Welcome to the nineteenth episode of The Journey of Rama. If this is your first encounter with The Journey, please start with Episode One.
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The cheering and music settled down soon after Parashurama left the arena. Rama and Sita stared into each others’ eyes as long-lost partners reunited would. Conversation was unnecessary.
King Janak turned to Sage Vishvamitra and bowed. “By your grace, revered sir, Rama came here to Mithila and broke Shiva’s bow. You and the two princes have blessed me. Please instruct me regarding my next action. Should I consult my astrologers for an auspicious date and time for the wedding, or first invite King Dasharatha and his royal family?”
“Your Majesty, the marriage depended on the bow, and as soon as Rama broke it, he and Sita became husband and wife. We all know this, and so do the Gods. Nevertheless, ceremonies must be performed. Go to your Guru, the wise Shatananda, and perform whatever practices he prescribes. And on your way, send messengers to Ayodhya to invite King Dasharatha and bring him and his family here for a formal wedding!”
King Janak immediately summoned three messengers and instructed them. He then directed his personal servants to hire the finest artisans in Mithila to build pavilions appropriate for a massive celebration. Every building in the city would receive a new coat of paint, every spire gold leaf, and new colors applied to all lintels and moldings. Mithila would be a city in celebration in time for Sita’s wedding.
Silks filled the wedding courtyard as tailors and seamstresses created the canopies, each adorned with gems representing the colors of the nine planets. Trees would be felled and carved into pillars; cutters would sculpt stone into statues of the Gods to witness the nuptials. Every part of the palace hummed with activity that would continue every day through the wedding.
With the preparations begun, Janak approached his preceptor Shatananda, touched the Guru’s feet, and received instructions for his personal practices. Together, they retired to the King’s temple.
After a long journey, Janak’s three messengers arrived at Ayodhya’s main gate. Seeing that they bore King Janak’s colors, the city’s guards welcomed them, offering them cups of tea and pitchers of water for washing. Not wishing to be rude, the messengers accepted the water and quickly washed their hands and feet. They politely refused the tea, insisting that they must go immediately to Dasharatha’s palace with important news. The guards bade them enter the city and dispatched a runner to the palace to announce the messengers’ coming.
When they arrived at the palace, Dasharatha and his minister Sumant greeted them directly and asked their purpose. “We bring joyful news, Your Majesty,” the first messenger said, reciting precisely the message he had been given. “Your son Rama has broken the bow of Shiva and won the hand of Princess Sita. The wedding will take place soon after you arrive in Mithila. Please arrange for your court to attend and invite as many of your citizens as you wish. King Janak welcomes you!”
At first, Dasharatha could not speak, so great was his joy. His heart beat rapidly as tears filled his eyes. He quickly regained his composure and called for his wives as Sumant went to inform the court and summon the other two princes.
As soon as they heard that news of Rama and Lakshman had come, Bharat and Shatrughna ran to their father’s throne room. “Where are they? What’s the news?” Bharat asked. The visitors repeated their message. “Have you seen our brothers yourselves? Are they well?” Shatrughna inquired.
Before the messengers could answer, Dasharatha raised his hand. “Hold your questions until our guests have been fed!” Servants were dispatched to the kitchens, and the King led everyone to the dining hall.
“We have not had verifiable word of our sons since they left with the sage Vishvamitra. Rumors have been plentiful, but your coming is as welcome as rain to a desert,” Dasharatha insisted, “Tell us about our sons.”
“Your sons,” the head messenger responded with a smile, “are lions among men and a delight to behold. You are blessed to have Rama and Lakshman as your sons.”
Dasharatha accepted the praise with a grain of salt, although he believed the messenger was sincere. “How did you come to know them?”
The messengers took turns relating the story of the Swayamvara—how the other champions were humbled by their inability to lift Shiva’s bow and how Rama lifted and snapped the bow in two, “without exertion, as an elephant would break a lotus stalk!”
They told the King about Parashurama's furious arrival and the warrior-sage’s gift of his own bow to Rama. Dasharatha and the Queens listened with amazed joy. When the messengers finished their account, the King brought them to Vashishtha, where they told the preceptor the entire story again.
The Guru was delighted to hear the news. “Your house is truly blessed, O King! Now prepare the marriage procession. I suggest we depart at daybreak!”
News spread throughout Ayodhya, where the citizens took delight in hearing of the impending nuptials. People began playing music and dancing in the streets, waving banners and throwing colored powders all about and on each other. Householders painted their homes with sandalwood paste mixed with saffron and musk, while artists created colorful designs and mandalas on the squares in front of each house.
King Dasharatha bowed to his preceptor. He turned to Minister Sumant and gave instructions for the messengers’ lodgings. “Sound the kettledrums and prepare to depart at sunrise! We have a wedding to attend!”