09Rangarajyam
Kōsalai,
Kaikeyi, and Sumithrai including Ravikula guests, many kings and chiefs
were sitting on silver and copper seats. Besides these, Ayodhya’s Vedic
scholars and general public sat on the gem-laden woolen carpets.
Rama Rajyam
will begin shortly. Until now the Rama’s footwear (Pāthukai = பாதுகை)
was the ruler as a stand-in for Rama. From now on, the owner of the
Royal footwear will stand in to rule the kingdom.
Sita holding
Rama’s hands appeared as if Mahalakshmi was stepping out of the milk
ocean. On one side walked Bharata and Lakshmana and on the other side
was Śatrughna holding the White Victory Parasol (வெண்கொற்றக்குடை).
That scene
melted the heart of Hanuman with tears rolling down his face, and he
uttered ‘Ram, Ram’ with rising emotion. The assembled people echoed.
Rama stood
with Sita in front of gem-laded Lion Throne with Lakshmanan and
Śatrughna by his side. Rama with humility paid homage to the assembled
people. He went with Sita to the eight Ṛṣis, fell at their feet and
received their blessings.
Vasiṣtar took
him to Jeweled Lion-throne and made him sit on it. In that seated
condition, the white victory umbrella was stationed above his head as a
Pandal or canopy over Rama’s head. Śatrughna stood there holding it.
Rama’s mother Kōsalai with happy tears in her eyes, Lakshmana’s mother
Sumithrai with horripilation and Kaikeyi witnessed the memorable scene.
சாமரம்2
cāmaram, n. < cāmara. Chowry, bushy tail of the yak, used as a
fly-flapper for idols or as a royal insignia;
The Royal
Ablution began in the right earnest. Jāmbhavān, Hanuman, Vēkadharsi,
Siṣapan, and others brought the waters from all the flowing rivers in
the world. The eight Ṛṣis blessed the waters by touching them with their
hands, and Vasiṣtar used the waters for the ablution of Rama. Śatrughna
held the white Victory umbrella. Sugriva used the fly-flapper. Vayu
Bhagavan applied on Rama a garland made of golden lotus flowers, and
nine gems alternating with pearls. Uttering the Veda Mantras, Vasiṣtar
placed the gem-laden crown on Rama’s head. The roar of the Mantras
abounded as if it tore the firmament and subsided over Ayodhya. Hanuman
was the one to roar first.
Next, they
got ready to confer the title of heir-apparent on Lakshmana; but the
latter rejected the honor and recommended Bharata for the title, which
Bharata received. Among the ecstatic witnesses, Vibhīṣaṇa was one. He
reflected on Rama, the events that Rama experienced, and the subtle
inner meaning of those events. Rama was not just an ordinary person. He
was Vishnu’s Avatara! If Ayodhya was mokṣa (heaven), Dasaratha was the
central figure. His three wives stand for the three Māyais.
Kōsalai
stands for Suddha Māyā (Pure Māyā). Rama was the Pure Ātmā born of her.
Rama through his Guru Vasiṣtar realized who he was, entered the forest
of ignorance helped by Viśvāmitra, destroyed Tātākā who stood for Arakka
Māyā (demoniacal Māyā) and safeguarded the sacrificial fire named
Jñāṉam. Vibhishana’s mind analyzed with rapture each event and their
subtle meanings in Rāma’s voyage in life.
Vibhishana
reflected on Rama’s journey through life and their subtle meanings.
1. Srirama
spurned Kāma in the name of Mārīca.
2. He got rid
of anger in the name Subahu.
3. He morphed
the Akalikai-stone, a mark of ignorance, into a woman.
4. He
attained Bliss-Sakthi in the name of Sita by breaking the ‘Mamakāram’
bow. (= Self-conceit, Vanity, Haughtiness.)
5. He
suffered because of Kaikeyi’s instigation by Gūṉi’s anger to ask for a
boon.
6. He
performed Tapas in the form of a forest exile.
7. He
developed a friendship with Nishkāmyam in the name of Guha. Nishkāmyam =
Without desire or expectation of something in return.
8. He
traversed desire in the name of Ganga.
Vibhīṣaṇa was
in a state of horripilation when he thought of Rama and the life events.
9. Rama’s
determination was like the Ćitrakūta mountain.
10. He gave
his pair of footwears to Bharata: Parajñāṉam (Supreme knowledge) and
Aparajñāṉam ( = Secular or inferior knowledge).
11. He
vanquished ‘enmity’ in the name of Virātaṉ.
12. He proved
that universal compassion applies to all life forms, by showing love to
Jadāyu, a bird.
13. He
avoided the fire (of infatuation) that was a seductive demoness
Sūrppaṇakai.
14. He lost
Bliss named Sita by Ravana’s abduction (of Sita).
15. Rama went
in search of the ignoramus the black iron-lady Ayōmukhi (a demoness) and
released his brother Lakshmana from her.
16. He
Vanquished worry in the name of Kavandhan.
17. He
offered Mokṣa to Nirvikalpam in the name of Sabari.
