Sri Raghavendra Swamy Virachita SRI #RAMACHARITRYA #MANJARI (ಶ್ರೀ #ರಾಘವೆಂದ್ರಸ್ವಾಮಿ ವಿರಚಿತ “#ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಮಚಾರಿತ್ರ್ಯ ಮಂಜರಿ”)

 Sri Raghavendra Swamy Virachita

SRI #RAMACHARITRYA #MANJARI

(ಶ್ರೀ #ರಾಘವೆಂದ್ರಸ್ವಾಮಿ ವಿರಚಿತ “#ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಮಚಾರಿತ್ರ್ಯ ಮಂಜರಿ”)       

Ramashwamedha/ರಾಮಾಶ್ವಮೇಧ

ಯಜ್ಞಂ ತನ್ವನ್ “ಕದಾಚಿತ್ ಸುಗ್ರವಾದಿಕಪೀನ್ ನಾನಾದೇಶಸ್ಥ ಸರ್ವಭೂಪಾಂಶ್ಚ ಆಹೂತಂ ಸರ್ವಸಂಪತ್ಸಮೃದ್ಧಂ ಅಶ್ವಮೇಧಯಜ್ಞಂ ಸಂವತ್ಸರಪರ್ಯಂತಂ ಕೃತ್ವಾ|

Yajnam tanwan kadAchit SugreevAdikapeen nAnAdEshasTha sarvaBhUpAmshcha AhUtam sarvasampatsamrudDham AshwamEDhayajnam samvatsaraparyantam krutvA|

यज्ञं तन्वन् “कदाचित् सुग्रीवादिकपीन् नानादॆशस्थ सर्वभूपाम्श्च आहूतं सर्वसम्पत्समृद्धं अश्वमॆधयज्ञं सम्वत्सरपर्यन्तं कृत्वा।

MEANING: Once, Srirama invited Sugreeva and other monkeys and performed the Ashwamedha sacrifice for a year with his entire riches.

Srirama asked the Doorkeeper to bring Lakshmana and Bharata, who instantly arrived and saluted him by folding the two hands and stood in front of him, obediently. Srirama embraced both passionately and affectionately.

“In all the sacrifices, I get worshipped by being present in different deities. Therefore, I am known as ‘Yajneshwara’. Lord Brahma and other Gods, Narada and other Munis make me happy by performing sacrifices. Similarly, the spirituous and virtuous people should perform sacrifices to please me and make me happy. Therefore, they should learn from proper sources the traditional manner in which the sacrifices should be performed. However, I wish to make all the people, including the Gods and Goddesses, know the manner in which these sacrifices should be performed. With my blessing, Brahma and other gods have learnt a little bit in this matter. I am the only one knowing the perfect manner in this regard.”

Lakshmana enquired: “Oh Lord, to the best of my knowledge, Ashwamedha is the most important sacrifice. Devendra, after killing Vrutrasura, attracted the sin of Brahma Hatya and got relieved from that negative energy by performing Ashwamedha. Shraddhadeva, the son of Sun and originator of our dynasty, who was more popular as Vaivaswatamanu, did not have children for several years. Sage Vasishtha advised him and got Ashwamedha performed by him. His wife was desirous of having a daughter. She impressed upon one of the priests called Hota and requested him to demand for a daughter while submitting the sacrificial animal. He followed her instructions and as a result, they got a daughter named ‘Ila’.

“The King came to know about this change, consulted Sage Vasishtha and sought to know from the sage the reason for getting a daughter. Vasishtha read through his mystic powers and informed the king about the turn of events that had contributed to their getting a daughter. Later, the sage appealed to Lord Hari and got ‘Ila’ transform into a male, who came to be known as Sudyumna, later.

Once, Sudyumna went on a hunting spree. As soon as reaching an island called Ilavruta, Sudyumna, his horse, the soldiers and everyone accompanying Sudyumna transformed into female. In that region, Lord Rudra, along with his friends and relatives, was always engaged in worshipping Lord Hari in the form of Sankarshana. Once, when Lord Rudra and Parvati were romancing, some Rishis wanted to meet them. After coming to know about the situation, they returned. However, Parvati became shy and to please her, Lord Rudra declared that no male should ever enter that region. Even if a man accidentally enters there, he would transform into female.

“After this news spread, no male beings ever entered this region. Since Sudyumna and his accomplices were unaware of this fact, they arrived there and became women.

“Sudyumna again became Ila. Lord Budha, son of Moon, saw her and married her. From her, the originator of Moon Dynasty, Pururava was born. After the birth of Pururava, Ila felt very bad and offered prayers to Sage Vasishtha and narrated her cup of woes. The sage realized that Lord Rudra was the reason for the transformation of Sudyumna into Ila and therefore appealed to Rudra for help. But, Lord Rudra did not want to amend the boon he had bestowed upon his consort Parvati Devi. He could neither ignore the appeal of Sage Vasishtha. Therefore, he altered his boon to Parvati Devi by stating that those men entering the region would be women for one month and women in the next month and this process will continue forever.

“Ila Devi did not appreciate this alteration and she requested Sage Vasishtha to somehow make her Sudyumna, permanently. Sage Vasishtha made her perform Ashwamedha during the month in which she was a male. Pleased with that sacrifice, Lord Hari conferred permanent manhood on Ila.

“Oh Lord, such is the greatness of this sacrifice. Please go ahead with the performance of this Great Sacrifice and while doing so, please make all the people aware of the manner in which it should be performed.”

Srirama summoned Sage Vasishtha, Vamadeva and other Munis and informed them about his decision to perform Ashwamedha. He directed Lakshmana to send invitations of Sugreeva, Vibheeshana, Devarishi Narada and all the people, all the kings on earth, and Brahmins possessing a variety of skills and knowledge. He got a sprawling Yajna Shala constructed in the Naimisha Forest on the banks of Gomati River. He ordered that all the materials be made ready for the sacrifice.

Thus the preparations for the extravagant Ashwamedha began.

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