|| Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram ||

Chapter -8 - Uththara Kandam

 The beautiful city of Ayodhya/Rama's meeting with the Sanakadhis

In the early hours of dawn, Prabhu takes a dip in Sarayu, after performing  the morning rites; he attends the assembly of twice-born and preceptors.  Sage Vashishta give lectures on Veda and Purana, the Sarvajja sincerely listen to them and take the meal with brothers, this sight would highly please their mothers. Bharatha and Shathrughna along with Vayuputhra visit the pleasure garden and requests Hanuman to narrate the glorious legends of Prabhu. Vayuputhra who is the ocean of devotion describes various amusements and virtues of Rama, and drench in devotion at the lotus feet of Prabhu. The legends of Rama was sung beautifully in the houses of Ayodhya, in this way, they have spend day and night reciting the glorious myths of Rama, did not take notice of the time. The happiness and wealth of the people of Ayodhya was indescribable even for crores of Adishesha and Sharadha. The illustrious Rishis Narada and Sanaka were the regular visitors to Ayodhya to worship Prabhu. The ascetics forgot their Vairagya watching the mesmerizing beauty of the palace and city of Ayodhya decorated with the gem on the floors and ceilings, pathways, beautiful walls, magnificent and huge marble fortresses with the sparkling dome put shame to Surya and Chandra, beautiful gem decorated windows, crystal chandeliers, sparkling doorways, exquisite artworks, various gem decorated  huge pillars, was stunning gave out the perception that  it was constructed by Lord Bhrama, the fortresses were spacious  and eye-catching, the doors and pathways were decorated with gems, pearls and crystals etc. all those houses in the Ayodhya had the marvelous appearance, the wall was decorated with the exquisite art forms which describe the legends of Rama, that took the entire attraction of the ascetics. There were beautiful gardens in every home, there were different creepers and flowering plants resembled the Vasantha Rithu, these gardens were packed with the buzzing of honey bees, there was cool breeze carrying rich fragrances, the birds, swan, pelicans, doves, and peacocks have taken care of the children sang beautifully and move around freely, watching their own mirror images on the gem decorated floors these birds uttered ‘Rama, Raghupathi, Janapalaka’ taught by their little masters, the grand palace gate, the pathways, market places, and streets of Ayodhya were marvelous sites. There were several markets had an abundance of available products were given freely to the needy, while the Lakshminivasa was ruling the Kingdom will it be possible to describe his wealth? The sellers of clothes, bankers, and merchants have resembled Kubera. All those male, female, children and the elderly were graceful and good-natured.

 

The sacred river Saryu situated on the northern side of the Palace of Ayodhya has deep and crystal clear water, and there were clean and beautiful stones steps on both sides of the river. Little far from these beautifully constructed steps, there was a quiet place where several elephants and horses arrive to quench their thirst. There was a beautiful area on the riverbank of Saryu with attractive stone steps to bathe for the people of four Varnnas. There were shrines and gardens, and a huge number of trees and plants on these areas, there were ascetics, Vairagins and Sages engages in meditation and the people who have abandoned interest in worldly matters and bondages engages the practice of meditation; there were huge clusters of Tulsi plants in these areas. In short, the city of Ayodhya and its external areas were indescribable, mere witnessing these ponds, rivers, shrines and the pleasures gardens would remove the sins. There were several ponds, rivers, and wells of crystal clear water with stone steps, surrounded by a garden of creepers, added the magnificence, the deities, and Rishis were fascinated by the beauty of it. The ponds were packed with the freshly bloomed lotus flowers; there was a pack of the buzzing of honey bees, marvelous gardens of plants and creepers are the shelter place of various species of birds that were inviting. The city of Ayodhya ruled by Ramapathi was beyond description. The city of Ayodhya was the abode of wealth and various Siddhis.

