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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