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Ayodhya - from Valmiki Ramayana
• Meditation:
► I meditate on Ayodhya where Sri Rama incarnated in response to the prayers of the Devas, to eliminate Ravana and establish Dharma in the world.• Puranic Events:
1. Sage Valmiki getting divine inspiration:
• Qualities of Sri Rama: In the opening chapter of Valmiki Ramayana, sage Valmiki asked sage Narada about the existence of a person with the following qualities:1. Gunavan: Who is Virtuous
2. Viryavan: Who is Valorous
3. Dharmagya: Who is the knower of Dharma
4. Krtagya: Who is the doer of Good Deeds (according to Dharma)
5. Satyavakya: Who is the speaker of Truth
6. Dridhavrata: Who is firm in his Vows
7. Catritrena Yukta: Who by Character is united (with Dharma)
8. Sarvabhuteshu Hitah: Who is disposed towards the Welfare of all beings
9. Vidvan: Who is Learned
10. Samartha: Who is Capable (in upholding Dharma)
11. Priyadarshana: Who has a Graceful and Pleasant appearance
12. Aatmavan: Who is Self-Composed
13. Jitakrodha: Who has conquered Anger
14. Dyutiman: Who is Effulgent (filled with the Effulgence of Aatman)
15. Anasuyaka: Who is not Envious
16. Bibhyati Devah: Whom even the Devas Fear
Sage Narada mentioned about Sri Rama and told about his life in brief.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 1)
• Sage Valmiki getting divine inspiration: Later sage Valmiki got a divine inspiration when be went to river Tamasa. He saw two Krauncha birds in union. A hunter suddenly appeared and killed the male bird leaving the female bird wailing in separation. The sage cursed the hunter, but that curse came out in a beautiful poetic meter. He kept on pondering over that throughout the day.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 2 to 3)
• Sage Valmiki composing Ramayana: Then Lord Brahma appeared to him and told him to compose the life of Sri Rama in a poetic meter. Lord Brahma imparted yogic power to sage Valmiki to see all the incidents of the life of Sri Rama.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 2 to 3)
• Lava and Kusha singing Ramayana: When the great epic was composed, sage Valmiki imparted it to Lava and Kusha and taught them to sing it in their beautiful melodious voice. Lava and Kusha sang the Valmiki Ramayana before the sages and holy men. They became moved by that song. Sri Rama heard about Lava and Kusha and called them in his palace at Ayodhya. Lava and Kusha sang the Ramayana before Sri Rama in the court. Sri Rama also became moved by it.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 4)
2. About Ayodhya:
• Situated in Koshala kingdom: There was a great kingdom named Koshala which was situated on the bank of river Sarayu and was very prosperous. Ayodhya was situated in it.(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 5)
• Bank of river Sarayu: The Koshala kingdom of which Ayodhya is a part was situated on the bank of river Sarayu.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 5)
• Created by Manu himself: Manu, the king of the Manavas, himself created this city (of Ayodhya).
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 5)
• Ruled by king Dasharatha: Dasharatha made Ayodhya his abode as Indra made heaven his abode.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 5)
• Very glorious and prosperous: Koshala kingdom was endowed with abundant Dhana (Wealth) and Dhanya (Foodgrains). The city of Ayodhya situated within the Koshala kingdom was renowned in the world. The city shone with royal highways which were filled with flowers and made moist with waters. The city was surrounded with gateways and archways. The city was surrounded by gardens, had palaces studded with gems and well-constructed houses. The city was full with rice grains and water tasted like sugarcane juice.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 5)
• Unconquerable city: The city of Ayodhya was protected by fort walls and moats. It was also fortified up to two yojanas outside the city. True to its name it was A-Yodhya, the Unconquerable city.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 5 & 6)
• People were happy, prosperous and of good character: All the people were happy, prosperous and of good character.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 6)
3. Sri Rama incarnating in Ayodhya:
• King Dasharatha performing Ashwamedha and Putrakameshthi Yagnas: To get a son, king Dashartha performed the Ashwamedha Yagna followed by the Putrakameshthi Yagna on the northern bank of river Sarayu. Sage Vasishtha presided over the arrangements of the yagna. Sage Rishyashringa presided over the ritual of the yagna. Dashartha invited many great kings in that yagna. Some of them were: King Janaka of Mithila, King of Kashi, King of Kekaya, King Romapada of Anga, King Bhanumanta of Koshala, King Praptigya of Magadha etc.(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 12 to 16)
