||Sri Ram Jeyram Jay Jay Ram ||

Chapter – 46– Ayodhya Kandam

The devotion of the people of Ayodhya to Rama/Arrival of King Janaka to the wood

The deities showered flowers listening to the most appropriate words of Bharatha, the people of Ayodhya became restless, the preceptors, sages, Rishis and Vanavasis, became happy, Rama who is reticent to speak, kept silence. The people of Ayodhya became anxious watching the silence of Raghunatha. At that moment the emissaries of King Janaka arrived, Sage Vashishta received them with great respect. They prostrated before the preceptors and Rama, they were extremely sad watching Rama in saffron robes, matted hair locks, and adorned in prayer beads. Sage Vashishta enquired “Is everything good with King of Vidheha?”, the emissaries prostrated before him and began to speak reluctantly “Oh! Swami, your affectionate enquires would definitely bring auspiciousness to all. Oh! Natha, our happiness has gone with the King of Kosala, his unexpected demise put the whole Universe into despair, and Kingdom of Ayodhya and Kingdom of Vidheha became an orphan in his absence. The people of Janakpuri are extremely distressed and grieving over the death of King Dhasharatha. Janakapathi is extremely grieving over the demise of the King and distraught like the serpent lost its precious gem. Devi Kaikeyi’s heartless verdict of Vanavasa of Rama and kingdom for Bharatha caused intense grief in the heart of Midhiladhipa.  He conducted a meeting of intellectuals, ministers, preceptors to discuss whether he should visit Ayodhya or not, but they could not make out a decision, therefore he sends four eminent emissaries to Ayodhya to find out the ultimate decision of Bharatha, by the time Bharatha had moved to Chitrakoot. The Mithilapathi, preceptor/Shathanandha, and queens are extremely.  They are pleased to listen to the sincerity, generosity, nobility, and devotion of Bharatha to Rama; they highly appreciated Bharatha for his noble deeds. Soon, Vidheharaja instructed his powerful army men to protect the palace, and city of Vidheha and started the journey with his people in an auspicious hour to the wood, there are several horses, elephants, and chariots arrived in the woods. They have arrived in Prayag in the morning, and they are crossing the sacred river Yamuna.  Oh! Swamis, King Janaka send us to inform the news of their arrival to you. ” They bow down before everyone assembled, Sage Vashishta advised few Kirathas to follow the emissaries of the King Janaka to bring them safely to the hermitage of Rama.

The people of Ayodhya became happy, and Raghunandhan was extremely anxious, and Devendra sunk in deep despair, Devi Kaikeyi was burning inside with extreme guilt, she could not express her grief, she did not find anyone to speak out her grief, the people of Ayodhya felt they could stay with Rama in the woods forever.  Thus, days have passed, people of Ayodhya went to take a dip in Devanadhi, and they conducted the worship of Lord Ganesha, Goddess Gauri, Lord Shiva, Lord Surya, and Lakshmipathi. They earnestly prayed with the tip of their clothes on their palms “Oh! Bhagavan, kindly make it possible to crown Rama as the King of Ayodhya and Devi Janaki as the Queen, and they happily live in Ayodhya, crown Bharatha as the prince of Ayodhya, Oh! Prabho, kindly make our prayers answered, let us take a dip in the nectar-like happiness and let us earn the fruitfulness in our lives. Oh! Bhagavan kindly blesses Rama to rule the Kingdom with his preceptors, ministers, and brothers. Kindly provide us the fortune to die witnessing Rama ruling the Kingdom of Ayodhya.”  The ascetics and saintly men were transported to a state of bliss listening to the sincere and affectionate prayers of the people of Ayodhya. The people of Ayodhya visited Rama and prostrated before him, Rama received them with great respect, they praised the virtues of Rama “ Rama who is the abode of beauty, virtues, wisdom, and generosity,  was too kind and most pleasing to the people of Ayodhya. We are fortunate to become part of the Ayodhya.” In this way, the people continued praising endless virtues of Rama, at that moment the news of arrival of Mithaladhipathi created an abrupt movement in the assembly, and in the crowd of the people, everyone rushed to receive King Janaka.