Chapter
1
The Dandaka Forest
While
Bharatha was thus spending his days at Nandigrama in the
constant contemplation of Rama, far away in the forest,
on the Chitrakuta Peak, Sita, Rama and Lakshmana were
praising his devotion and sense of dedication. They were
happy in the peaceful, quiet forest home. One day, a fool
named Jayantha
sought to measure the valour of Rama, an adventure as
foolish and suicidal as the attempt of an ant to discover
the depth of the Ocean!
Prompted by sheer
mischief, he transformed himself into a crow, and
approaching Sita, who was seated by the side of Rama lost
in the contemplation of the scenery spread out before
them, and with his sharp beak, he pecked at the sole of
her tender foot, causing blood to trickle from the wound.
Seeing the stream of blood, Rama plucked a blade of dry
grass from the ground and threw it at the
crow.
Rama will never hurt
any one who has not done any injury. But, when it is
necessary, and when it has to be done, even Rahu will
swallow the Moon, isn't it? So too Rama. He will never
hurt the innocent. But, that blade of grass became a huge
flame of fire and flew towards Jayantha. And, when he
fled, it pursued him relentlessly wherever he went.
Helpless and frightened, the crow returned to its
original form and Jayantha fell at the feet of Rama
praying for succor. Indra
came to know that the culprit was his own son and he too
repented for his son's audacity and
irreverence.
Jayantha prostrated
before Rama and pleaded for mercy. He said, "I am a fool.
I did not realize the baseness of my deed. Save me from
your anger, from this fire."
Rama pitied the poor
fellow, who had so humbled himself. He made one of his
eyes ineffective and sent him away alive, as a
single-eyed individual. The blade of grass that had
become a missile of fire was neutralized by him and it
resumed its nature. Jayantha was grateful that he was let
off with just a token punishment for the heinous crime he
had committed; he lived for a long time on the Chitrakuta
Peak, where Sita, Rama and Lakshmana had taken residence.
One day, the tenth day of the bright half of the month
Margasira, Rama ordered Jayantha to proceed southwards
from his habitat.
Rama, Sita and
Lakshmana at the Hermitage of Sage Athri
Sita, Rama and
Lakshmana too left Chitrakuta and reached the hermitage
of the great Sage, Athri. The Sage came to know in
advance of the intention of Rama to visit his retreat,
through his pupils. So when Rama was approaching the
Asram, he moved far out on the forest track in order to
welcome Rama, Sita and Lakshmana. Athri was so
overpowered with joy at the sign of Grace, that he shed
profuse tears in his ecstasy and declared that the visit
had indeed made his life realize its highest aim. He said
that his austerities had at last borne fruit that day.
That evening, the Sage Athri gathered his pupils and
placed a high seat for Rama at the head of the assembly.
His consort Anasuya had meanwhile attended to the needs
of Sita and brought her too to that place. Then, he
described to all present the sacredness of the occasion,
the powers of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana, and the Divine
Forces that had incarnated as those three. Anasuya also
praised the virtues of Sita, and gave her holy counsel on
the duties of women and the ideals they should ever hold
dear. Sita spoke of the fact that every individual, every
being, and every creature had the feminine principle
inherent in its composition; she said that though there
are masculine and feminine roles, acting on the world
stage, all are basically feminine, when their strength,
emotions and attitudes are considered. She said that her
Lord, Rama, is the incarnation of the One and only
Masculine principle in the Universe. In him, she said,
there is no trace of duality, of mine and thine, of grief
or joy. He is the embodiment of fearlessness; He is
strength personified. Purusha or the Eternal Masculine
has wedded Nature or Prakrithi,
the Eternal Feminine. Though Nature appears manifold and
variegated, it is really One undifferentiated Unity. Thus
Sita revealed the truth of the Rama principle to Anasuya,
the consort of the Sage Athri.
