The Celebrations Begin

The news of the birth traveled fast. The other queens came running, followed by their ladies-in- waiting. Everyone was brimming with joy. When king Dashrath heard the enchanting news, he went into a trance as if he had become one with the Brahman. His body became numb with excitement, with great effort he tried to get up. He thought to himself that, whose name alone, gives solace, that Lord had come to his house. With profound joy in his heart the king called on his musicians to play their orchestra.

Guru Vashista was summoned with the tidings. He came, with several Brahmins and visited with the babe who's beauty defied description. The raja performed the Nandimukh Shrad (rituals performed on child birth) and donated gold, cows, clothes, precious stones to all the Brahmins.

Ayodhya was magnificently decorated.There were floral arches on gateways entering the city. The sky was showering flowers and the people were blissfully happy. Droves of women ran, with no attire, to see the new arrival. With decorated golden platters, carrying lot of festive articles, they entered the portals of the royal palace. With lamps, they swooned over the baby and did his aarti,(went round and round). Bards and minstrels sang praises to the Lord of the Raghus. At this time of happiness, the king gave out loads full of gifts, people who got those gifts did not keep them either. The small lanes in the city were muddied with saffron and sandal paste after all the merriment. All the houses were lit, music was playing, people were rejoicing, for the crux of splendour had manifested Himself.

Kekaiye and Sumitra had beautiful sons as well. Even Saraswati and the king of serpents, Sheshji, could not describe the happiness, the wealth, the time, the society at that time. The city of Ayodhya was shining as if the night had come to meet the Lord, but was abashed to see her Lord the sun there. Even then she decided to stay back as dusk. The smoke from the incense appeared as if it was the darkness of the evening and the coloured powder looked as if it was the redness of the setting of the sun. The gems studded on the palace walls looked like the stars while the pot on the dome of the palace was the crescent moon. The murmur of the chanting of the Vedas, was like the chirping of the birds. The involvement of the sun was so complete that he forgot to move, so that he stayed in Ayodhya for a whole month!. No one knew of this mystery. It was a long day for a month, so how could night fall?

We shall continue as always another time, meanwhile bask in the festivities of the moment. Let us all try to live in the bliss that the people felt when the Lord was born, then we will have Ram Rajya ! JAI Ho!