SRI RAGHAVENDRA SWAMY’S SRI RAMACHARITRYA MANJARI (ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಘವೆಂದ್ರ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ವಿರಚಿತ “ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಮಚಾರಿತ್ರ್ಯ ಮಂಜರಿ ಅರ್ಥವಿವರಣೆ)

SRI RAGHAVENDRA SWAMY’S SRI RAMACHARITRYA MANJARI

(ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಘವೆಂದ್ರ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ವಿರಚಿತ “ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಮಚಾರಿತ್ರ್ಯ ಮಂಜರಿ ಅರ್ಥವಿವರಣೆ)

  The word “GuhArchya” means that Sri Rama was worshipped by Guha, the king of hunters. It is mentioned : “VaTakSheerENa jaTAm DhrutvA, GuhAdinA krutAm pUjAm sweekrutya”, which means “after being worshipped by Guha and others, Sri Rama matted his hair with the milk of banyan tree.

  Guha, the king of hunters and a devotee of Sri Rama, was saddened by hearing the forest exile of Sri Rama. After offering worship to Sri Rama, he told: “Oh Maharaja, my kingdom and this city is all yours. We are your servants. From now on, stay with us and be our king.” Sri Rama politely replied: “I wish to do meditation for fourteen years and therefore, I do not want anything. Please provide fodder to these horses that are so beloved to my father.” Guha fed the grass to horses. Sri Rama and Seetha Devi were sitting on a mat of leaves. Lakshmana was pressing their feet. Later, Sri Rama performed the Sandhyavandana, drank a cup of water and slept.

  Guha, who was watching Lakshmana from a distance, symbolically asked Lakshmana to sleep and that he would stay awake through the night to protect the trio. Lakshmana said: “My brother, who was, till last night, sleeping on royal mattress, is sleeping on a mat of leaves tonight, along with his wife. In Ayodhya, Dasharatha and Kausalya would be crying and weeping for what has happened. I am fully distressed by thinking about all these developments and therefore, I cannot sleep at all.”

  The entire night was spent by Guha and Lakshmana in talking about Sri Rama and his greatness. Next morning, Sri Rama used the banyan tree milk and matted his hair. He asked Guha to get a country boat prepared for crossing Ganga River. As soon as the boat was ready, Sri Rama called Sumantra and said: “You may return to Ayodhya now. My father will be depressed due to my departure. Please console him with kind words. Do not criticize Kaikeyi for causing unpleasantness to me. Perform the coronation of Bharata and show the royal reverence to him. This is my father’s order. I will be highly pleased and impressed if you all obey and respect my father in the future.My mother will be highly disturbed. Pacify her with soft words. As you are capable of pacifying everyone, you must go home now.”

  Later, Lord Rama went to the hermitage of Sage Bharadwaja, who treated him with food and passionate words. Bharadwaja is a son of Bruha

spatyacharya. Bharadwaja asked Sri Rama to complete his fourteen-year exile in his hermitage. Sri Rama politely rejected that offer, took his permission and crossed Krishna River. Later, they arrived at Chitrakoota, which was under the control of Sri Rama and was free of demerits.

  Meanwhile, the citizens, who returned to Ayodhya with the thought that Sri Rama might have returned to Ayodhya, were broken. They cursed themselves for having slept in the night that allowed Sri Rama to vanish. A few days later, Sumantra also returned to Ayodhya. Dasharatha and Kausalya enquired about Sri Rama, Seetha Devi and Lakshmana with a heavy heart. Sumantra pacified them with appropriate answer. When Dasharatha and Kausalya kept on weeping, Sumitra Devi pacified them with kind words.

  In the next episode, Dasharatha sets off to the heavens. Please read, comment and share. SDN