Seetha Rama Kalyana Mahotsavam-Part 2

[Guest guest]

Adi Kavi Sri Valmiki"s celebration of the Kalyaanam

 

Chapters 71 to 73 of Bala Khandam of

Srimad Ramayanam of Valmiki celebrates

the wedding of Seetha and Rama .In Chapter 71 ,

Janaka offers the hand of his Daughters Sita and

Urmila to Rama and Lakshmana respectively and

recounts his own pedigree . Vasisht and Viswamitra

ask for the hands of the daughters of the brother of

King Janaka for maqrriage to Bharatha and Satrughnaa.

King Janaka agrees . Dasaratha gets his sons to perform

Samaavartana Ceremony and he himself performs Nandi

Sraddha (a ceremony to offer worship ot his ancestors as

a preparatory rite for the weddings ).

 

In chapter 73, we see Janaka escorting the four princes of

Ayodhya in nuptial attire to the marriage pavillion. Vasishta

places the Rishis Viswamitra and Sataananda at an exalted

seat and performs the Vivaha Mahotsvam at the request of

King Dasaratha (Ramasya Lokaraamasya Kriyaam Vaivaahikeem

Praboh ).

 

King janaka escorts the most beautiful Sita to the marriage

pavillion and seats Her next to Sri Rama. At the end of the

preparatory ceremonies, Janaka addressed Rama and

said :" Iyam Sita Mama Suthaa SahadharmacharI Tava,

Prateeccha Chainaam bhadram Teh paanim grihneeshva

Paaninaa , Pativrataa Mahabhaagaa Chaayevaanugataa Sadhaa".

( " This Sita, My daughter is going to be your helpmate in

discharging your sacred obligations as a householder.Take

Her hand in yYour own and accept Her (as Your Own).May

Auspiciousnes sbetide You! She is highly fortunate and will

remain exclusively devoted to You and will ever follow you

as a shadow .") .At the en dof this Kalyana Mahotsavam,

Celestial kettle drums sounded and abundant shower of

flowers rained from the sky .Gods and Sages exclaimed "Sadhu,

Sadhu (Good, Well Done)!

 

Seetha Kalyanam In Kambha Ramaayanam

 

Poet Kambhan, who lived a thousand yers ago describes in

great detail the arrival of Rama at he city of Mithila and his

eyes meeting those of Sita , who was looking at Him from the

portal of Her Kanni Maadam . Kambhar Describes the first

exchange of glances between Sita and Rama and uses the

occasion to praise the exquisite beauty of Sita this way:

 

PONNIN SOTHI POTHININ NAARAM POLI POOVIN

TEHN UNN TEHNIN THEEM SUVAI SENCHORKAVI INBAM

KANNI MAADHATTHU UMBARIN MAADEH KALI PAYDOHDU

ANNAM AADUM MUNTHURAI KANDU ANGU AYAL NINRAAR

 

The poet uses his imagination to describe Sita as the total

embodiment of the glorious color of gold, the fragrance

of the flowers, the delectable honey gathered by the bees,

and the sweetnes of the words of great poetry . He says that

she was surrounded by the friends of her , who looked like

female swans as they stood next to that embodiment of

beauty in the portal of the Kanni Maadam.The first exchange of

glances between Rama and Sita and the los of their heart to

each other is described by Kambhan in exquiaite detail .

He says: Vari Silai ANNalum VaatkkaNN Nangaiyum ,

Iruvarum Maarippukku Idayam Aithinar ". The heroic Rama and the

beautiful Sita lost their hearts to each other. Rama moves on and Sita

enters the inside of the inner Quaters of the Palace. She suffers from

the pangs of Love for Rama and Rama spends the night restlessly in

the quarters allocated by King Janaka . Next morning , Rama bends and

breaks the Sivva Dhanua and claims the hands of Sita.Dasaratha arrives

from Ayodhya and the marriage ceremony proceeds in the Chapter known

as KatimaNa Padalam. Rama performs frst the Aaradhana to Sri Ranganatha

and arrives at the marriage pavillion with his family. Janaka brings

with him his daughter and seats her next to Ramachandra.

Kambhar"s describtion of the scene of the Divya dampathis sitting next

to each other is a tender one:

 

MANRALIN VANDHU MANATTHAVISU YERI

VENRI NEDUM TAHAI VEERANUM AARVATTHU

INTUNAI ANNAMUM YEYTHI IRUNTHAAR

ONRIYA BHOGAMUM YOGAMUM ottaar .

 

Rama , the embodiment of heroism and generosity

sat close to the swan-like Sita, whose heartfelt desire

was to become his life's partner. They sat on the

special seat and they looked in that happy state like the

union of Bhogam and Yogam (Sirrinbham and Perinbham).

Janakan pours consecrated water over Rama's hand and gives

his daughter in marriage to Rama.Other Vedic ceremonies

such as Saptha Pati, Laja Homam , Pradhana Homam continues.

