AYODHYA KANDAM

The Book of Ayodhya or the Ayodhya Kandam in Ramayana decribes the preparations for Rama's coronation in the city of Ayodhya, his exile into the forest, and the regency of Bharata.

Bharatha and Sathrughna were expert horsemen. As they were speeding back to their own capital, conflicting thoughts were crossing the mind. Why the call has come from the palace, is there anything wrong there? But the joy of rejoining the revered father and the beloved brother brushed aside all the other thoughts. As the home coming brothers entered Ayodhya they noticed the absence of all lively activities. There was a melancholy lull everywhere. Sadness was written large on the face of all. The brothers entered hurriedly to the mother Kaikeyi's apartment and paid homage to her. Kaikeyi announced the departed news of King Dasaratha. Hearing that his father was dead Bharatha fell on the floor and wept like a child. He now understood what the dream foreboded. She consoled Bharatha saying, "It is bad for a king to lie on the ground and grieve for the dead. Stand up and accept the kingdom given to you. The innocent Bharatha did not understand the implication. Then slowly Bharatha started to enquire to his mother what was the reason behind his father's sudden death and where is Rama. Kaikeyi replied that the banishment of Rama was the reason behind his father's death. Bharatha was shocked to hear the news and asked, what is the reason behind Rama's banishment. Did he commit any cruel crime or unpardonable sin deserving such a punishment? Was the ever perfect Rama capable of committing crime? And who banished him? Or was it a self inflicted punishment as atonement for sin? Kaikeyi put it across it is Rama who is always above blemish. He is ever the embodiment of Dharma.

Kaikeyi explained the whole incident saying, "Long ago your father had an oath promised me two boons as reward for the good turn I did to him on the battle field. Just a few days back, on the eve of Rama's hurried coronation in your absence, I reminded the King of these two boons. He swore to me on Rama that he would fulfill those two promises. I demanded this kingdom for you, Bharatha, as the first boon. I insisted on Rama's exile for fourteen years in the forest as the second boon. Your father could not execute the second boon because of the over attachment to Rama. So I ordered his exit into the woods in the attire of mendicants. With pleasure Rama carried out my orders. Sita and Lakshmana have accompanied him. I have paved the way for your assuming power. Now do with pleasure become the King and enjoy the empire. Bharatha's bitter grief had now got transformed into boiling anger. He blared out, "You wayward woman, you have come out in your true colours in the selection of the boons. Greed of power has consumed your common sense. The eldest among the brothers succeeding to the throne is the sacred usage of this ancient family. But you have brought infamy to this house sanctified by tradition. Again it is unfortunate that you are born as the daughter of the illustrious King Aswapathy of Kekaya. Rama loved and served you better than his mother. Treacherous and ungrateful creature that you are, you have meted out mendicancy as the reward to him. Death is the capital punishment for the heinous crime. But my venerable brother Rama would not approve of it. So I spare your life. You gloat in the thought that you have earned an empire for me. But here is a pledge that I solemnly make to you. Forth with I leave this Ayodhya in search of Rama. Bharatha shall not re-enter this Ayodhya as long it is bereft Rama's regime. Further Bharatha shall be in the attire of the mendicant as long as Rama continues in it. Lastly, O despicable demoness, I renounce all relationship with you as a son."