Rama, Sita and
Lakshmana spent a very happy time at the Asram of the
Sage Athri. They gave good counsel to the residents and
pupils on various problems of right conduct. Then, taking
leave of the Sage, they resumed their journey through the
jungle. The Asramites shed tears of sorrow when they
parted company. Despite their determined attempts to
accompany Rama during the subsequent stages of his forest
life they had to stop away and resume the life for which
they had dedicated their lives. They had to witness
helplessly the departure of the Divine Master of their
hearts.
The jungle echoed with
the roar of ferocious beasts that wandered about in
search of prey. Manifold varieties of plumaged birds sang
melodiously on the trees. Each had a peculiar beauty and
melody: their coos and cries were balm for the ear. It
appeared as if they had entered a new world of thrills.
While passing through this region of awesome grandeur,
suddenly their eyes fell upon a lovely hermitage, which
had at its center a picturesque temple. Lakshmana moved
forward, and cleared the track, pushing back the bushes
that stood across. He broke off the thorny creepers that
hung overhead and threatened to harm wayfarers. Rama and
Sita could walk safely along the track he cleared. When
they came to the precincts of the hermitage a charming
garden presented itself before them. Well-fostered and
affectionately looked after, the fruit trees and
flowering trees rose beautifully from the ground, with
their charming crowns of beauty. The branches were
drooping under the weight of ripe juicy fruits. Sita was
filled with delight; she forgot all exhaustion; she was
lost in the heavenly peace and joy that she had come
into. She walked behind Rama, imbibing the thrill of the
Nature that surrounded her. When some residents noticed
their approach, they ran in haste to their Preceptor; he
hurried forward to the main gate to welcome Rama, Sita
and Lakshmana. His eyes were streaming tears of joy.
Appropriate hospitality was offered to the guests; they
were taken in and given cool refreshing drinks; tasty
fruits and tubers were placed before them. The guests
accepted their attention and regard with great pleasure;
they partook of the simple repast. In the evening, they
took bath and performed due rites. Rama spoke to the
residents on ideal modes of conduct and behaviour. He
permitted them to ask questions on the doubts that might
be puzzling them and the knotty points of interpretations
of the scriptures. They welcomed the opportunity most
enthusiastically. Rama, too, offered convincing and clear
explanations, in simple and satisfying words. Without
doubt, the dwellers of the Asram experienced very Heaven
on earth. They spoke among themselves with great delight
that the Presence of Rama was as elevating an experience
as contact with God Himself in Heaven.
When dawn broke, Rama,
Sita and Lakshmana bathed and went through the matinal
rites. In spite of the plaintive prayers of the
Asramites, they started on their journey, expostulating
that people should not stand in the way of their vows and
resolutions. They had resolved, they said, not to stay in
one single hermitage or place for more than one single
night.
When they resumed their
journey, and passed through the forest, a monstrous form,
being the frightful ogre Viradha, appeared all of a
sudden and rushed menacingly towards them. Sita was
naturally frightened at the apparition; but, soon, she
mustered courage knowing that, when she had the Lion Rama
to protect her, she had no need to be frightened at the
'lame fox' that had presented itself! "Let it roar its
worst", she consoled herself. She stood behind Rama and
watched developments. Meanwhile, Lakshmana shot at the
monster a sharp arrow from his bow. Soon, he showered
many missiles on it. When it was wounded by the arrows,
Viradha transformed into a blazing fury of anger and
appearing like the very embodiment of death and
destruction, pounced upon Lakshmana. Rama saw that his
brother was getting exhausted by the struggle; he fixed a
crescent headed arrow to his redoubtable bow and shot at
the ogre. The arrow shattered to pieces the formidable
three-pronged spear that the ogre was flourishing; it
then sliced off the head of the monster. At that very
moment, a bright heavenly form emerged from the fallen
corpse!
Viradha had been born
as an ogre on earth in consequence of a curse that he had
invited upon himself from his divine Master, Kubera. He
was one of a group of heavenly angels, Gandharvas,
who were serving Kubera. Kubera had, later, taken pity on
him and declared that his demonic career would come to an
end the moment he met his death through an arrow from the
bow of Rama. He could then return as a Gandharva to the
Presence of Kubera, it was said. So, the Gandharva fell
at the feet of his Saviour, and extolled him with high
praise, before leaving for his permanent
abode.
