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

SRI RAGHAVENDRA SWAMY’S SRI RAMACHARITRYA MANJARI

(ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಘವೆಂದ್ರ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ವಿರಚಿತ “ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಮಚಾರಿತ್ರ್ಯ ಮಂಜರಿ)

  After killing Kurangasura and relieving Jayanta from the curse, Srirama could stay in Chitrakoota for a very short period. Some circumstances forced Srirama to leave Chitrakoota and search for some new place to live. A few days after the destruction of Kurangasura, the Rishis living in Chitrakoota suddenly started an exodus. Srirama was startled by this development. He contacted an elderly sage, who was also preparing to migrate, and enquired with him the reason for all the sages deserting Chitrakoota. The elderly Muni said that a demon named Khara was living in Dandakaranya. Earlier, he used to kill the Rishis every now and then. However, his atrocities and torture had increased after the arrival of Srirama in Chitrakoota. Therefore, all Rishis were fleeing. Srirama smiled within and pretended as though he became worried about the new development. Besides, when Bharata and others had come to Chitrakoota, a large number of horses, elephants and other animals had also come. They had urinated and defecated around the Ashram and a very large area around the Ashram. As a result, the place had lost its sanity and sanctity. Srirama thought it was time for him to move on. He started another journey in search of shelter, along with Seetha Devi and Lakshmana. There was one more reason for Srirama to move out of Chitrakoota. He was apprehensive that since Bharata and a majority of the cirtizens of Ayodhya had identified Chitrakoota, there was every chance of someone trying to come there frequently. Srirama would also remember the places where Bharata, Shatrughna, Kausalya, Sumitra, Kaikeyi and others were sitting, sleeping, speaking and consuming food during their stay there. Srirama did not want that memory to keep haunting him every now and then.

  Srirama meets Atri Rishi

  Lord Sri Hari was born as the son of Lord Brahma and was named Sage Kapila. Anasuya Devi was the elder sister of Kapila Maharishi. Anasuya Devi was married to Sage Atri, who did a very strict penance. Lord Hari, who was impressed by the penance of Atri, appeared in front of him and blessed him with a son named Soma, who would have a part of the attributes of Lord Brahma. Lord Sri Hari is in Lord Rudra and is known as Rudra. From a portion of the powers of this Rudra was stated to be born as Durvasa. Lord Sri Hari also promised Atri Rishi to become his son as Lord Dattatreya. Thus, Sage Atri had been blessed with three sons, including Dattatreya. Sage Atri continued to worship Lord Hari with purest devotion and conviction.

  Srirama came to the hermitage of Sage Atri, who offered the Lord worship and prayers. Sage Atri told Srirama “Oh Lord Rama, there was no rain for ten thousand years and even Ganga had dried up. There was no food production at all on earth, when my consort Anasuya did penance in your name and brought rains on earth. Ganga too was flooded with water and the food production became normal.” Anasuya saluted Srirama and Seetha Devi. Pleased with her devotion, Seetha Devi blessed Anasuya Devi by narrating the story of her Swayamvara and the marriage. Honoured and worshipped profusely by Atri and Anasuya Devi, Lord Srirama, Seetha Devi and Lakshmana spent a night in their Ashram.

  Earlier, when Bharata had met Srirama, several Rishis had come and met Srirama in tranquillity. They had appealed to Srirama to visit Dandakaranya for keeping Ravana and other demons at bay. Therefore, Srirama first honoured Atri Rishi by visiting his Ashram and then proceeded to Dandakaranya. What Srirama also did on his way into Dandakaranya was to meet all the sages and ascetics, who had been doing penance for centuries, and bless them. One such Muni was Sage Sharabhanga, who had spent several years in penance. As he had become aged, his body was depleted. He was not able to have routine bath, perform Sandhyavandana or worship Lord Hari. He had therefore decided to sacrifice his body either by drowning in Ganga or by entering sacrificial fire. Meanwhile, Lord Devendra came to his Ashram and expressed his willingness to carry the noble sage to Brahma Loka and other sacred, celestial worlds. Sage Sharabhanga had come to know that Srirama had already entered Dandakaranya. Therefore, he told Devendra that he would prostrate before Srirama and at his behest, he would enter the fire to accompany Devendra to Brahma Loka and other transcendental worlds. Devendra agreed. Srirama arrived at the Ashram of Sharabhanga. The sage offered flowers, fruits and other items, saluted the Lord, told him about the visit of Devendra and sought the permission of Srirama for sacrificing his corporal body. Srirama conceded. The sage set the holy fire, offered worship to Srirama once again, worshipped Fire God and entered the flames.

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