• Devas praying to Lord Vishnu to incarnate: During the Putrakamesthi yagna the devas appeared on the firmament to obtain their shares of the yagna. Lord Brahma as well as Lord Vishnu also came there. The devas prayed to Lord Brahma to think of a way to eliminate Ravana who had become very powerful on account of his boon, and was oppressing the devas and the sages. Thereafter the devas with forefather Brahma at the helm prayed to Lord Vishnu to incarnate as the son of king Dasharatha and slay Ravana, because Ravana can only be killed by a human being as per his boon. Lord Vishnu consented to their request.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 15)
• Yagna Purusha appearing: Then from the fire altar of the yagna appeared a divine Yagna Purusha carrying a golden vessel full of Payasam. He told king Dasharatha to distribute the Payasam to his queens for progeny.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 16)
• King Dasharatha distributing Payasam to queens: Entering inside the palace chambers king Dasharatha distributed the Payasam to his wives. He gave half of the Payasam to queen Kaushalya, one-fourth to queen Sumitra, one-eight to queen Kaikeyi and remaining one-eight again to queen Sumitra.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 16)
• Devas procreating Vanaras for helping Rama: Before the incarnation of Sri Rama, Lord Brahma told the Devas to procreate Vanaras from their parts to serve Lord Vishnu during His Incarnation. Lord Brahma had previously created Jambavanta from his yawning. Indra procreated Vali. The Sun-god procreated Sugreeva. Brihaspati procreated Tara. Kubera procreated Gandhamadana. Vishwakarma procreated Nala. Fire-god procreated Neela. The Ashwins procreated Mainda and Dwivida. Varuna procreated Sushena. Parjanya procreated Sharabha. Maruta or Air-god procreated Hanuman. Similarly other celestial beings procreated other Vanaras. Many of them stayed in mount Rikshavat.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 17)
• Sri Rama incarnating: After six seasons queen Kaushalya gave birth to Sri Rama on the Chaitra Navami tithi, when the presiding Nakshatra was that whose deity is Aditi (i.e. Punarvasu Nakshatra), when the five Grahas were in ascension, when Vakpati (Jupiter) in conjunction with Indu (Moon) was in ascension in Karkata Lagna. Queen Kaikeyi gave birth to Bharata on the dawn of the next day in Mina Lagna. Queen Sumitra gave birth to Lakshmana and Shatrughna. The celestial singers sang in joy, the celestial musicians played drums. Devas showered flowers from heaven. The people of Ayodhya became filled with joy and celebrated the incarnation of Sri Rama in the streets. Sage Vashistha performed the naming ceremony after eleven days.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 18)
4. Sri Rama meeting Bharata after forest exile:
• Bharata taking padukas of Sri Rama: Bharata went to Chitrakoota to supplicate Sri Rama to return to Ayodhya. Sri Rama declined and told Bharata to rule the kingdom with the guidance of the ministers. The sages also requested Bharata to accept the words of Sri Rama. Bharata finally agreed and requested Sri Rama to touch with his feet two padukas (sandals) decorated with gold. Bharata bowed before the padukas and returned to Ayodhya. Before returning he told Sri Rama that he will enter fire if Sri Rama delays his return after fourteen years.(Valmiki Ramayana - Ayodhya Kanda - 112)
• Bharata going to Nandigrama: Bharata went to Nandigrama. He lived like an ascetic wearing bark garments and matted hairs. He coronated the padukas (sandals) of Sri Rama as the king. Then he ruled the kingdom worshipping those padukas. He kept informing every affair of the kingdom to the padukas.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Ayodhya Kanda - 114)
