||Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram||

 

Chapter -16 - Uththarakandam

Sage Kakabhushundi explains the necessity of devotion and faith upon the supreme Lord/ he describes the magnificence of supreme Lord Sri Ramachandra

 

Sage Kakabhushundi speaks “ Oh! Garuda, The supreme Lord Shiva attired in the skin of tiger, adorned in Mundamala/garland of the skull, serpents, and smeared in sacred ashes to get a glimpse of that divine child, the people of the city of Ayodhya were extremely fortunate to take great pleasure in the supreme bliss, the ascetics won’t think or search for any other pleasure in their lives, even the Bhramanandham. I have stayed in the city of Ayodhya and took great pleasure in the various pastimes of that supreme Lord. I have attained the boon of intense devotion at his lotus feet and returned to my hermitage, from that moment the supreme Lord has showered his eternal grace upon, I have never been haunted by the powerful Maya. I have elaborately explained to you how the Maya of Lord influenced me, now I shall narrate my own experiences to you. Oh! Harivahana, it is definite that without contemplating or meditation upon that supreme Lord Hari, our afflictions and miseries will not come to an end. Oh! Pakshiraja, listen to me carefully, it is impossible to learn the glorious legends of Rama without his grace, and without the knowledge of his splendor, it is impossible to get intense devotion and belief in him. If there is no trust, there will be no love, and the Bhakti will not sprout without love. Is it possible to attain knowledge of scriptures without a preceptor? Is it possible to attain Gnana/wisdom without Vairagya? Oh! Dear Garuda, how did a person attain peace without joy? Is it possible to drive a ferry in the absence of water? The desire cannot be removed without the contentment when the desires go out of hands, simultaneously the miseries and sorrows settle in one’s life. The endless desires cannot bring peace not even in the dreams. Is it possible to get rid of desires without contemplating on Rama? How did a tree grow without the rich soil? How did we understand the knowledge of Oneness-in-all, without the realization of ‘self’? Space is the source for air, Dharma cannot grow without the dedication, and the brilliance cannot be achieved without Tapas, without water there is no existence of taste, how did we attain good disciplines, morals without serving the preceptor? Oh! Prabhu, how did the forms initiate without the fire? Do we get happiness or peace without the knowledge of ‘self’? How do we experience the feel of touch without air? How did we succeed in a task without faith? Oh! Garuda, the fears and anxieties of the worldly existence will not go away without contemplating that supreme Lord Hari.”

 

Sage Kakabhushundi speaks “The dedication and belief cause the development of Bhakti, Rama melts in the devotion of his devotees, it is impossible to achieve peace and serenity without his grace, not even in the dreams, hence, Oh! Brilliant Garuda, leave all the misconceptions, and worries, and contemplate upon that supreme Lord who is an ocean of mercy, he most charming Raghuveera and he is the source of happiness and welfare. Oh! Pakshiraja, I have sung in praise of that Prabhu according to my intellect. I have narrated all that I have witnessed with my eyes, I have not explained anything which I have not seen or heard. The splendor of Rama, his sacred names, various incarnations, and glories are endless. Raghunatha is eternal, and all those ascetics and Rishis and Sages singing in praise of that Lord Hari according to their capabilities, even the Veda, Adishesha, and Devi Saradha is incompetent to describe his endless glories, like the vast sky. Oh! Dear Garuda, the supreme Lord is immeasurable and has the loveliness that excels a hundred crores of Manmatha. He has great prowess of hundred crores of Durga in killing the demons, he has the magnificence of hundred crores Lord Indra and his glories are infinite like the Ananthakoti Bhramanda. His power excels a hundred crores of Vayu, his brilliance excels a hundred crores of Surya, he has the coolness of hundred crores of Moon, he is the destroyer of extreme fears and anxieties of worldly existence. He is changeless and endless, he is powerful than the hundred crores of Kala, he has the power excels a hundred crores of Dhoomakethu/comets. He has the depth excels a hundred crores of Pathalloka, and he is vicious as hundred crores of Yama. He is sacred as the hundred crores of Punyatheertha, his sacred names are capable to burn the accumulated sins of the worshiper. Raghuveera is firm like hundred crores of Himalaya, and majestic as hundred crores of oceans. Prabhu is auspicious like the hundred crores of Kamadhenu which fulfills all the desires of the worshiper. He resembles several crors Sharadha in intelligence and excellence in speech; he is skilled in creation as a hundred crores of Lord Bhrama. He resembles a hundred crores of Vishnu in the function of preservation; he resembles a hundred crores of Rudra in the function of destruction, he is wealthiest as hundred crores of Kubera, he is powerful as the hundred crores of Maya to create Prapancha. He is powerful to hold a hundred crores Universe as Adhishesha. In short, Jagadheeshwara Lord Rama is incomparable, and beyond comparison. The Veda and scriptures strongly pronounce that there is no comparison for an incomparable supreme Lord Rama, the ascetics Rishis and Sages describe the glory of that Lord according to their intellects, sounds as the comparison of fireflies with the supreme brilliance of Surya. The compassionate Lord takes great pleasure in their devotion; he is beloved to his devotees. The supreme Lord Rama is the bottomless ocean of virtues; does anyone make an effort to measure the depth of it? I have narrated all that I have heard from the association of the ascetics. Prabhu can be attainable only with the intense devotion and faith; he is the source of bliss and compassion. Therefore, Oh! Mortals, leave your interest in worldly matters and bondage and contemplate upon that supreme Lord Rama.” Garuda was highly pleased with the nectar-like speeches of Kakabhushundi, he spread wings widely, eyes welled up in tears overflowing, contemplated upon Raghupathi, and his heart filled in extreme delight.