Sriramayana-8

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Sriramayana-8

Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha

Om Asmath Gurubhyo Namaha

 

We read about the greatness of King Dasaratha, his purohithas

and his ministry. Because of them Ayodhya people were happy and lead

a prosperous life. But the king Dasaratha was unhappy because, with

all the wealth and possessions he didn't have children to continue

the lineage. He was worried that the great lineage of Manu was going

to end! Though the King was virtuous ,loved by everyone, leads a

blameless life, he was suffering with the sorrow of lacking children.

Though Dasaratha did not have any physical defect, he didn't have

children. So, king Dasaratha thought only one's purushaprayathna

will not be succeed unless one will get God's blessings also. There

were no blessings from God for me. Because I might have committed some

mistakes either innocently or accidentally. The previous karmas

always, dictates one's life and one doesn't get what they think or

they deserve. So i have to purify myself sothat i can get God's

blessings. Immediately he decided to perform the great ASWAMEDHAYAGA

to destroy all his previous karmas.

 

He assembled His ministers and Prohithas, and with their full

hearted blessings and recommendation He decided to perform

"Puthrakamesti Yaga" preceded by Aswametha Yaga. Both were very

difficult to perform, and if not conducted properly it will cause a

lot of harm to the (Yajamani)King, and the people who are performing

it. The one who presides over the Yaga is called "Brahma" and He is

expected to do prayaschitthams immediately, for all sorts of

(apacharams) mistakes while performing the Yaga. If the Yaga is

performed perfectly according to sasthra then definitely the wish will

be granted and fulfilled. So it is very important that the Brahma

chosen to perform should be aware of all the vedas and sasthras to

know all the particulars and manthras of that yaga. He must be pure of

heart and conduct.

At this point Sumanthra, the wise council for the King, because

of the story He heard from Sanathkumara, advises Dasaratha, "Oh, great

King, for this difficult Yagam, Rushyasrunga, the son of Vibhandaka

is the only eligible person." Right now He is in the kingdom of

Angadesa, please go and invite Him personally to come to Ayodhya." He

explains the greatness of Rushyasrunga.

A very long time ago Angadesa was caught in the grips of severe

draught and the King Romapada was advised by his ministers, if a great

person enters the city it will rain and He is living in the outskirts

of our country. His name is Rushyasrunga, son of Vibhandaka. But this

sage will not enter cities, so we have to bring Him to our city at any

cost. The ministers sent a few beautiful women, to the forest, and

told them what to do, but these women were really worried that, if the

rishi finds out about their play they will be punished.

They met the great Rishi in the forest, and Rushyasrunga had

never met a, women before. Still He treated them with great respect

and invited them to His ashram, did padapuja and other upacharas. In

turn the women sent by the king also offered Him some tasteful cooked

foods, claiming that they were the fruits of their Ashram. The next

day they came back and invited Him to their Ashram, and kept Him

walking towards their city, and finally when He entered the city, it

rained heavily.

Rushyasrunga realized that He was tricked by the people of King

of Angadesa. But the king was right there to welcome the Sage whose

anger dissipated when the King apologized and gave reason for his

actions. The King also offered marriage of His daughter Santha, (she

was really the daughter of Dasaratha and she was given as a gift to

His friend Romapada who didn't have any children.) The great sage

married Santha and lived in the country. After that the country

flourished without anymore hardships. After marriage also he remained

a firm brahmachari (one who meditates upon the Brahman). Because he

enjoyed his married life according to sasthra. Sasthra says the one

who leads garhastya according to sasthra for the sake of children will

also be called as brahmachari. Thus He constantly meditated upon

Brahman-the Supreme one (Srimannarayana) .

Also a practicing Brahmachari's presence improves everybody's

life, and nature itself obeys all them, as it does great people like

Rishis, Sages, and in the modern world an Acharya, who practices His

dharma.

In the 11 the sarga on the advice, of Sumanthra, Dasaratha with

His Prohithas and ministers went to Angadesa and invited Rushyasrunga

to be head the yaga as Brahma. He was also well educated in the art of

diplomacy, and He knew He had to obtain Romapada's permission to

invite the sage for the Yaga. Romapada immediately complied with this

great honor that was bestowed on him, and He sent Santha with her

husband to Ayodhya.

Let us know about the great ASWAMEDHA YAGA in the next mail...

(Contd.)

 

Jai Srimannarayana

 

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