Rama interred the huge
body of the demon that lay on the ground; he also went
through the rites prescribed for such disposal. Just then
a shower of rain fell on the spot, as if the gods above
were showering tears of joy at the compassion that Rama
was evincing.
Next, Rama entered the
famous hermitage of the sage Sarabhanga.
Even while he was nearing the asram, the ascetics and
monks were talking among themselves of the havoc caused
by the inroads of Ravana,
the demon King. When Rama, Sita and Lakshmana appeared
before them in the midst of their conversation, they
sensed the meaning of their visit and knew that their
fears would soon come to an end. When the sage Sarabhanga
saw the divinely charming figure of Rama, he could scarce
believe his eyes; he doubted whether it was a dream, or
an illusion, or some strange experience caused by
meditation mania. But, soon, he realized the genuineness
of his good fortune; he was overwhelmed with the ecstasy
of winning his long-desired goal; he knew that his
asceticism had at last been blessed by the fruition of
his yearning; he offered them profuse
hospitality.
He extolled Rama to his
heart's content. "Rama! You are the Heavenly Swan moving
majestically on the waters that fill the minds of the
sages. Ah! This day. I have realized the Goal of life,"
he said. "Rama! I am unaware of any spiritual discipline
worth the name. It was possible for me to win you through
just one path, the path of Love. My eyes have seen you
now; they need look on nothing else. And, you have given
word that day that you would fulfill the wishes of the
sages. Well. Now you have to stand by that word. My wish
is this: Stand before me in this most charming form,
until my breath leaves this body. I wish to cast off this
body even while my gaze is fixed on you," he
appealed.
Within minutes, a pyre
was set up; he ascended it and it was lit, with
Sarabhanga sitting unconcerned on top, with eyes shining
in joy at the ecstasy of looking on at Rama. The eyelids
did not quiver: the gaze did not slacken. With the forms
of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana imprinted on his heart,
Sarabhanga reduced his body into a handful of ashes. The
blue placid waters of his heart reflected the blue form
of Rama, whom he had adored until the very last. His soul
merged in the Universal that was before
him.
Though at first the
asramites were grieving over the departure of their
Preceptor and Master, they soon realized that he had the
unique fortune of a rare blessing. God Himself had come
in human form and blessed him with mergence in His
majesty and glory. They felt that they too had shared in
that gift of Grace; they adored Rama and extolled him in
various ways. They shouted 'Hail! Victory! Victory!' and
taking the ashes of their Master, they applied it on
their brows in reverent gratitude.
The news of the
immolation of Sarabhanga soon brought to that hermitage
residents from other asrams as well. They fell at the
feet of Rama and praised him and his mission of
compassion. "Lord! How fortunate was Sarabhanga," they
cried. "Many a sage has fallen prey to the voracious
ferocity of the Rakshasa
tribe of demons in this area. But Sarabhanga was blessed
by the Lord Himself. He offered his body and life to the
Lord Himself. "Lord! Save us from these rapacious
enemies. Let us progress in our spiritual exercises and
disciplines, without these demonic raids. And, at the end
of it all, O Lord, bless us with the fruit we strive for:
Your Presence before our Vision," they
pleaded.
Meanwhile, a sage,
Sutheekshna
by name, came forward and prostrated before Rama. He was
the pupil of the renowned Agastya. He was an incomparable
devotee and his mind was saturated with love for Rama. He
had steady faith that God can be won by Love alone. He
could not picture before his mind's eye any form of God
other than Rama. He gazed upon Rama, without winking an
eyelid, lest even that fraction of time should go waste.
His heart melted into adoration at the sight of
Rama.
