Ramayana of valmiki and Kamban-yuddhakanda

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17. Srirama pattabhishekam

 

Lord Siva appeared and told Rama that Dasaratha was

coming with Indra in aerial car to bless him. Seeing Dasaratha, Rama, Lakshmana

and Seetha bowed down to him and he said that he was glad to see Rama, who had

destroyed Ravana to the joy of all the celestials and advised Rama to go back

and accept the throne and blessed Lakshmana by saying that he should go on

serving Rama who is none other than the Supreme purusha and he beseeched Seetha

not to get angry with Rama who did what he had to do only to show her purity to

the world. Then Rama reminded Dasaratha

about his disowning Kaikeyi and Bharatha and begged him to accept them.

Dasarata agreed an dwent back to heaven.

 

 

Rama asked Indra the boon that all dead monkeys

should come alive and Indra granted it. All dead monkeys became alive as though

from deep sleep feeling vigorous after their rest. Rama, Seetha and

Lakshmana started for ayodhya in the

Pushpaka vimana brought by Vibheeshana along with all the vanaras and

Vibheeshana who wished to see the coronation of Rama.

 

 

On

their way to Ayodhya, Rama showed

Seetha, the city of Lanka, the battle-field,

the bridge which was built across the ocean, mount Rishyamuka,

pampa river and Kishkindha. Seetha said,

on seeing Kishkindha that she wanted to go to Ayodhya with Tara and all the

other wives of the vanaras from

Kishkindha . Rama told Sugriva to act accordingly and all the vanara women of

Kishkindha ascended the pushpaka vimana and they started towards Ayodhya. When

they came to the asrama of sage Bhardhvaja Rama made the aerial chariot to land

there and they paid their respects to the sage. The sage informed him of the

welfare of Bharatha and others , saying that Bharatha wearing the bark garment

worshipping the sandals of Rama was expecting his return eagerly. Then he said

that he knew all that happened from the time Rama left him and felt happy to

see him returning victorious after the slaying of Ravana. He requested them to

stay there overnight and start the next morning to Ayodhya. Rama agreed and

asked the sage to grant the boon that all trees from there till Ayodhya should

be rich with fruits for the sake of the vanras since it was off season. The

sage granted the wish and the vanaras were happy eating the ripe fruits.

Rama

then called Hanuman and told him to go to Ayodhya and find out the welfare of

all there especially the reaction of Bharatha after telling him what all

happened. Rama said that after enjoying the kingdom for fourteen years , if

Bharatha is reluctant to leave all that, then Rama would not take it from him.

The doubt arises in the mind of the reader of Ramayana in this moment whether

Rama was not aware of the mind of Bharatha whom he loved dearly to speak thus

to Hanuman. It could even make one wonder whether the incarnation which is

believed to have ended with Rama becoming the king of Ayodhya on account of the

fact that he sent Seetha who was pregnant to the forest, thus acting like an

ordinary dhaarmik king. But Rama might have said so to Hanuman only because of

his love for Bharatha which made him ready to give up the kingdom, which is not

at all difficult for him as he had already done it once, if there was a

slightest inclination of Bharatha to rule the kingdom himself.

Rama

also told Hanuman to meet Guha on the way and convey to him the good news of

the return of Rama. Hanuman went to Sringiberapura and told Guha that Rama was

on his way and would meet him soon. Then he proceeded to Ayodhya without delay.

He saw Bhartha emaciated with austere living and wearing matted locks and bark

garment worshipping the sandals of Rama. Hanuman told him the good news and

narrated all that happened from the time Rama went to dhandakaranya and said

that Rama was on his way. Bharatha, overjoyed by hearing it, ordered the city

of Ayodhya to

be decorated in a fitting manner and the people to arrange a fitting welcome to

Rama. But still Rama was not visible and Bharatha asked Hanuman anxiously why

he could not see Rama yet. Then Hanuman pointed out to shining object in the

sky and said that it was the celestial car of Vibheeshana in which all are coming. While they were talking they

saw Rama on the Pushpaka vimana and

Bharatha went near and bowed down even before it landed. Rama alighted and embraced Bharatha and comforted him and bowed down to his

mothers and guru, all of them blessing him. Bharatha fitted the sandals to the feet of Rama and said,

ethath the rakshitham raajan raajyam niryaathitham

mayaa

adhya janma krthaarTham me samvrtthaScha manoraThaH

thath dhadhaami punaH thubhyam

yaThaa thavam adhadhaa mama

"Oh king, this kindom of yours was prtotected by me

and returned to you. Now only my life has become fruitful and my wishes were

fulfilled."

 

"I return to you that kingdom which you gave to

me."

 

In Kamban, Rama never utters any words of doubt

about the reaction of Bharatha at all and Bharatha seeing that Rama did not

arrive on the day when the fourteen

years exile ended, prepares the fire and decided to enter it, as he told Rama

earlier. Bharatha calls Satrugna and what he says to him and the reply of

Satrugna is exclusive to Kamban which extols both of their characters.

