Rama Navami

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April 11th, 2003, Friday (Navami)

Rama Navami: Appearance of Lord Sri Ramacandra

(Fasting till sunset)

 

 

The Appearance of Lord Rama

(from Valmiki's "Ramayana" published by HH Bhakti Vikasa Swami)

 

The great tract of land known as Kosala extended along the banks of

the Sarayu River. This land was verdant, prosperous and rich in grain.

Within this vast territory was the renowned city of Ayodhya, built by the

desire of Vaivasvata Manu, the ruler of mankind. This glorious city was

ninety-six miles long and twenty-four miles wide. It was well laid out, and

its beautiful, straight roads were perfumed with scented water sprayed from

the trunks of intoxicated elephants. Every day, the damsels of the celestial

planets hovered above it in their beautiful airplanes and showered it with

flowers.

 

The arched gateways of Ayodhya were made of marble, and the gates

were wrought with gold and silver and embedded with precious jewels. Cannons

and catapults, capable of repulsing any enemy, protected the city walls. The

marketplaces were well planned, and seven-story houses symmetrically lined

the streets. Adorned with multi-storied palaces and surrounded with

exquisite gardens, Ayodhya resounded with the vibrations of musical

instruments, rivaling Amaravati, the abode of the heavenly king, Indra.

Throughout the city, bards and singers recited the glories of the Supreme

Personality of Godhead, and dancers acted out the Lord's pastimes for

everyone's benefit.

 

Within Ayodhya were many beautiful gardens abounding with flowers

and shaded by fruit trees. Blue, red, and golden lotuses filled the ponds,

and fountains shot water high into the air. Gentle breezes carried the

aromatic spray from the fountains, cooling the citizens by their touch, and

making even a hot summer day seem like spring. The sounds of cranes and

peacocks could be heard everywhere. The water flowing through Ayodhya's

streams and rivulets tasted as sweet as sugarcane sap, and it was used not

only for drinking but for irrigating numerous mango orchards. Many houses

and palaces, perfectly designed, were built of precious stones and decorated

with flags and festoons. Their beauty rivaled the palaces of Vaikuntha.

Thousands of warriors protected the great city: skilled archers, well versed

in the use of weapons, and chariot fighters who were able to fight with

thousands of men at a time.

 

The streets leading into Ayodhya were always filled with travelers.

Kings and princes from all parts of the world came to render their annual

tribute and pay respects to the King of Ayodhya. Traders from near and far

flocked to the markets to barter.

 

Brahmana priests could often be seen pouring ghee into sacrificial

fires and chanting Vedic hymns, proclaiming the glories of Lord Visnu.

Having mastered their senses and devoted themselves to truth, these

brahmanas were blessed with all good qualities.

 

Maharaja Dasaratha was the emperor of the entire world and was a

great rajarsi, considered almost on the level of a maharsi He was a

formidable warrior, capable of fighting alone with an unlimited number of

opponents. Because he and the citizens were completely pious, Ayodhya was

the picture of perfect Vedic civilization. Every imaginable opulence was

exhibited in perfection, and material miseries, coming from the results of

sinful life, were practically nonexistent. In Ayodhya, the four social

orders, namely the brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas and sudras, participated

cooperatively for the peace and prosperity of the kingdom. No one cheated

and no one was miserly. Arrogance, atheism, and harsh behavior and speech

were conspicuous by their absence.

 

Even though Maharaja Dasaratha possessed such fantastic opulence and

prestige, he remained unhappy. Try as he may, the King was unable to beget a

son to continue his dynasty. Finally, after much deliberation, King

Dasaratha decided to perform a horse sacrifice for the purpose of getting a

son. With this in mind he sent his chief minister, Sumantra, to call for his

family priests.

 

When the brahmanas, headed by Vasistha and Vamadeva, assembled,

Maharaja Dasaratha addressed them, saying, "O best among the twice born, for

many years I have ardently desired to beget a son. However, all my efforts

have been in vain. Because I am without an heir, I can no longer feign

happiness. Indeed, my days seem wasted and are filled with grief. Thus,

after much careful consideration, and with your kind permission, I have

decided to perform a horse sacrifice. Because you are fully knowledgeable in

scripture, I am confident that you will be able to lead me on the proper

path." The priests unanimously approved of Maharaja Dasaratha's idea to

perform the horse sacrifice, and thereafter, the king ordered his ministers

to make all necessary arrangements without delay. Sumantra then took

Maharaja Dasaratha aside to narrate the following story (about Rsyasrnga)...