He said, "Lord! Did you
come so far into this region just to bless me? Can you
not merge me into the Love you are? Having come upon the
earth with this visible form, do you still wish that I
should adore, as hitherto, the Formless Absolute? No. I
love this Form, and this Name. I do not know any rite or
ritual. I know only that you, the embodiment of Love, can
be attained through love. Yearning is the only earning I
have accumulated. That is the only asceticism I have
subjected myself to. Tell me, is that not enough? 0,
Saviour from the travail of Birth and Death! No form of
worship is so effective as service of the Lord through
Love, isn't it? Singing your glory, meditating on it, and
deriving unspeakable bliss in the process - can anything
else yield greater joy?" he said. Sutheekshna danced
about, unaware of where he was or what he was doing;
tears flowed in streams down his cheeks; he appeared
insane for all who could not gauge the inner joy he was
experiencing. Rama knew the urge within the Sage; he drew
him near himself, and embraced him most lovingly. He
spoke soft and sweet, to bring him round to a
consciousness of his surroundings. While Rama was holding
his hands, the great sage entered the supreme state of
Samadhi.
He became a doll, unmoved and immovable. Rama brought him
back into consciousness; as soon as he came to, he fell
at the feet of Rama, falling flat on the
ground.
He raised his hands
above his head and joining palms in adoration, he
expressed his joy and took delight therein. He said,
"Lord! You are the Conflagration that destroys the Forest
of Delusion in which man has lost himself. You are the
Solar Orb that makes it possible for the Lotuses of the
Hearts of Good Men bloom in beauty and fragrance. You are
the King of Beasts, come to destroy the brood of Demonic
Elephants. You are the Eagle come to hunt down and
destroy the bird that flits into birth and flits out of
life, in a recurring cycle of joy and grief. Lord! Your
eyes are as charming as Lotuses; my two eyes cannot drink
in all the beauty of your effulgent Form. You are the
Moon that sheds cool light to enrapture the twin Chakora
birds, namely, the eyes of Sita. You swim happily as the
Celestial Swan in the placid lakes that shine in the
hearts of Sages. You are the Garuda Bird that preys upon
and destroys the Serpents that breed in the minds of
doubters and unbelievers. All cruelty, confusion and
calamity will be burnt away when a tiny glance from your
eye falls on them." He extolled Rama thus and in various
other forms, and derived great joy at getting the chance.
He also utilized the chance to gaze upon the Lord and to
have His Image imprinted on his heart. He was not
conscious of the passage of time or the needs of the
body. He did not wink once while looking on and drinking
deep the glory of Rama.
Rama watched him for a
while and then he raised him up with his hands upon his
shoulders. He said, "Sutheekshna! You are endowed with
all desirable virtues. Ask from me anything you wish, for
I shall bless you as you desire." The sage replied, "O,
Friend and Kinsman of the Distressed! My wish is this:
Reside ever in the depths of my heart, with Sita and
Lakshmana." Rama said, "So be it." Then, with him as
companion, Rama moved forward towards the asram of
Agastya, with Sita and Lakshmana following him.
Rama, Sita and
Lakshmana at the Hermitage of Sage Agastya
A short distance later,
they heard the murmur of a river flowing by. When they
walked towards the sound and neared the river, they could
see a mountain peak beside the flowing water. In the
middle there were beautiful flower gardens; and, like a
lotus shining in the center of a tank, there could be
seen the lovely hermitage of Agastya
on a carpet of fragrant flowers.
Words cannot adequately
describe the exquisite nature of that scene. Sita, Rama
and Lakshmana stood petrified for a few moments at the
captivating splendour. The atmosphere was so astoundingly
spiritual. There, animals that are enemies of each other
by their very nature, aquatic animals and land animals,
beasts and birds of every type, sported and lived
together, free from fear or enmity. They could see many
monks and ascetics lost in meditation sitting on the
river bank.
When they neared the
asram, Sutheekshna ran forward to convey the tidings to
his Master. He fell at his feet and declared, "O Teacher
Great! O Embodiment of Mercy! The prince of Ayodhya, the
very Sustainer of this Universe, has just come into our
Asram with Sita and Lakshmana. The very person whom you
were seeking to know and visualize through your spiritual
practices for years, without regard to whether it is day
or night, he has come to you, near you. Ah! What a great
good Day is this! What great good fortune!". Sutheekshna
forgot himself and was filled with immeasurable
ecstasy.