 

The male and females constantly engaged in the meditation upon that supreme Lord Raghupathi, they assemble together and sung in praise of the virtues of him “We shall prostrate before the supreme Lord Raghava who is Bhakthajanapalaka is the storehouse of virtues, beauty, disciplines, has beautiful eyes resembles lotus flower petals, has lustrous the dark-cloud complexion, he is the protector of his devotees, like the eyelids protects the eyes. He is wielded in powerful bow and arrow, he is Ranadheera, he is the source of happiness to the ascetics, resembles Surya which is the source of happiness to the lotus flower, he resembles Garuda that swallows the serpent-like Kala, he is the hunter who kills the wild beast like Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Madha and Mathshcharya, he resembles a lion that hunts down the untamed elephant-like interest in worldly matters and bondage. He is the source of happiness to his people, he resembles Surya who removes the darkness of sorrow and false perceptions, and he resembles the forest fire that kills the demons like woods. Oh! Mortals, contemplate upon that supreme Lord Rama who is Janakisametha, destroyer of the fears of worldly existence, he resembles the frost that destroys the destructible habits of Jeeva like mosquitoes, he is eternal has no birth or death, he is the source of happiness, he is the destroyer of the burden of Earth, Oh! Mortals, he is the Lord of Tulsidas, why don’t you meditate upon him?”

 

Sage Kakabhushundi speaks “Oh! Pakshiraja, the splendor of Rama rose like brilliant Sun in the sky eventually the three worlds drenched in supreme brightness; it provided bliss to some people and created sorrows in others. I shall describe who were all got sunken in deep grief 1)Avidhya/ignorance like a dark night, 2) The bundle of sins took shelter in wherever they found emptiness, 3) the Kama and Krodha like the shrunken lotuses 4) The unwarranted rites and strange conditions and 5) The thieves like Moham, Madham, and Mathshcharya.   The pond of Dharma crowded with the lotuses resembles Gnana, Vairagya, and Vignana, and it brought Samthripthi/satisfaction/contentment, Vairagya/abandonment, and Viveka/wisdom that removed the sorrows and grief of Jeeva.”

 

Once, Rama along with Bharatha, Lakshman, and Shthrughna and Hanuman visited a beautiful pleasure garden. The trees and plants were packed in flowers and fruits, gave out marvelous sight, at that moment the Sanakadhis visited in this garden. These Sanakadhis are Bhramajjyani, always immersed in the Bhramam, virtuous, had the appearance of children, even though they were elder than Rama. They are learned, has the knowledge of oneness-in all, and attained highest of the state of Bhramam, they resembled the four Vedas assumed the form of humans. They have attired directions as clothing, they keep visiting the places wherever the legends of Rama sung. Lord Shiva speaks “Oh! Bhavani, the Sanakadhis lived in the hermitage of Sage Agasthya, during their stay, the Sage describes marvelous legends of Rama which enhances wisdom, it worked like the two wooden pieces crushed to each other, ignites the fire. Rama prostrated before the Sanakadhis, they enquired welfare to each other, Prabhu spread his upper garment on the grass for the Sages to be seated and prostrated before them. Bharatha, Lakshman, Shathrughna, and Hanuman prostrated before the Sages and stood reverentially before them. The sages were extremely happy, they took great pleasure watching the loveliness of the Prabhu who is the abode of beauty, has the lustrous dark cloud complexion, destroyer of the fears and anxieties of worldly existence has beautiful eyes resembles lotus flower petals. The Sanakadhis looked at Prabhu, without blinking their eyes, Prabhu stood before them with folded hands, eyes welled up watching the state of Sanakadhis. Prabhu holds their hands and requested them to take a seat and spoke affectionately “Oh! Muneeshwara, I am fortunate, your Dharshan would remove the sins, the association of ascetics is rare to achieve, it can be obtained with the piousness of the several births, and it would remove the interest in worldly matters and bondages effortlessly.  Oh! Mahamune, the association with the ascetics and saintly people is the gateway to Moksha, the ascetics pronounce that the association with the people of increased desires and lust would push the Jeeva to the grief of worldly existence and it was strongly recommended by the illustrious Rishis, Sages, Puranas and sacred texts as well.”