 

Maharaja Dasaratha was very pleased to hear this story from

Sumantra. Then, without delay, he went with his retinue to the kingdom of

Anga. There, he was received by Maharaja Romapada with great respect, and at

that time the king of Anga informed Rsyasrnga that Dasaratha was his real

father-in-law. After enjoying Romapada's hospitality for about one week,

Maharaja Dasaratha addressed his friend as follows: "For a long time I have

been morose on account of not having a son to perpetuate my illustrious

dynasty. Now, I beg you to allow Rsyasrnga to come to Ayodhya to perform a

horse sacrifice on my behalf."

 

Romapada happily agreed, and Maharaja Dasaratha soon returned to his

capital with Rsyasrnga and Santa. Then, when spring arrived, Maharaja

Dasaratha humbly approached Rsyasrnga, begging him for instructions

regarding the performance of the horse sacrifice. Thus, preparations for the

sacrifice commenced and a site was selected on the northern bank of the

River Sarayu. The system was for an emperor to send a challenge horse all

over the world to establish his supremacy over subordinate kings. The horse

would be accompanied by soldiers of the emperor, and upon its arrival in a

kingdom, the local king would either have to offer tribute to the emperor's

representatives, or fight to capture the horse. Any ruling prince or king

was at liberty either to express his tacit willingness to obey the emperor,

or to accept the challenge and thus disobey the supremacy of the particular

emperor. One who accepted the challenge had to fight with the emperor's men

and establish his own supremacy by victory. The defeated challenger would

have to sacrifice his life, making place for another king or ruler. Only

when the horse returned after touring the world, with no more challengers

left, could a horse sacrifice begin.

 

Understanding that King Janaka would be the future father-in-law of

his sons, Maharaja Dasaratha sent him the first invitation. Likewise, other

subordinate kings were requested to attend the sacrifice. After one full

year, the challenge horse returned to Ayodhya, having wandered over the

earth under the protection of 400 princes. Only then could the sacrifice

begin.

 

After the preliminary rites had been performed Maharaja Dasaratha's

eldest queen, Kausalya, circumambulated the challenge horse, which was tied

to one of the sacrificial stakes. Then, with three strokes of a sword, she

severed the horse's head, as prescribed by scriptural injunction.

 

Thereafter, Rsyasrnga offered the fat of the dead horse into the

sacrificial fire. Maharaja Dasaratha was directed to inhale the fumes, to

free him from all sins. Then, the assisting priests offered the limbs of the

horse into the sacrificial fire, bringing the three day sacrifice to an end.

Maharaja Dasaratha then gave away the four directions of the earth in

charity to the four chief priests. The brahmanas returned the gifts,

however, saying, "O king, we are devoted to Vedic study and the performance

of austerities, and have no interest in ruling over a kingdom. Therefore,

please give us other gifts like cows and gold."

 

Rsyasrnga then approached Maharaja Dasaratha, saying, "My dear king,

you will surely receive four glorious sons. However, I propose that a

separate sacrifice, known as Putresti, be performed for that purpose."

 

Maharaja Dasaratha readily assented, soon the sacrifice was begun.

Meanwhile, in the higher planets, the chief demigods approached Lord Brahma

and explained, "O grandsire, because of your benedictions, Ravana has become

so powerful that he is harassing everyone at will. Even we cannot subdue the

wicked Raksasa. Therefore, we request you to personally devise the means for

his destruction."

 

Lord Brahma considered the situation and then replied, "At the time

of asking for benedictions, Ravana did not bother to ask for immunity from

death at the hands of human beings, for he considered them to be too

insignificant."

 

While Brahma was thinking how Ravana could be killed, Lord Visnu

suddenly appeared, riding on His carrier, Garuda. As effulgent as many suns,

Lord Visnu appeared in His four-armed form, dressed in bright saffron

garments and carrying His disc, conch, club and lotus flower.

 

The demigods worshiped the Supreme Lord with great reverence and

then requested, "O master of the universe, please come to our rescue by

dividing Yourself into four, becoming the sons of Maharaja Dasaratha for the

purpose of killing Ravana."

