Chitrakut

Lord Rama, Mother Sita and Lakshman were now climbing a slope

Lord Rama and Lakshman often slowed for Mother Sita to cope

They were now climbing the Chitrakut hill

Against a downhill breeze that was chill!

They were looking for a place that would suit

To build a cottage and start their spiritual pursuit

They came across a flat land, surrounded by pine

Lord Rama felt, the place would be perfectly fine

The river Mandakini flowed, down hill, near by

Varieties of fruit bearing trees all around grew high

Flowers blossomed all around, emanating uplifting scent

To Mother Sita’s mind, great amusement they lent

As Lord Rama deemed the place to be fit

Lakshman meticulously started working on it

When Lord Rama tried to help, he accepted not!

To keep his Brother like a King, was his only thought!

Within hours the cottage was amazingly ready

With tree trunks as pillars, it was steady

Grasses and straw made up the thatched roof

For Lakshman’s dexterity, it was a proof

Walls were made with bamboo reeds

Cut in different shapes to suit the needs

Smooth rocks and logs were readied to sit

To live for years, the cottage was made fit

Finishing his work, Lakshman humbly stood before his boss

To appreciate Lakshman’s skill, Rama’s words were at loss

Lord Rama was happy about his new found house

He knew it would be comfortable for His beloved spouse

Lord Rama felt, an offering must be made to the Gods

Mother Sita and Lakshman accepted it with nods

Lakshman soon returned with a deer he hunted

Offering it to the Gods, into the cottage they entered

In serving Rama and Sita, Lakshman’s days were packed

With Lakshman’s service, there was nothing Rama and Sita lacked

In each others’ company, The Three were immensely content

To desire or want for more, they had no intent

They visited sages who lived in hermitages nearby

The sages too dropped in leisure to say, ‘hi!’

Spiritual matters and stories of Gods were spoken

Fruits gathered were shared as a friendly token

Lakshman grew a garden of plants that can be eaten

In front of his relentless work, even the ants were beaten

Rama and Sita had time to spend near some lotus pond

In each other’s company, they were tirelessly fond

Chitrakut in its abundance was a child of nature

Nature for Lord Rama, raised it to a heavenly stature

There were ponds, lakes and cascades enhancing the beauty

Musical birds continuously chirped, as if it was their duty!

Water bodies were decorated with lotuses blue and pink

Nature had sketched a master piece with multihued ink

Lord Rama and Mother Sita walked around exotic places

The sight they saw brightened their astonished faces

Sunlight reflected from the water and lit up the space

Which, made flowers to blossom adding grace

Flocks of birds and herds of animals were seen

Well fed by Mother Nature, none of them were lean!

Hefty elephants, sturdy bison and gentle deer

Roamed about everywhere with unrestrained cheer

Cheetahs and tigers at times cautiously walked

To hunt down their prey, they stealthily stalked

Every day they saw a new kind of bird

Invisible cuckoos singing, they always heard

Flowers for worship they plucked from the lakes

On their return they saw on the rocks crawling snakes!

Thus life in the jungle moved on for The Divine Three

From the pains of separation, they were mostly free

The jungle was sanctified by the presence of Ram!

Jai Shri Ram! Jai Jai Shri Ram!!