February 16 - Sarga 128 of Yuddha Kanda - shlokas 51 to 91.
I do not want to hurry in this concluding section. So I have saved the final benedictory portion for tomorrow!
Sage Valmiki narrates the actual Abhisheka and the munificence of King Sri Rama.
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प्रत्यूषसमये "Sugriva called his four commanders, Jambavan, Hanuman, Rishabha and Gavaya, and instructed them that they should fetch the holy waters by the next morning daybreak."
These heroes, each of mountainous build, enormous speed, and dedication to the assignment, brought the sacred waters from five hundred rivers and four seas overnight.
Jambavan went eastward and fetched in the bejewelled pot the water from the eastern sea. Rishabha flew and brought the water from the southern ocean in the golden pot decorated with raktachandana flowers. Gavaya brought the cold waters from the western sea in the golden pot encrusted with gems.
उत्तराच्च जलं शीघ्रं गरुडानिलविक्रमः आजहार स धर्मात्मानिलः सर्वगुणान्वितः "Hanuman, with the prowess matching Garuda's and his own father the Wind-god's, most virtuous and endowed with great qualities, went northward and returned with the golden pot filled with the waters from the northern sea."
Shaturghna then went and handed over the sacred waters in the four golden pots to Sage Vasishtha.
The sage now seated Sri Rama and Sita, looking divine in their glory, on the high, bejewelled royal seats.
वसिष्ठो वामदेवश्च जाबालिरथ काश्यपः । कात्यायनः सुयज्ञश्च गौतमो विजयस्तथा ॥
अभ्यषिञ्चन्नरव्याघ्रं प्रसन्नेन सुगन्धिना । सलिलेन सहस्राक्षं वसवो वासवं यथा ॥
"Then the eight sages, Vasishtha, Vamadeva, Jabali, Kashyapa, Katyayana, Suyajna, Gautama and Vijaya, ceremonially bathed the mighty Sri Rama as well as Devi Sita with the delightful, perfumed, holy waters from the seas and rivers, much like the great vasus (eight deities) had sanctified Indra himself during his celestial coronation."
It is noteworthy that the actual ceremony of coronation in our scriptures is the ritual of the holy bath. Abhisheka actually means the holy bath.
After these sages, many other Brahmins poured medicinal concoctions and holy water over Sri Rama and Sita. They were followed by sixteen auspicious women, eight ministers, military commanders, leading men of commerce, and prominent citizens, who were evidently most delighted while giving the ritualistic ablutions to Sri Rama and Devi Sita. Even the gods and sages assembled in the skies came down and performed the Abhisheka.
Sri Rama and Devi Sita were now led into the main hall of the palace and taken to the sacred throne that had been adorned by so many glorious kings of the Ikshwaku dynasty from the past. Seating them on that majestic, ornamental, golden throne, sage Vasishtha brought the divine crown (diadem) that Brahma himself had placed on the head of the progenitor of the lineage, Manu, in ancient times, and placed it on Sri Rama's head. The crown was glittering with a divine glow, having been created by Lord Brahma himself. The sage also garlanded Sri Rama with many wonderful necklaces and garlands.
Shatrughna now came and stood, holding the royal white umbrella over Sri Rama. On either side, Sugriva and Vibhishana stood fanning Sri Rama with a white fan and a reddish fan respectively. On being prompted by Lord Indra, the ruler of Devaloka, Vayu, the Wind-god, now came with a huge garland made with a hundred golden lotuses and placed it around Sri Rama's neck. There were celestial musicians and dancers in attendance. Vayu also placed some divine necklaces that shone with celestial glitter around Sri Rama's neck. There was a blessed feeling in everyone that Sri Rama eminently deserved this great coronation.
भूमिः सस्यवती चैव फलवन्तश्च पादपाः । गन्धवन्ति च पुष्पाणि बभूवू राघवोऽत्सवे ॥
"Mother earth flourished with new blooms and shoots, the trees bore fruit, the flowers acquired a special fragrance, all to celebrate the festivities of Sri Rama's coronation."
Sri Rama now started giving the most generous gifts to all. First, he gifted to the Brahmins thousands of cows along with horses, bulls and so on. He also showered them with gifts of gold coins, jewellery and expensive clothes.
Then Sri Rama gave King Sugriva a special gold necklace strung with pearls that had a shine like the sun. He then gifted Angada a pair of special shoulder ornaments. He then gave Devi Sita many wonderful dresses and several precious necklaces and a special pearl necklace.
Devi Sita now took off the pearl necklace and meaningfully looked at her lord Sri Rama. Smiling, Sri Rama told her she could give that necklace to anyone among the vanaras she wanted to, to show her appreciation for that person.
प्रदेहि सुभगे हारं यस्य तुष्टासि भामिनि "Dear Sita, please deign to give the pearl necklace to anyone that you are especially pleased with."
अथा सा वायुपुत्राय तं हारमासितेक्षणा ।
तेजो धृतिर्यशो दाक्ष्यं सामर्थ्यं विनयो नयः ।
पौरुषं विक्रमो बुद्धिर्यस्मिन्नेतानि नित्यदा ॥
हनूमान्सतेन हारेण शुशुभे वानरर्षभः ।
चन्द्रांशुशचयगौरेण श्वेताभ्रेण यथाचलः ॥
"Then Devi Sita, with her captivating black eyes, signalled to Hanuman and gave him that special pearl necklace. The one and only one who combined a radiance of personality with unmatched courage, fame in the three worlds earned by his deeds, a capability to rise to any occasion, a proven competence in every task, humility belying his achievements, a smoothness and tenderness evident in his conduct always, the prowess of the highest order in deeds of daredevilry, intelligence that is rarely seen in any being - Hanuman who manifested these qualities all the time, received that pearl necklace with a deep sense of joy and gratitude. Wearing it, the supreme vanara Hanuman looked, as Valmiki says, like a huge mountain surrounded by white clouds, lustrous in the crystal clear light of the full moon."
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Every vanara and his lady received appropriate gifts of dresses and jewels.
Valmiki says that Sri Rama proved again how great he is in doing everything perfectly, the way he gladdened all the attendees of the coronation with gifts beyond their expectations.
King Surgiva and the vanaras thereafter left for Kishkindha with their hearts full. Similarly, Vibhishana and his chiefs left for Lanka.
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स राज्यमखिलं शासन्निहतारिर्महायशाः ।
राघवः परमोदारः शशास परया मुदा ॥
"Sri Rama began to rule Ayodhya with extreme felicity, taming its enemies, protecting its vast borders, being generous towards its citizens, and increasing his name and fame constantly."
Now Sri Rama called Lakshmana. "Dear Lakshmana, this famed kingdom of Ayodhya has been ruled well by our great ancestors. I want you to be the joint ruler of Ayodhya, along with me. " In other words, the way Sri Rama had shared the responsibilities with King Dasharatha, he wanted Lakshmana to do the same with him. But Lakshmana was clear in his refusal. It was because of his total and undiluted focus on serving Sri Rama.
Then Sri Rama appointed Bharata as the Yuvaraja to share in the ruler's responsibilities.
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We shall conclude this section tomorrow.
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
I leave you with this glorious description of Pattabhisheka in Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar's immortal composition sung by Bombay Jayashri.
