Bengali Ramayana - Rama's Wedding - 3

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The priests got together to find an auspicious

date for the marriage. They found a date where the

couple would never be separated. <br>In the heaven, the

gods were unhappy. If Rama and Sita do not separate

how will Ravana die. They asked to Shiva to help. In

the guise of a dancer, Shiva went to Mithila. He

danced so well that everyone was spellbound. Even the

rishis were so amazed that they chose that very day

instead of the day they had decided on. <br>Anointed with

butter and milk, Rama along with his brothers, bathed in

the Ganges. After the bathing, they were anointed

with Sandalwood paste. The ladies in Janaka’s house

anointed Rama with Turmeric paste and they bathed again. A

sacred thread was tied around their wrists. They dressed

in the best of clothes and jewels. <br>They

approached the ceremonial place where the marriage would

take place. The ladies of the house of Janaka greeted

the four brothers. They washed their feet with milk

and yogurt. <br>The two priests, Vashishta and the

head priest of Mithila, then started talking. The

ritualistic discussions began taking place. They started

discussing the lineage of the people who were being married.

<br>Rama was then offered clothes to wear for the wedding

by Janaka. Janaka and his brother then brought forth

his daughters. The brothers then saw the girls they

were going to wed. <br>Amid chanting of mantras, the

four brothers married the four sisters. Sita married

Rama, Urmila married Lakshmana, Mandavi married Bharata

and Shrutakirti married Shatrughna. <br>The next

morning was time to leave for the brothers and their

wives. Ceremoniously they were seen off. All over there

was a lot of noise. People were singing and dancing.

The noise reached Parashurama. He wondered who had

wed Sita. The son of Jamadagna (Parashurama) then

went to Mithila. Armed with his axe, bow and arrow and

clad in an animal skin, he looked frightening.

<br>Dasharatha with Rama and Lakshmana at his side approached

the sage. Parashurama wanted to know who had broken

the bow. Dasharatha said it was his son Rama. When he

tried to string the bow, it broke into two. Rama then

approached the sage and said ‘If I have done something

wrong, forgive me.’ Parashurama said ‘I am not an

ordinary Brahmin. Seven times I have cleared this earth of

Kshatriyas. I have killed many with my axe. Now a Kshatriya

has broken the bow of my Guru. I need revenge for

that’. Dasharatha said ‘A small boy has created a

blunder. Please forgive him.’ Lakshmana was angry. He said

‘When you killed the Kshatriyas, Rama and Lakshmana

were not there on the earth.’ Enraged Parashurama said

‘Rama, if you are that strong, lift my bow.’ Sita was

wondering ‘Once Rama broke a bow he married me. Now if he

breaks a bow again, I wonder whom he will have to

marry’. Rama lifted the bow. When Rama held the bow, all

the power that Parashurama had, transferred on to

Rama. Rama then strung the bow and wanted to know what

he should do with that. Lifting the bow, Rama fitted

an arrow and waited for further instructions.

Parashurama then said ‘I know you are Narayana. Use the bow

to stop me entering heaven.’ Rama did that.

<br>Dasharatha with sons and daughters-in-law left for

Ayodhya.<br>In Ayodhya the three queens of Dasharatha greeted

their sons and daughters-in-law. The Gods from the

heavens started showering flowers. They all entered the

city.