|| Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram ||

 

Chapter -22 - Lanka Kandam

The coronation ceremony of Vibheeshan as the King of Lanka/Devi Sita’s return from the pile of fire

Mandodhari speaks “Oh! Natha, you have mistaken Rama who is supreme Lord Hari,  he is the destroyer of the wicked demons like woods, you have considered him as an ordinary human. He is worshiped by Lord Bhrama and Lord Shambhu, you did not worship that Prabhu who is extremely compassionate. The moment you took birth, you were engaged in various atrocities and caused afflictions to others; this body of yours was the storehouse of sins, although that supreme Lord Rama provided his abode to you. I shall repeatedly prostrate before the supreme Lord Rama who is the absolute Bramham. Oh! Natha, there is no deity magnanimous and benevolent that the supreme Lord Raghunatha who offered Paramagathi which is difficult even for the illustrious Yogis and Rishis.” The deities, Rishis, and Sages were highly pleased with the praise of Devi Mandodhari. Lord Bhrama, Lord Maheshwara, Maharishi Narada, Siddhas, Illustrious Rishis, sages and Sanakadhis, looked at the glorious form of Raghupathi and devoured the splendor of Prabhu with their eyes, and drenched in the supreme state of bliss.

 

Vibheeshana heavy heartedly approached the queens who were crying and beating their chests, he felt extremely sad watching the pathetic state of his brother, Prabhu instructed Lakshman to pacify Vibheeshana, and Vibheeshana returned to Prabhu who looked at him affectionately and spoke “Oh! Vibheeshana, leave your grief and perform the final rites for your brother.” Thus, Vibheeshana performed all those rites prescribed in scriptures according to the time and zone, Mandodhari and other queens offered oblation for the deceased, they praised Prabhu and returned to their palace. Vibheeshana returned to Prabhu after performing final rites of Ravna, prostrated before Rama who called for Lakshman and spoke “ Lakshman, you along with  Sugriva, Angadha, Nala, Neela, Jambavan, and Hanuman go with Vibheeshan to the city of Lanka, and prepare for the coronation ceremony of Vibheeshana as the King of Lanka. I am not allowed to visit Lanka or any city, due to the command of my father. I can send my brother and Vanaras to perform the rites because they are equal to me.” Vanaras enthusiastically proceeded to Lanka after receiving instructions from Rama, and they have made all the arrangements for the crowning ceremony. They respectfully made seated Vibheeshana on the magnificent throne of the Kingdom of Lanka, adorned him with the sandalwood paste and vermilion on his forehead, and eulogized him. They stood before him with folded hands, shortly Vibheeshana returned to Prabhu. Raghupathi called those Vanaras and spoke to them affectionately, listening to the nectar-like words they immersed in bliss “ Oh! Vanaras,  it was your prowess made it possible to kill the enemy and perform the coronation ceremony of Vibheeshana, your fame will continue to stay in the three worlds, whoever sings in praise of you along with my legend would cross the unfathomable ocean of worldly existence effortlessly.” They stood before Prabhu with folded hands, took great pleasure in the nectar-like speeches of Prabhu, and prostrated before him.

 

Prabhu called Hanuman and spoke “Oh! Hanuman, visit Lanka and inform all the details of the battle to Devi Sita and enquire her welfare, and return to me.” Hanuman entered the city of Lanka, soon those demons arrived to receive Hanuman, and they respectfully took him to Devi Janaki. He prostrated before Devi Janaki far from her seat, Devi Janaki understood it was Hanuman who is the emissary of Lord Rama, Devi Janaki spoke “Oh! Vathsa, how is that supreme Lord who is Kripanidhi, how is Lakshman? How’s the army of Vanaras?” Hanuman spoke “Oh! Mother, Kosaladheesha is doing well. He conquered Ravana in the battle and performed coronation of Vibheeshana as the King of Lanka.” Devi Janaki immensely pleased and shed tears and spoke “Oh! Puthra, what did I offer to you? The three worlds are not enough to offer as a gift for the news you have brought to me.” Hanuman said “Oh! Mother, I have won the Akhilanda after attaining Rama and Lakshmana safe from the battlefield.” Devi Janaki spoke “Oh! Vathsa,  Let all those virtues remain in your heart! Let that Kosaladhipathi along with Lakshman remains promising to you always !. Oh! Puthra, I would like to see that Prabhu who has the complexion of dark clouds and extremely attractive.” Hanuman returned to Prabhu and conveyed the messages of Devi Sita.

 

Suryavamsha Thilaka Rama called for prince Angadha and Vibheeshana and spoke “ You both accompany Hanuman, and bring Devi Sita with all respects.” They immediately rushed to the Ashokavatika where Devi Sita is seated, there were a group of female demons were serving Devi Sita. Vibheeshana instructed the females to do the necessary to Devi Sita before leaving Lanka, they gave auspicious bath to Devi, and adorned her in various ornaments all over the body, a beautiful palanquin was kept ready for Devi who contemplated upon the Anandaroopa Raghupathi and took a seat in it. The palanquin was guarded by the demons with weapons, all those Vanaras and bears rushed to have a look at Devi Sita, but the guards blocked their way, Raghuveera smiled and spoke “ Oh! Vibheeshana, bring Devi Sita on foot, let those Vanaras and bears see their mother.”  Those Vanaras and bears extremely pleased listening to Sarveshwara Raghunatha. The deities showered flowers upon them. Prabhu wanted to bring back Devi Sita who was already deposited with Lord Agni; therefore he uttered some unpleasant words that put the female demons into deep sorrow.

 

Devi Sita who is virtuous and chaste in words and action sincerely followed the words of Prabhu, and spoke to Lakshman “Oh! Thatha, kindly create a pile of fire and help me as a priest to perform my duties.” Listening to the extremely sad but highly intelligent words of Dharma and Neethi, Lakshman’s eyes soaked in tears. He stood with folded hands before Prabhu, but he was unable to speak anything. He understood the state of Rama; he went to collect woods and created a huge pile of Agni. “Agni who is omniscient, if I was chaste and devoted to my Lord Raghuveera, with  words, deeds, or mind, let this Agni provide the coolness of the sandalwood paste to me.” Mythili contemplating upon Lord Rama uttered “Victory to Rama! Victory to the Kosaladheesha, who is sincerely worshiped by Lord Shambhu” and entered in the pile of Agni, as if in the pool of sandalwood paste. Shortly, that marvelous form of Devi Sita vanished in the Agni, but no one was aware of the confidential talks that took place between Devi Sita and Rama while in the Chitrakoot. The deities, Siddhas and Sages witnessed Lord Agni rose from the fire assumed in a divine form holding hands of Devi Sita who is eulogized by Veda and Vedanta, thus Lord Agni offered Devi Janaki to the hands of Rama like the Samudradevatha offered Devi Mahalakshmi to Lord Vishnu.  Thus, Jagathjanani, Paramba, Bhagavathi has the appearance of golden lotus took a seat on the left of Rama who is lustrous as blue lotus.