2.56. At home in the lap of nature

Hari Om.

Let us begin the fifty sixth sarga of the ayOdhyA kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.

The trio sItA, rAma and lakshmaNa stayed one night at the holy hermitage of sage bharadwAja. The matter of a befitting place for the trio to stay in the forest during the exile was discussed with sage bharadwAja and his guidance was sought. The sage offered them to stay in his hermitage for the entire duration! However rAma sensed that the traffic at the serene hermitage will go up if they stay there on account of citizens from surrounding villages visiting them frequently since they would be more accessible here. So rAma politely put forth this point and prayed to the sage to show him a place of reasonable solitude where sItA can be at ease and they can spend the duration in a virtuous manner. The sage pointed them to the hills of chitrakUTa which is blessed with nature’s bounty both in terms of flora as well as fauna. The next morning they set forth to the chitrakUTa and the sage himself saw them off after traveling some distance with them and sent back warmly by rAma. They then crossed the yamunA and started walking into the forest. The hearty and detailed description of the sage of the route and the milestones on the way brings a very natural feel to the conversation. Onwards…

Another night was passed on the way to chitrakUTa and the morning dawned. They woke up and rAma gently woke saumitri, and reminded him that it was time to move forward as morning had dawned as can be made out from the voices of the wildlife. Thus woken up by rAma, lakshmaNa shook off his sleepiness arising out of the difficult journey and they all went to the river and got ready for the day after completing their ablutions. Post that they headed towards chitrakUTa as directed by the sage (bharadwAja). As the three of them walked through the lovely forests full of blooms, rAma addressed sItA and said –

“O vaidEhi, look at the flame-of-the forest kimSuka trees in full bloom with the passing of the winter. It looks as if the tree s garlanded by its own flowers. The bilva and bhallAtaka tree (marking nut tree) has lowered its branches with the weight of the flowers and fruits and none around to enjoy those. And hey lakshmaNa, look at the large honeycombs hanging almost from every tree. This seems to be an appropriate place for us to stay.

Listen to the coo of the cuckoo and how the peacock is responding to it! Behold the majestic mountains of chitrakUTa and its forests reverberating with the singing of the birds and herds of elephants following them. There is a nice leveled ground that is out there on the hill surrounded on all sides with trees. Let us revel in the forests of chitrakUTa”.

And they walked in the direction of the mountain chitrakUTa thoroughly enjoying the natural beauty and the bounty of flora and fauna on the way. They reached the high land replete with a variety of plants and trees and with streams of sweet water flowing there. There was plenty of honey and fruits everywhere around as were birds and beasts. Looking at the well endowed region, rAma understood that it’s a place fit for dwelling at that many sages must be dwelling here already. He made up his mind to set up their stay in that region and conveyed the same to lakshmaNa.

There in that region, they saw the hermitage of the mahaRshi vAlmIki and offered him their reverence with folded hands after introducing themselves. The sage extended due hospitality to the three of them.

[Protagonist of the epic meets its architect!]

That region with its beauty and bounty and solitude appealed to rAma and he decided to stay there. He asked lakshmaNa to bring branches of the tree and build a hut there for their dwelling. The obedient lakshmaNa did as directed and built a beautiful hut using the logs there. Watching the well made hut of leaves with mats tied on the walls and firmly fixed pillars, rAma was pleased and asked the attentive lakshmaNa to fetch the meat of an antelope to worship the presiding deity of the hut as done by those desiring an auspicious and long stay there. They were set to perform the housewarming and vAstu pUjA as per the procedure laid down in the scriptures.

The home is coming up in the chitrakUTas. Pic from here.

Then lakshmaNa slain an antelope, brought its meat drained of blood and cooked it well and on the appointed time, submitted to rAma that everything needed for the worship is in order and that rAma, the expert in the conduct of such ceremonies may invoke the gods.

The resplendent rAma then took bathe and got ready for the worship of the vAstu deities as laid down in the scriptures with the chants of appropriate mantras and intonations. Having worshipped the gods, the lustrous rAma was very pleased and entered the hut. He performed rudra hOma and vishNu hOma in the hut and offered the gods viSvEdEvas their share. Having propitiated all the gods through the sacrificial fire and through meditation and contemplation, rAma completed his ablutions in the river nearby. Then he made altars and sacrificial pits as appropriate in the hut so that it took shape of a hermitage.

After performing all the worship in conformity with the scriptures along with all the paraphernalia and appropriate vEdic chants associated with the act, the trio entered the hut which was to be their dwelling place now. The trio entered the hermitage, well built and well placed, surrounded by natural beauty reminiscing the court of the gods. The sylvan surroundings, lovely ambience, replete with the presence of birds and beasts, the sacred waters of river mAlyavati, all these were so beautiful and enjoyable that, reveling in the lap of nature, they put behind the disappointment caused by banishment.