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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