 

Lord Visnu replied, "Rest assured, there is no longer any need to be

afraid. I will soon incarnate to rule over the earth for 11,000 years after

vanquishing your enemy, the king of the Raksasas." After saying this, Lord

Visnu disappeared as the demigods looked on with wonder. Meanwhile, from the

sacrificial fire of Maharaja Dasaratha, there appeared an exceptional being

of dark complexion with all auspicious bodily features. This personality

appeared to be unlimitedly powerful. He was decorated with transcendental

ornaments, and in his hand he carried a large golden pot of sweet rice. That

divine person then told Maharaja Dasaratha, "I am a messenger of Lord

Visnu."

 

With folded hands, the king replied, "O Visnuduta, please order me

to perform whatever service I can render."

 

The servant of Lord Visnu said, "This pot of sweet rice is the

reward for your two sacrificial performances. Give portions to your three

wives to eat. Through them you shall beget four sons who will forever

perpetuate your fame."

 

Maharaja Dasaratha happily accepted the sweet rice and

circumambulated the Visnuduta. After Lord Visnu's messenger disappeared from

view, Maharaja Dasaratha quickly gave portions of the sweet rice to his

wives, for he was eager to have sons.

 

Maharaja Dasaratha gave Kausalya one half of the sweet rice, Sumitra

one fourth, and Kaikeyi one eighth. Then after some deliberation, he gave

the remaining eighth to Sumitra. All three wives were overjoyed, for they

were confident that they would soon become mothers.

 

The three Queens eagerly ate their shares and soon thereafter, each

felt the presence of divine offspring within their wombs. When Maharaja

Dasaratha understood that his wives were pregnant, he too became very

satisfied. Meanwhile, Lord Brahma ordered the demigods as follows: "Beget

partial manifestations of yourselves to assist Lord Visnu in His forthcoming

incarnation. The children which you produce in the form of monkeys (by

uniting with Apsaras, she-monkeys, and female Yaksas, Nagas, Vidyadharas and

other celestial beings), must be capable of assuming any form at will and

must possess all other mystic powers. In addition, they must be very

intelligent, highly skilled in the use of weapons, having prowess almost

equal to Lord Visnu, and possess ethereal bodies."

 

After receiving the order of Lord Brahma, Indra begot Vali, Surya

begot Sugriva, Brhaspati begot Tara, Kuvera begot Gandhamada, Visvakarma

begot Nala, Varuna begot Susena, and Vayu begot Hanumana. Besides these

principal monkeys, many thousands of others took birth to assist Lord Visnu

in His mission. All of them were gigantic like mountains and were very eager

to fight with Ravana. Like the demigods who begot them, these monkeys were

born just after conception. They were so powerful that they could agitate

the ocean with their impetuous energy.

 

There were three classes of these created beings: bears, monkeys,

and monkeys that had long tails like cows. Because there were more than ten

million of these monkeys and bears, the earth soon became overrun with them

as they wandered throughout the forests, eating wild fruits and various

roots.

 

After the completion of the Putresti sacrifice, the demigods (who

personally came to accept their offerings) and the priests, Rsyasrnga and

Santa, departed for their respective residences. Then, after a pregnancy of

twelve months, on the ninth day of the waxing (bright) fortnight in the

month of Caitra, Kausalya gave birth to a son. This divine child had reddish

eyes and lips, long arms, and was decorated with all auspicious markings.

The son of Kausalya represented one-half of the potency of Lord Visnu.

 

Soon thereafter, a son representing one-fourth of the prowess of

Lord Visnu was born of Kaikeyi, Maharaja Dasaratha's youngest queen. Then,

two days after the appearance of Kausalya's son, Sumitra gave birth to

twins, each representing one-sixth of the potency of Lord Visnu. All four of

the newborn children highly resembled one another and were exceedingly

effulgent and pleasing to behold. Indeed, upon the appearance of Maharaja

Dasaratha's four sons, the demigods showered flowers from heaven, while the

Gandharvas sang and played musical instruments as the Apsaras danced. In

Ayodhya there was a great festival, as musicians, dancers and actors crowded

the streets, with all the citizens participating in the merrymaking.

 

 

Sri Rama Navami Maha Mahotsava Ki Jai!