||Sri Ram Jeyram Jay Jay Ram ||

 

Chapter – 13 - Aranya Kandam

Srirama performs the final rites of Jatayu

Rama did not expect Lakshmana in the dense forest, leaving Devi Sita alone in the hermitage; he was perplexed at the sight of Lakshmana and spoke “Oh! Lakshmana, how did you leave Janaki alone in the hermitage, without following my order? There are several demons all over the place in the woods; definitely, Sita won’t be in the hermitage.” Lakshmana prostrated before Rama and took hold of his feet and wept bitterly “Oh! Prabho, it was not my fault.” Rama hurried to the hermitage on the riverbank of Godavari was followed by Lakshman. Rama found the hermitage and surrounding places are empty, became confused and traumatized like an ordinary human, and wept bitterly “Oh! Sita, Oh! Janaki who is the storehouse virtues, disciplines, beauty, humility, austerities, where are you? Oh! Birds, Oh! Animals, Oh! Pack of honeybees, did you see my beloved consort who has the eyes of antelope/Mriganayani,” Rama became inconsolable, Lakshman took all efforts to pacify his beloved brother, was miserably failed. He continued to enquire all the creepers, trees, animals, shrubs, cuckoos, myna, swan, deer, fishes, rabbits, flowers, lightning, serpent, lotus flowers, autumn moon, Varunapasha, fruits, etc.. all those Chara and Achara were listening to the praises of Rama,/theses are compared to the beautiful limbs of Devi Sita, in her absence, all these Charachara caught the attention of Rama. He could not bear the grief of separation from Devi Sita, cried out “Oh! Janaki, where are you? Kindly appear before me, all those living and non-living things taking pride in them in your absence.” Rama who is supreme bliss, beyond birth or death, flawless, became devastated at the separation of his wife, like an ordinary human. Suddenly Rama’s eyes fell on Jatayu/Gridhraraja, who was contemplating upon the lotus feet of the supreme Lord. Rama with his lotus-like smooth and supple hands patted affectionately on Jatayu who looked gravely at Rama who is the abode happiness and beauty, immediately forgot his pain. Jatayu regained his conscious and began to speak “Oh! Prabho, Oh! Bhavabhayanashaka, Oh! Ramachandra, the ten-headed Ravana put me in this pathetic situation. That wicked demon abducted Devi Sita.  Oh! Prabho, he traveled on the southwards, she was shrieking out for help like a bird, Oh! Prabho, Oh! Kripanidhe, my Prana was waiting to see you and it will leave at any moment.” Rama spoke kindly “Oh! Thatha, kindly live for another few more years.” Jatayu spoke with a smile “Oh! Prabho, The Veda affirms that your name is capable to give liberation from repeated births even for the wicked, you are in front of my eyes, why should I live long?” Raghuveera with tears filled eyes spoke “Oh! Thatha, you will attain Paramagathi with your pious deeds, whoever gets pleased in the happiness of others would definitely attain the highest of the piousness, and nothing would be impossible for them to achieve in this world. Oh! Thatha, after leaving mortal coil to reside in my Paramdhama, all your desires have fulfilled, what else should I provide you? Kindly do not reveal the news of the abduction of Devi Sita to my father, if I am a true Kshatriya born in the clan of Raghu, Dhashamukha with his clan would narrate all those incidents to my father. ”

 

Jatayu leaving his mortal coil, achieved a divine form of Lord Sri Hari, attired in magnificent silk garments, four arms adorned in Shankha, Chakra, Gadha, and Padma, with folded hands, tears overflowing, eulogized the supreme Lord “ Hail Rama!  The Supreme Lord, who is incomparable, has beautiful appearance, Nirguna, and Sagunaswaroopa, the storehouse of virtues, whose powerful hands are capable to cut off twenty powerful hands of Dhashamukha. He is the jewel on mother Earth, has the complexion of dark-clouds, the lustrous face resembles the lotus flower, beautiful eyes have the appearance of lotus flower petals. Oh! Karunanidhi, I shall repeatedly prostrate before you. The Supreme Lord Ramachandra whose hands are capable to elevate the souls from the fears of the ocean of worldly existence has neither beginning nor end, has no birth or death, and has no dual forms, he is invisible, he is beyond perception, attainable with the recitation of Vedic chants.   He removes the sufferings of worldly existence, provides the supreme state of the absence of sorrows and happiness, birth or death, happiness, and joy. He is the essence of wisdom and Universe, he is the provider of happiness who is surrendered at his lotus feet, and constantly recites his sacred names. I shall meditate upon supreme Lord who is compassionate and sought after by noble and renounced souls, he destroys the lust and impurities in the Jeeva. He is supreme Lord  who is eulogized by Veda, he is absolute Bhramam, pure, omnipresent, impassionate, and Aja, he is sought after by the Tapasvis, with the performance of extreme austerities like Tapa, Dhyana, Gnana, Vairagya,  and Yoga, he is the storehouse of bliss and loveliness assumes marvelous forms and attracts the Charachara. He is honeybee in my lotus like- heart, he excels the beauty of crores of Kamadeva, he has supreme radiance, and he is easily attainable to the noble souls and non-achievable to the wicked. He is unblemished, impartial, and serene; he is envisioned by supreme Yogis who undertake strict austerities and controlled senses and mind.  The Supreme Lord Rama whose chest is dwelling place of Goddess Rama, he is the Lord of three worlds, he is Dhasa/attendant of his ardent devotees, and the recitation of his glorious myths would remove the Jeeva from the cycles of repeated births, let that Rama reside in my heart.” In this way, Jatayu eulogized Rama and attained the abode of Srihari and Srirama performed the final rites of Jatayu.