18. He
subdued Vāli, the epitome of belligerence.
19. He
installed Purity named Sugriva as the king.
20. Rama
found blessed Sita’s location of internment helped by Hanuman, the
personification of True Knowledge or Spiritual Wisdom.
21. Rama
built a dam against the ocean of metempsychosis and destroyed evil
qualities named Rākṣasas.
22. Rama
destroyed Tāmasa Guṇa (mode of darkness) named Kumbakarṇa.
23. Rama
killed Ravana with Rākṣasa Guṇa.
24. Rama
installed Sattva Guṇa Bhūṣaṇa (the jewel among the Virtuous) as the king
in the name of Vibhīṣaṇa.
25. Rama
rescued Blissful Sita, took her to the world of Mōkṣa, Ayodhya and
became the king.
Vibhīṣaṇa
thinking of Rama’s deeds melted. Rama was ready to honor all those who
were responsible for his ascent to the throne as the king.
The people
who deserved the highest honor came in line upon the roll call. Sugriva,
Jāmbhavān, Nīlan, and Vibhīshaṇa were the guests. Vibhīshaṇa came with
opposed palms and humility before all the assembled people. A thousand
inner meanings and substance transpired when Rama and Sita looked at
Vibhīṣaṇa. The assembled people were wondering about the prize
appropriate to his honor and achievement he would get on this occasion.
Hanuman
carried the Praṇavākāra Perumal’s golden Vimanam and placed it in the
view of the assembled people. The eight Ṛṣis showed shock and awe at the
sight of Perumal as if they never expected it to arrive before them.
Vibhīṣaṇaṉ performed eight-limb prostration upon seeing the Perumal.
As everybody
was watching and listening to his homage, Rama addressed the gathering.
“My dear guests! People of Ayodhya. Srīsrī Vibhīṣaṇa was a fast friend
of mine in Lankapuri. On account of Dharma and in support of me, he
opposed his brother Ravana boldly. Because of it, he was chased out of
the country and took refuge in me.
He not only
identified and revealed Ravana’s illusion but also gave sage advice to
Ravana. The sage advice he gave to Ravana with love and compassion did
not find acceptance. My deed with the launch of the arrow in anger
suppressed and destroyed Ravana. Though Vibhīṣaṇa was shocked to see the
death of his brother Ravana, his love and friendship for me overrode his
loss and he was the reason I returned victorious to Ayodhya.
When
Vibhīṣaṇa had my interest in his mind, no one can oppose it. Vibhīṣaṇa
cut his sibling ties with Ravana, became a Muni of impeccable character
and earned accolades from all. He is an embodiment of virtue as stated
by the Laws of Ethics and justice when it came to the question of how a
king should behave. A duty awaits him now: The reconstruction and
restoration of Lanka to its greatness. That demands human endeavor and
God's help. Wherever temple service and worship exist, passion and anger
self-destruct and Bakthi and Buddhi come to the forefront.
As the body
becomes strong by exercise, the mind gains strength and wisdom by the
path of Bhakti and its observances. Lanka’s first need is that. Ravana’s
base behavior brought ruination of Lanka. I had a role in it. Because of
it, I must do something for its greatness. I like to offer to Vibhīṣaṇa
the erstwhile Ravikula’s God of worship Praṇavākāra Perumal as
preeminent repository of grace and desirable gift. I wish no one has any
objection and no one should have any objection.
Rama’s lofty
speech and its ideas made all silent but horripilated Vibhishana had
tears of joy in his eyes.
Rama is the
best and the loftiest. There is no one on earth equal him. There will be
no one. He has the compassion and consideration as to whom, what and
when to offer a gift. It is impossible in this world of Māyā (illusion)
to pursue this stance in its perfection.
Some are of
the mind to offer their lives. Some people gave life to others. However,
to provide something higher than life itself is a rare event.
That is
happening now!
To give what
one owns and still thinks it is his, is antithetical to the spirit of
giving. The assembled people tried to change their mind with great
sorrow to the new reality that Praṇavākāra Perumal was not theirs
anymore. They decided that in place of Perumal, Srīrāma himself will be
their new Perumal.
That is true!
Rama is the original and the owner of Praṇavākāra Perumal. That being
so, what he made was only a duplicate of the original.
It appeared
to Vibhīṣaṇa that Srīrāma gave himself in the form of Praṇavākāra
Perumal for safe-keeping. He felt confident that his country would be a
Dharmapuri (a place ascendant in Dharma) like Ayodhya.
Vasiṣta
Maharishi, keeping silent but watching the events looked at Vibhīṣaṇa
with a smile and spoke to him. “King of Lanka! You are a man with great
merit. The Perumal that you received as a gift was worshipped in heavens
by Brahma.
Later,
Ravikulam worshipped Perumal on this earth, and at the end, Srīrāma
himself worshipped the Mūrthy. He is endowed with multiple subtilities
as the atom is. All received the Mūrthy by the strength of their Tapas.
You earned it as a gift! Not that it is great to accept it. It is
greater to cherish it properly. Be careful in that effort.
If not…
Will
Continue.