without sleeping. It was early morning, Bharatha took dip in the Devanadhi, and prostrated before Rama, and took a seat with him.  Soon, the preceptor called for Bharatha, he rushed to meet the preceptor, prostrated before him and took a seat with his permission. Immediately the twice-born, Rishis and Sages and ministers took their seats around them.

Maharishi Vashishta spoke “Oh! Members of the assembly, Oh! Highly intelligent Bharatha, listen to me, King Rama the sun of the Surya clan is righteous, he is supreme Lord who is independent and eternal truth and he is the protector of Dharma and Veda. Rama’s birth is the cause of the auspiciousness in the Universe. He sincerely follows the commands of his preceptor, and parents, he is most promising to deities and destroyer of wickedness. None would know thoroughly about Neethi, Preethi, Paramarththa, and Swarththam like Rama.  The supreme Lord is all-pervasive, he has an influence on Lord Bhrama, Lord Vishnu and Lord Mahseshwara, Dikpalaka, Sun, moon, Maya, Jeevathma, Karma, Kala, Yoga, Siddhi, Adhishesha, Kings, etc. he is eulogized by Veda, Vedanta, Shastra and Puranas. If we follow the instructions of Rama and respect his wishes, it would be highly auspicious for all of us. Oh! Intelligent ones, therefore take a joint decision, everyone has immense pleasure in performing the coronation ceremony of Rama. It is the source of happiness and auspiciousness as well. Therefore all of you think about how to persuade Rama to come back to the Kingdom of Ayodhya and let me know. We will do that accordingly.”