 

Bharatha says,

 

`Sonna naaLil raaghavan thOnRilan;

Minnu theeyidai yaan ini veeduven;

Mannan aadhi;en sollai maRaadhu' enRaan

 

" Rama has not arrived o the day he promised. I am

going to enter the fire. You be the king. Do not disobey my words."

 

Only four verses are attributed to Satrugna in the

whole Kambaramayana, and one among them

puts him on a pedestal above everyone.

 

Satrugna says,

 

kaan aaLa nilamagaLaikkaivittupp

pOnaanaikkaatthu, pinbu

pOnaanum oru thambi;"pOnavan

thaan varum avadhi pOyittru" ennaa

aanaadha uyirvida amaivaanum

oru thambi; ayale naaNaadhu,

yaanaam ivvarasu aaLven?ennE

ivvarasaatchi! inidhe amma!

 

" The one who followed him who abandoned the

kingdom and went to rule the forest is also a brother. Who wished to die, saying

that the one who went did not return within the time limit, is also a brother. Will I rule this kingdom

without any shame? Wonderful is the kingship!" What he means is that one

brother is to follow his elder brother to the forest and another brother is

ready to give up his life for him and he , Satrugna is to rule the kingdom

after his elder brother , Bharatha has died. What a shame!

 

(The beauty of expression is partly lost in

translation.)

 

When Bharatha lit the fire and got ready to fall in it, Hanuman comes

and puts it off with his hand, saying,

 

ayyan vandhanan; aariyan vandhanan;

 

The Lord has come the noble Rama has come.

Hanuman also showed Bharatha the signet ring of

Rama. Thus in Kamban the scene is more dramatic.

 

Then the coronation of Rama was performed duly in

Ayodhya. Sugriva sent the vanaras to all the four oceans and five hundred

rivers to get the water to perform the sacred bath for Rama and the

coronation was performed by the eight sages Vasishta Vamadeva, jaabaali, kaaSyapa,kaathyaayana,

suyajna, Gouthama and Vijaya like the coronation of Indra by the ashta vasus.

 

Kamban describes the coronation in his own way, by,

 

ariyaNai anuman thaanga, angadhan udaivaaL Endha,

bharathan veNkudai kavikka, iruvarum kavari pattra

virai seRi kuzhali Onga, veNNaiyur sadaitan thangaL

marabuLOr kodukka vaangi vasittanE punaindhaan

mouLi

 

The throne was supported by Hanuman, Angadha was

carrying the sword of Rama, Bharatha was wielding the white royal umbrella,

Lakshmana and Satrugna were holding the chamaras, the descendents of SadaiappaVaLLal

handed the crown and Vasishta himself crowned Rama.

( Sadiappa vaLLal was the patron of Kamban and he

honoured him by referring to him after every thousand verses and in the end in

this verse on coronation.)

 

In Valmiki Satrugna held the royal umbrella,

Sugriva and Vibheeshana wielded the chamaras.

 

Why did Kamban say Vasittane punaindhaan mouli, Vasishta

himself crowned Rama? It is to emphasize that it was Vasishta who fixed the

auspicious hour for the coronation and everything went on without a hitch. In the coronation of Rama which Dhasaratha

planned he only decided the day and hour and not Vasishta and it did not take

place.

 

The devas gave ornaments and pearl necklace etc. to

Rama on his coronation. Rama gave valuable presents to Sugriva , Angadha and

others and gave a shining pearl necklace to Seetha, who took off the necklace

and looked at Rama, who said , knowing her mind, said that she could give it to

the one who has glory, persistence, fame, skill, cleverness, humility , polity,

manliness, valour and intelligence and in whom she was pleased. Seetha gave it

to Hanuman who shone like a mountain with a white cloud wearing the necklace which was white like the

moon beam.

 

Rama honoured everyone in a fitting manner and bade goodbye to all. He gave to Vibheeshana

the ikshvaku kula dhanam , the treasure of the clan of Ikshvaku, the idol of

Sriranganatha. Rama asked Lakshmana to accept the post of crowned prince but he

refused and hence Rama made Bharatha the

heir apparent.

 

Valmiki describes the ramarajya as the one in which

there was no widows, no fear from wild beasts and diseases or robbers. There

was no death of young ones and all lived long glorious life free from worries.

The name of Rama was on the lips of everyone

and the earth was fertile and there was enough rain and all were happy

doing their own work according to the varna

and asrama. Valmiki says that Rama ruled the earth for ten thousand and ten

hundred years. The commentators say that in the language

of Siddhas 1000=3 and 100=4. Hence Rama ruled for 70 years. Those who hear, tell,

write or read this immortal epic will be

freed from sin and sorrow. Hence let all of us be blessed by this story of Rama

, the incarnation of the Supreme Purusha, Narayana.