At this, Agastya rose
suddenly from his seat and walked fast into the open. He
saw the three, coming towards him; tears flowed freely
from his eyes. He ran forward, shouting, "Lord! Lord!".
He clasped Rama to his bosom; he had no mind to release
Rama from the embrace. He stood with his arms around
Rama, clinging to him, as a creeper clings to the trunk
of a tree.
Agastya could not
contain the joy that welled up within him when he led
Rama, Sita and Lakshmana into his hermitage. He invited
them to rest on elevated seats. He had fruits and sweet
tubers brought and he offered them for their repast.
Then, he enquired about the journey they had gone through
and, when Rama was answering his queries, Agastya
listened with eyes closed in deep delight, tears of joy
streaming down the cheeks. There was a happy smile
hovering on his face. At last, he spoke, "Lord! I am
convinced that there is no one more blessed than I am.
The Lord, Narayana,
has Himself come to me; He is staying in my hermitage! Is
this true? Is it a dream? No. It is clearly a fact of
experience. He gave expression to his joy in grateful and
devotional words.
Rama said, "O Monarch
among Monks! I have nothing to hide from you. You know
too well the reason why I have come into the forest.
Direct me, how I can destroy the brood of demoniac
persons, the Rakshasas,
who obstruct the austerities of sages and monks, and how
I can protect and preserve from danger the dedicated
servants of God; I shall act accordingly; I am awaiting
your advice. In the cold Hemantha season lotuses shrivel
up and die. The season has approached for the shriveling
of the Rakshasas."
Hearing these words of
Rama, Agastya smiled. He replied, "Lord! You are
omniscient. I do not know why you require me to tell you
how. I am unable to decide whether you are blessing me or
testing me. Nevertheless, through the effect of your
Grace, the Darsan
(sight), Sparsan
(contact) and Sambhashan
(speech) that you have just now blessed me with, I am
able to grasp the significance of your question. That too
is your grace. Maya which is your creation and your
puppet, your slave, lying at your feet, is watching ever,
for the slightest raising of your brow, to carry out your
commands. Through the skill endowed by you, Maya is
creating all beings on earth and in heaven.
"Your Maya
is unconquerable. It is harassing beings endlessly, that
is to say, those who fall a prey to its machinations.
That is a fact that is known to all. Your Maya is like
the ficus, spreading far and wide; the orbs in the Cosmos
are as the fruits of that tree; the beings and things
that exist in this Cosmos are like the worms and larvae
that creep inside the fruit. The fruit might appear
lovely outside; but, when it is opened, hundreds of worms
can be seen wriggling inside".
"Those attached to this
exterior world and its transitory treasures are afraid of
you, since in your aspect as Time, you cause inexorable
ruin of their plans. The Cosmos itself is an appearance
on your Reality. Rama! You are adored by all the worlds.
You ask me for directions, just as a common man would;
you praise me as men do. This raises a laugh in me. I am
not concerned with anything now. I desire that you stay
in this hermitage, with Sita and Lakshmana. That is the
only boon
I ask for. I prefer always to worship your Attribute-full
Form, not your Attribute-less Principle. That is what I
believe in and teach. That is my Ideal, my favourite
Goal, my Aspiration".
"Therefore, grant me
this boon. It is your sport, to elevate your servants,
and yourself to slide into the background as if you are
innocent of anything and ignorant of everything! But, do
not elevate me. Do not ask me for directions. My duty is
to assent and accept your wishes and to follow your
footsteps. Father! Do not inveigle me into your Maya, and
delude me into egoism, making me the target of your
sport".
At this Rama said, "O
Venerable Sage! This region is well known to you; so,
what harm is there if you tell me which place I can
select for my stay? This is what everybody would expect
of you, isn't it?" Agastya replied, "Master! Since you
have commanded me I shall obey implicitly and give
answer. Very near this place, the sacred river
Godavari
is flowing. Since ages, that great river has been flowing
full and free. Adjacent to it, we have the
Dandakaranya;
when you sanctify it by residing in it you would have
conferred upon the monks and sages that live therein all
content and happiness. For, that forest region and its
guardian ruler are under a curse and afflicted
thereby".
At this, Rama
intercepted the sage with the words: "Master! Sita is
anxious to learn the story of that curse. Tell us about
it in detail". Agastya saw through that request and so he
addressed Rama as "O, Director of this Eternal Play. Once
upon a time famine raised its head in Panchavati area.
All the monks and ascetics who lived there took refuge in
the hermitage of Sage Gouthama. He gave them all they
needed through the powers he had acquired as a result of
his austerities! When the famine was over, the monks
decided to return to their old dwellings".
"But, there were some
pseudomonks among them, who conspired against him, and
planned to bring him to disrepute. They brought a cow
that was in the throes of death and made it enter the
hermitage garden, on a particularly green and attractive
patch. Gouthama saw it was about to bite a beautiful
flower away from its stem; he attempted to drive it away.
But, at his very first push, the cow breathed its last!
The conspirator monks immediately laid on him the dreaded
sin of 'go-hathya' (bovicide)! They condemned him
as an outcast and a heathen. Gouthama desired to discover
whether the cow died as a result of his push or as its
allotted span had ended. He sat in deep meditation
exploring an answer to this vital question. Soon it was
revealed to him that it was but a trick played by
inimical monks. He was disgusted at their despicable
nature. He said, 'May this forest polluted by such
low-minded persons be out of bounds for the good and the
saintly. May it become the haunt of demonic
yakshas'
".
"Another incident too
added to the effects of this curse. The ruler of this
region, Danda by name, violated the chastity of the
daughter of his own preceptor, Bhrgu. Brghu listened to
the pathetic story as related by his daughter and, in the
extremity of his anger, he overwhelmed the region with a
downpour of dust. Therefore, this area was sodden deep
with mud, and in course of time, it was a thick jungle
from end to end. The region is named Dandakaranya, after
that infamous ruler. Rama! Crest-jewel of the Raghu
Dynasty! I am certain that when you take residence in
that forest, the Rakshasas
will be decimated and the curse will be lifted. Monks and
Sadhaks
can once again dwell there and progress in their
austerities. Humanity everywhere will benefit by this
cleansing and this consummation. I may tell you that the
sage who cursed will also be rendered happy by you, for
he is sad at the consequence of his anger".
When Agastya finished
his account of the story of Dandakaranya, Rama said,
"Well, so be it. I shall reside there". He took leave of
the Sage Agastya, and proceeded to the Dandaka forest,
with Sita and Lakshmana. Before they left his hermitage,
Agastya brought forth certain weapons that he had
acquired by asceticism from divine Sources, and placed
them in the hands of Rama saying that he had no wish to
use them; they had now a wielder who deserved them and
who could utilize them for a holy purpose. "Rama!" he
said, "You are my shield, my strength, my prowess. These
weapons cannot save me, but You can. Your Grace is the
most powerful weapon I possess. You are my refuge, my
fortress, the impenetrable armour for my
breast".
Even as Sita, Rama and
Lakshmana entered the thick jungle-ridden area of
Dandaka, trees that had gone dry were thrilled into
greenery and were covered with tender, whispering
clusters of leaf. Weak, enervated creepers and vines
suddenly felt alive, alert and active; they gave birth to
bunches of fragrant flowers. The forest hastened to
clothe itself in lovely green, speckled all over with
multicoloured floral dots. They sought a spot where they
could reside therein and soon arrived at the place known
as Panchavati,
which Agastya had indicated.
Rama speaking to the
Eagle Chief Jatayu
They
saw there the old Eagle Chief, Jatayu. He was a great
friend of Dasaratha accompanying him on his spatial
expeditions to help the denizens of heaven. Rama related
to the Eagle the sad news of the death of Dasaratha and
alleviated his sense of loss and bereavement. Rama told
him about himself, and spoke to him about Sita and
Lakshmana, and of his other brothers. They were set on
rigging up a thatched hut on the banks of the Godavari.
Jatayu became a close friend, and through him they could
acquire a clearer picture of the region. That night, they
spent the hours under a tree in sound and refreshing
sleep.
contents
of this Vahini
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