• Hanuman meeting Bharata after forest exile: Sri Rama sent Hanuman to Shringaverapura to communicate his welfare to Guha, the king of the Nishadas. Then, told Hanuman to ask Guha about Bharata and the way to Ayodhya. Thereafter going to Ayodhya, to enquire about the welfare of Bharata and inform him about the different incidents that happened during his forest exile, and that Rama is coming to him with Vibhisana and Sugreeva. Thereafter told Hanuman to find out the intention of Bharata from his facial expression. If Bharata wanted to rule the entire kingdom, let him have it. As commanded by Sri Rama, Hanuman assumed a human form and left for Ayodhya. Crossing Prayaga, the confluence of rivers Ganga and Yamuna, Hanuman reached Shringaverapura. He met Guha and gave the news of Sri Rama. On the way, Hanuman saw Ramatirtha, and rivers Valukini, Varuthi, Gomati, Bhima as well as forest of Sala trees. Then reaching Nandigrama, Hanuman saw Bharata living in a hermitage like an ascetic, and ruling the kingdom placing the wooden sandals of Sri Rama. Hanuman informed him about the arrival of Sri Rama. Bharata fainted in joy. Then regaining his balance, Bharata embraced Hanuman. Bharata said that in return for this news he will give him a hundred thousand cows, hundred villages and sixteen girls of good conduct as wives. Bharata then told Hanuman to narrate the story of Sri Rama in the forest. Hanuman narrated all the incidents that happened in the forest and told him that Sri Rama is currently residing in the hermitage of sage Bharadwaja. Bharata was overjoyed to hear about Sri Rama.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - 125 to 126)
• Sri Rama meeting Bharata after forest exile: Bharata commanded Shatrughna to make arrangements for receiving Sri Rama at Ayodhya. Shatrughna levelled the ground from Nandigrama to Ayodhya and sprinkled parched grains and flowers over it. He decorated Ayodhya with beautiful flags as also the buildings on the way. He sprinkled fragrant colours, garlands and flowers on the royal highway. All the mothers proceeded to Nandigrama. Bharata made arrangement to give a royal reception to Sri Rama at Nandigrama with royal parasols, soldiers, brahmanas, musicians etc. Sri Rama arrived there in the Pushpaka Vimana along with Devi Sita, Lakshmana, Vibhisana, Sugreeva and others. Bharata saluted Sri Rama. Sri Rama embraced him. Then Bharata received Devi Sita and Lakshmana. Bharata embraced the vanara chiefs like Sugreeva, Jambavan, Angada and others. The vanaras changed their forms as humans and enquired about the welfare of Bharata. Bharata embraced Sugreeva and told him that he is the fifth brother. Then Bharata greeted Vibhisana. Thereafter, Shatrughna offered his salutations to Sri Rama. Sri Rama offered his salutations to his mothers and the royal priests. The citizens of Ayodhya shouted the victory of Sri Rama. Bharata placed the sandals of Sri Rama before his feet and said that he is returning the sovereignty of Sri Rama today. Bharata said that as a keeper he has enhanced the treasury, granary and other possessions ten-fold. Seeing the affection of Bharata for his brother, Vibhisana and the vanaras shed tears. Then Sri Rama reached the hermitage of Bharata in the Pushpaka Vimana and told the aerial car to return to Kubera.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - 127)
5. Sri Rama getting coronated in Ayodhya:
• Sri Rama getting coronated: After Sri Rama returned to Ayodhya from the forest exile, he was coronated as the king. Sage Vasishtha presided over the coronation ceremony. Sugreeva got waters from the four seas and holy rivers through his Vanaras. Jambavan, Hanuman, Vegadarshi and Rishabha got waters from five hundred rivers. Sushena brought water from the eastern sea. Rishabha brought water form the southern sea. Gavaya brought water from the western sea. Nala brought water from the northern sea. The Brahmanas and the Devas sprinked the sap of all the medicinal herbs during the coronation. Sage Vasishtha adorned Rama with that crown with which Manu and the successive kings of the lineage were coronated. On that joyous occasion, the earth bore rich crops and trees bore abundant fruits and fragrant flowers. Sri Rama gave many gifts to the Brahmanas and his Vanara companions. Devi Sita gifted Hanuman a garland of pearls.(Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - 128)
• Sri Rama establishing the rule of Dharma: Sri Rama ruled for ten thousand years. He propitiated the gods by performing yagnas like Paundarika, Ashvamedha, Vajapeya several times. He ruled the kingdom with his brothers as companions. He ruled his kingdom following the path of Dharma ensuring that there are no widows to lament, no danger from wild animals and no thieves and robbers to rob the wealth of others. "Rama Rama Rama" became the theme around which the subjects discussed their matters. The world became filled with the name of Rama. The trees bore fruits on time and were not affected by pests. The clouds rained on time. The wind gave its delightful touch to others. The four classes - Brahmanas (Class of Priest), Kshatriyas (Class of Warriors), Vaishyas (Class of Traders) and Shudras (Class of Servants) discharged their respective duties with joy.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - 128)
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