Srimad Ramayana Tatva Deepika #106 (Ba:la Ka:nda)

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Srimathe: Ramanujayanamaha!

Jeeyar Thiruvadigale Saranam!!

 

Some time later Dasaratha intended to perform the yajna during the lovely spring

season. A sovereign king is qualified to perform Aswamedha yajna. Sruthi says -

if one performs this yajna, all the sins including the greatest sin of ‘brahma

hatya’ would be washed away. Dasaratha came to the conclusion that the main

reason for not being blessed with progeny was his bad karma and it could be

wiped off only by performing the yajna for which he was eligible. Hence he

decided to perform the same. Aswamedha yaga has to be initiated during the early

hours of a full moon day in the month of Chaitra of the Vasanth rithu. After the

initialization of the yajna, first an ‘Ishti’ by name ‘Samgrahani’ has to be

conducted. Initially the rithwiks (priests) who perform this ‘ishti’ have to be

fixed. First Rishyasringa was approached to be the Brahma for the yajna. He

prayed to him to conduct the yajna to beget progeny. He accepted the proposal

and told him to collect all the necessary paraphernalia and told him to release

the ritual horse first. Dasaratha summoned the prime minister Sumanthra and

entrusted him the task of inviting the vedic scholars to be the rithwiks. He

invited them with due respect and brought Suyajna, Vaamade:va, Jaabaali,

Kaasyapa, the purohit Vasishta and some other Brahmins. The dharma:thma

Dasaratha worshipped them all and is saying thus:

“ I am suffering without progeny for long. The grief of not having a son to

continue my vamsa is troubling me. For that reason, I have decided to perform

the Aswame:dha Yajna. You all should conduct the yajna as ordained by the

sasthras. With the influence of Rishyasringa my wish would be fulfilled.”

Vasishta and all others responded praising that his intention was marvelous

and praiseworthy.

 

(In the next posting...)

Jai Srimannarayana!

Ramanujamma Mudumbai, Ramanujadaasi.