 

Sita sees Arunthati star and Vasishta Rishi concludes the mariage

ceremonies on Panghuni Uttaram day.Dasaratha and Rama return

to Ayodhya withthe rest of their family and new brides.

 

Sri Narayana Bhattadhiri"s describtion of Sita Kalyanam

 

The Grantha Kartha of Sriman Naarayaneeyam describes very

succinctly the many chapters of Bala Khandam in one verse of

the 34 th Dasakam this way:

 

BINDHAANASCCHANDRACHOOTAM DHANURAVANI SUTHAMINDIRAAMEVA

lABDHVAA , rAAJYAM PRAATHISHTATAASTVAM

TRIBHIRABHICHA SAMAM BRHATRUVEERAI: SADHAARAI:

 

Bhattadhiri asks Guruvayurappan this question: Is it correct that

you went to janaka"s Palace and broke the Bow of Siva and married

Sita and returned with your three brothers and family to Ayodhya?

Guruvayurappan nodded His head and indicated that it was correct.

 

Arunaaachala Kavi"s Describtion of Sita kalyanam

 

In Rama Natakam, Arunachala Kavi of Seerkazhi describes the

tender scene, when Sita sees Rama from the Kanni Madam

for the first time . She is captivated by the beauty of Rama and

asks: Yaro, Ivar Yaro ,Enna Peroh? Ariyeneh !

Kaar Ulaavum Seer Ulaavum Mithilayil

Kanni Maadam tannil Munneh Niravar , Yaro,Ivar Yaro?

Chandra Bimbha Muka Malaraaleh Yennai Thaaneh Paarkiraar,

Orukkaaleh Antha NaaLileh Dondham pola Uruhuhiraar, Inta

NaaLil vandhu sevai Taruhiraar, Yaro, Ivar Yaro, Enna Peroh? "

 

Sita asks her friends: " Who is this beautiful prince with the

beautiful face like that of the full moon looking at me? He acts

like the one, who has been my consort in previous aeons and

languishes for me .He blesses me with his Darsanam today.

Who could this be? What might be his name? I do not know ."

 

After the mutual Nayana Dheekshaa, Rama reaches the palace

of Janaka and wins Sita"s hands in the Svayamvaram by breaking the

Siva Dhanus. The Kanya Dhanam of Sita to Rama by Janaka is

decribed by Arunachala Kavi this way in the tradition of Valmiki:

"Intha Sitai Enthan Magal (Iyam Sita Mama Suthaa) ,

Unthan PankirkerravaL , Angamaay Adainthu Vazhvaai( Sahadharma

Charita, Pathivrathaa Maha Bhaaga ) .

The Panigrahanam, Walking around the fire(the seven steps),

Standing on the Ammi, Sighting Arunthati Star , Receiving the blessings of

the assembled are summarized beautifully by Kavi this way:

" Raghavan Seethaiyai Paanigrahanam seythu

Narriyai Valam Vandhaan Seethai Paadam

Mohamudan parri Ammi Meethil Vaitthaan

Mukkalum Arunthati Mun Kaatinaan pin

Ekamanathudan munivar Tanthai thaimaar

ellorkkum sevitthaan appaal inbam

aaha oru nanmanaiyil Seethaiodum

amarnthittan andamellaam sumanthitaneh "

 

Sri Mutthuswami Dikshitar saluted the blessed scene of

the Seetha Kalyaana Mahotsavam this way in one of his

Ramaashtakam:

"Seetha kalyaana Mahotsava Vaibhava yutha Sri Ramachandroh

Maam Rakshathu".

 

I conclude this special posting on the Seetha Rama Kalyana Mahotsavam

with the salutations of BHodendhraaL (Rama Karnaamrutam) and

Swami Desikan"s Raghu Veera Gadhyam.

 

Swami Desikan 's salutation is :

 

PRABHAAVAAN SITAYAA DEVYAA PARAMA VYOMA BHASKARA:

 

Rama shines forever as the Aditya in the Paramaakasam known as

Vaikuntam and is victorious in Her company.

 

BhodendraaL's Sautation recognizes Rama as the Indweller of the Sun:

 

SAKALA BHUVANA RATNAM SACCHIDHAANANDA RATNAM SAKALA

HRUDHAYA RATNAM, SURYA BIMBHAANTHA RATNAM

 

NIGAMA SIRASI RATNAM NITYAMASAKTA RATNAM

NIKILA SUKRUTI RATNAM JAANAKI RUPA RATNAM

BHUVANAVALAYA RATNAM BHUBHRUTAA MEGARATNAM

PRAKRUTI SULABA RATNAM MYTHILI PRAANA RATNAM

RAMA RAMA NAMOHSTHU TEH

 

SRI SEETHA RAMA PARABRAHMANEH NAMA:

 

Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan