Srimad Ramayana Tathva Deepika - Ba:la ka:nda # 119

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Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha!!

Jeeyar Tiruvadigale Saranam!!!

 

The aswamedha yaga would be performed for three days.

It is referred as Agnishtomam on the first day. It is

also called 'chathushto:mam' as four stho:mas are

performed in its course. On the second day it is

called 'ukdhvam' and it is called ' sarvastho:mam' or

'athira:thram' on the third day. They are named so

after the rituals that are performed during those

days. After these three days, the six 'krathus' -

Jyo:thishto:mam, Aayushto:mam, Athiraathram,

Abhijitthu, Viswajitthu and Aptho:ryaamam are

performed. The rithwiks conducted these krathus in

the end as prescribed in the scriptures. On the

conclusion of the yajna King Dasaratha donated the

eastern part of his kingdom to the Ho:tha, the western

portion to the Adhvarva, the northern side to Udga:tha

and the south end to Brahma as per the directions in

the scriptures. The king felt delighted on giving away

all his kingdom to the rithwiks following the

recommendations of the sasthras. Those rithwiks

approached king Dasaratha and prayed to him thus, “Oh

King! You alone are capable to protect this vast

expanse of earth. We don’t require this land. We are

not competent enough to rule the kingdom. Our duty is

to earn proficiency in Vedas. So you accept back this

kingdom by paying us some precious stones, gold or

cows. Then emperor Dasaratha offered them hundred

lakhs of cows, ten crore gold coins, forty crore

silver coins and received his kingdom back. Then

those rithwiks offered those gifts to Sage

Rishyasringa and Sage Vasishta. Then as said in the

scriptures that half of what is given to Adhvaryuvu is

to be given to Prathiprasthatha, one third to Neshta

and one fourth to Udgatha he gave donations to

rithwiks like Rishyasringa and Vasishta. Emperor

Dasaratha contributed one crore gold coins to all

those Brahmins who came to witness the yajna. When a

poor Brahmin begged for help he gave away the

ornaments on his hand. He paid his obeisance to all

the Brahmins with tears of joy that the yajna had come

to an end. They all blessed him in return.

 

To be continued....

Jaisrimannarayana!

Ramanujamma RD