adhyathmaramayana- Balakanda- Seetha kalyanam

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Chapter6-

Marriage of Rama and Seetha

 

After Ahalya went awy to her husband sage Gauthama, Visvamithra and the

princes went to Mithila. Janaka was surprised

to see Rama and Lakshmana who were

shining with splendour creating joy in the heart of the onlookers, and asked

Visvamithra about them. Visvamithra told Janaka of the exploits of Rama in protecting his yajna and releasing Ahalya from

her curse and said that they have come to Mithila to see the divine bow of Janaka,

who ordered the bow to be brought . Janaka said that if Rama would string the

bow he would give his daughter Seetha in marriage, The bow was brought by several

men and was placed in front of Rama, who lifted it with ease and strung the bow

when it broke creating a tremendous sound that reverberated in all the three worlds.

Thedevas showered flowers from above and the trumpets sounded from heaven. Janaka

was overjoyed and Seetha , well deorated with flowers and ornaments, arrived

there and garlanded Rama.

 

Wih the permssion of visvamitra

Janaka sent word to Dasaratha who arrived in Mithila with his retinue for the

marriage. On an auspicious hour Janaka gave Seetha to Rama in marriage and

Oormila , his another daughter and Mandavi and Sruthakeerthi, the daughters of

his brother were married to Lakshmana, Bharatha and Sathrughna respectively.

 

Then Janaka related what the sage

Narada told him about Seetha to Vasishta and Visvamithra. He said that when he

was ploughing the land for performing yajna, Seetha appeared as a child at the

tip of the plough and he was attracted towards the child and took her and

brought her up naming her Seetha. One day sage Narada came to his place and

when he was duly worshipped by the king he told him a divine secret. He said

that Lord Narayana has incarnated as Rama in Ayodhya for the sake of fulfilling

the mission of devas and His amsas have incarnated as His three brothers. The

girl who was being brought up by Janaka as his daughter was none other than

yogamaya of the Lord. Narada left after telling Janaka to get her married to

Rama. Janaka said that he was wondering how he could achieve this and then

thought about this device of giving Seetha to the one who would string the bow

which was given to him by Lord Siva. Janaka told the sages that on that day of

the marriage of Rama and Seetha he has acquired the result of his past merits

and had become blessed.

 

Then he praised Rama acknowledging

Him as the Lord Narayana, and said that intaking the water washing the feet of Him, Brahma has created

the Universe by its power which gave Bali the status of Indra. The dust of His feet released

Ahalya from curse. The ogis conquer the wheel of Time with wearing the dust of

His feet on their heads and the devas become freed from sorrow by singing His

glories and by surrendering to Him

 

Then Rama , Seetha and the brothers

of Rama with their wives and their father

started to Ayodhya , laden with rich presents and immense wealth from

Janaka.