May 26 - Sargas 71, 72 and 73 of Balakanda.
The marriage ceremony of Sita and Rama, along with her sisters marrying his brothers, is narrated here. May all who read this be blessed!
***
King Janaka now begins to narrate his genealogy. His line starts with Nimi, a great and holy king who was also famous in the three worlds for his righteousness. Nimi's son Mithi was the first king of Mithila and also a Janaka.
Janaka names many successive kings including Devarata we read about before as he received the Shiva Dhanush.
Janaka is the son of Hrasvaroma and his younger brother is Kushadhvaja.
A neighbouring king Sudhanva of Sankashya came and asked for the Shiva Dhanush as well as the hand of Sita. When Janaka refused, Sudhanva attacked Mithila. Janaka defeated and killed him and established Kushadhvaja as the king of Sankashya.
King Janaka now says that he will be pleased to offer the hand of Sita in marriage to Sri Rama who has won her rightfully as Veeryashulka. Janaka has another daughter Urmila he would like to offer in marriage to the valiant brother Lakshmana also.
Today is the Tritiya of Phalgun Shukla and it is Makha nakshatra. This is a very auspicious muhurta for consecrating the wedding. So king Janaka requests that they proceed without delay.
Then sage Vishwamitra speaks and blesses everyone. He also says that Kushadhvaja has two beautiful and virtuous daughters Mandavi and Shrutakeerti and they should also wed the handsome and brave princes, Bharata and Shatrughna. Everyone is highly delighted to go with this advice.
Then king Janaka requests Vasishtha and Vishwamitra that they should very graciously conduct the wedding proceedings and consider Mithila as much their place as Ayodhya.
King Dasharatha says what a wonderful lineage is king Janaka's and that it gives him the greatest joy to establish the strong ties with them through the four weddings.
Dasharatha proceeds to perform the rituals propitiating his forefathers and seeking their blessings. He also gifts thousands of beautiful cows and wealth to Brahmins.
Just then queen Kaikeyi's brother and Bharata's uncle, king Yudhaajit, arrives. He has proceeded from Ayodhya where he heard of the wonderful news of the wedding happening in Mithila.
***
At the propitious muhurta, Sri Rama, dressed magnificently, arrives with his brothers all ready and eager for the wedding.
Sage Vasishtha says to Janaka that the bridegrooms' party is here and king Janaka should proceed to perform the wedding.
King Janaka says sage Vasishtha should himself officiate as he is supreme in knowledge of Vedas and scriptures. Janaka's daughter Sita is (and other brides too are) all readied in finery and luminous like the sun in glory. Let there be no delay.
Dasharatha requests sage Vasishtha:
कारयस्व ऋषे सर्वमृषिभिः सह धार्मिक ।
रामस्य लोकरामस्य क्रियां वैवाहिकीं प्रभो ॥
"Oh revered sage, kindly conduct the wedding, with the help of other rishis here, of Sri Rama, who brings delight to the entire world!"
Sage Vasiahtha and sage Vishwamitra then prepare the wedding stage with all auspicious materials and decorations in a way we are all familiar with even today in Hindu weddings. Homa materials are ready. Customary laaja grains (corn-like grains) used for sprinkling in blessing are ready.
There are auspicious musical instruments sounding gattimelam.
Sage Vasishtha escorts Sita looking divine in her finery to the stage. The rishis are chanting Vedic hymns.
***
समक्षमग्नेः संस्थाप्य राघवाभिमुखे तदा ।
अब्रवीज्जनको राजा कौसल्यानन्दवर्धनम् ॥
इयं सीता मम सुता सहधर्मचरी तव ।
प्रतीच्छ चैनां भद्रं ते पाणिं गृह्णीष्व पाणिना ॥
पतिव्रता महाभागा छायेवानुगता सदा ।
इत्युक्त्वा प्राक्षिपद्राजा मन्त्रपूतं जलं तदा ॥
साधुसाध्विति देवानामृषीणां वदतां तदा ।
देवदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषः पुष्पवर्षो महानभूत् ॥
In front of the homa fire, facing Sri Rama, king Janaka addressed Rama, who brought great joy to Kausalya always:
"Oh Rama, here is my daughter Sita. She shall be your equal partner in life and all dharma. Please take her hand as your wife. May all good come to you both!
" May Sita be totally devoted to you, most glorious in all her doings, and follow you like a shadow always."
Saying this, king Janaka poured the water oblation sanctified with mantras to mark the giving away of his daughter in marriage.
At that moment gods and rishis showered their blessings, heavenly drums sounded auspiciously, and there was a big rain of flowers from heaven.
Thus processed Janaka with the other three weddings also.
***
जनकस्य वचः श्रुत्वा पाणीन् पाणिभिरस्पृशन्।
चत्वारस्ते चतसृणां वसिष्ठस्य मते स्थिताः ॥
Then the four brothers, responding to the words of Janaka, and obtaining the permission of sage Vasishtha, took their brides' hands in their own.
***
The four couples performed the fire worship and went around the homa fire (a ritual we follow even today). They were holding the tender hands tenderly.
Thus concluded the Sita Kalyana most gloriously.
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