Bharatha then called up the family priest Vasistha and asked for arrangements for the performance of the funeral rites of the departed father. With a heavy heart and sorrowful calmness the two princes raised the dead body from the oil in the drum in which it was preserved. It was conveyed to the funeral pyre and the cremation performed in conformity with usage. Bharatha the undisputed successor to the throne called a council of the elders, the ministers and the representatives of the populace and discussed the problem created by Kaikeyi. The assembly understood Bharatha's frame of mind and decided unanimously to go on deputation headed by the declining prince himself and persuade Rama to return. A representative crowd was to proceed and press the matter cogently. The plan was to crown the ascetic heir at law in the forest itself and make him do a regal return home. The concourse moved accordingly to the hermitage of Rama. Guha, the chieftain of Ganga region, was the first to encounter this unwieldy retinue of Bharatha. He viewed the younger brother's movement with askance. But on interrogation he found him loyal to the core and deeply devoted to Rama. Therefore liberal hospitality and all round aid for ferrying across the fully flowing Ganga came forth in abundance from that chieftain, fast in friendship with Rama. Bharatha then made his way to the Bharadvaja Asrama, had his army encamped at a distance and sought contact with the sage, accompanied as he was by the family preceptor Vasistha. The motive of his movement was briefly presented to the sage and instructions received from him to find out the whereabouts of Rama. The retinue then moved southward in search of the missing monarch.

At Chitrakuta far away from the din of the world Rama's spiritual life was progressing smoothly and blissfully. While in the course of his daily routine, Lakshmana observed at a distance an army approaching Rama's hermitage. He climbed the branch of a tree and scanned the troop closely. The vigilant young man surmised danger. He hastened to the revered elder one and said, "Brother, your rival is invading us to eradicate future trouble. Please permit me I shall put him and his army to rout before he gains access to you." But Rama requested Lakshmana not to be rash in thinking and action. In copious tears Bharatha and Satrughna presented themselves and prostrated before Rama crying bitterly. Lakshmana sees the brother as he is and becomes ashamed. After the preliminary exchange of greetings the sad passing away of the father is presented to the sons in exile. A wave of wailing ensues. It takes some time for them to get reconciled to the inevitable end of the father. The four brothers followed by Sita went to the river and offered oblation for the peace and the welfare of the departed father. It behoves dutiful sons to send thoughts of benediction to the departed parent. Rama told Bharatha that he needs to come out of the ascetic attire and to be in the royal robes to administer the kingdom. Rama also tried convincing Bharatha that he had obeyed his parents and come for an exile, similarly he wanted the younger to obey his mothers order and rule the kingdom. The son's duty is to implicitly obey the parents and not to question them. Bharatha very strongly told that Rama is the legitimate ruler of Ayodhya and he felt very sorry for what his mother has done to their father by deviating from the family tradition according to which the eldest alone among the royal brothers is to succeed to the throne. Bharatha was not able to take the fact that his mother has transgressed the sacred usage.

But the kind hearted Rama explained Bharatha that usages can be changed if found expedient and a son is supposed to stand to gain who simply obeys the parents even when they go apparently wrong. Bharatha was very clear that he cannot plunder Rama's property and usurp his kingdom for it is beyond the bounds of Dharma. Rama counter argued that progeny and property are the wealth of the parents. They can distribute the property as they like among the sons. The dutiful son does not pick holes in the discretion of the parents. Jabaali a priest who came in the party said to Rama, "There is no persistency of personality. He who was Dasaratha has now dissolved into elements. Carrying out, therefore, the orders of a non entity is a mere sentiment not based on truth.Ayodhya is drowned to sorrow because of your absence. Do not discard the pleasures of life on baseless beliefs. Rama objected to this materialistic outlook of the priest denying truth and Dharma. Bharatha presented another alternative. A duty alloted to one may as well be executed by another mutual adjustment. On that basis Bharatha volunteered to be in exile for fourteen years and persuaded the able popular king to take up the administration of Ayodhya. But Rama ruled out that proposal on the ground that it was expedient for social and political purposes, but not for the practice of truthfulness. Making the father truthful was the criterion. So Rama was very clear that he shall not make his father false promise. Now Vasistha wanted to find a solution for this non-ending argument and so he told let Bharatha not to sit on Rama's throne but let him rule the kingdom as Rama's regent. The parents pledge also is thereby fulfilled. Both the brothers Rama and Bharatha agreed for this option and Bharatha requested for Rama's sandals to represent him on the royal throne. Rama embraced Bharatha and approved of the idea. He gave his pair of wooden sandals on which he paced his feet as a symbol of royalty.