Friday, December 2, 2011

Coronation of Lord Rama's Sandals!

Lord Rama’s Sandal’s, on Bharatha’s head were stocked
Into the palace gates of Ayodhya, Bharatha walked
All the way from Chitrakut to Ayodhya, he had tarried
All the way on his head, Lord Rama’s sandals, he had carried

The next morning at an auspicious hour
He placed the sandals before the throne of power
All the honour Lord Rama, as a King, deserved
For fourteen years, for His sandals, were well reserved

Bharatha placed them on a red mat made of silk
He hoisted an umbrella above it, white like milk
He appointed two virgin maids, to fan for them
These maids too were decorated with gold and gem

Everyday The Sandals were to be wiped very neat
Anointed with sandal paste and to be placed on their seat
Musicians were to play music before them, as for a king
About Lord Rama’s glories, singers were appointed to sing

Shatrughna was to personally take care of worshipping the sandals
By showering flowers on them from silver baskets with golden handles
Ministers were to assemble and discuss matters in its presence
Considering the sandals to be Lord Rama’s essence

After making all these arrangements, Bharatha was content
He then stood before his country men and revealed his intent
He was satisfied that his reputation was no more at stake
But his brother’s absence kept him deep in the sorrow lake

“Lord Rama, my brother and that lion among men
Is supposed to sit on the throne making this assembly his den
But only for reasons, God and fate know well
That pearl is not here, making my heart an empty shell

I know all men here have the same feelings for our Ram
For Rama to step, each one of us would stretch our palm
We have tried our best to bring our Lord to the throne
But a different path of duty for us our Lord has shown

Now befalls on our heads, a responsibility, grave
As if in our Lord Rama’s presence we must behave
Keeping Him in our hearts, things He would like, we must infer
And carry out those things the way Lord Rama would prefer

In the village Nandigram, out of city, I will stay
Only with Lord Rama, I will again come this way
Through Shatrughna, from there, I will administer affairs
Making important decisions based on the reports he prepares

I pray to all of you with hope, to behave well
Sentences of punishment, never make me tell
Each one of you is welcome to meet me in person
But for that, I hope, there will be no reason”

Saying thus Bharatha folded his palms before all
He was in turn, greeted with folded palms by all
Bharatha then went to Nandigram, like Rama, by walk
Wearing dress made of deer skin and tree bark

An ashram, like that of Lord Rama’s, for himself he made
To all comforts Lord Rama did not have, farewell he bade
An image of Lord Rama’s sandals, in his hut, Bharatha drew
Worshipping it day after day, Bharatha’s wisdom grew

With the wisdom that was thus gained
Bharatha from Nandigram efficiently reigned
People adored him for being such a noble soul
To keep him happy was their only goal

Shatrughna traveled between Nandigram and Ayodhya, to and fro
In carrying out Bharatha’s orders, he was a servant more than a bro
Shatrughna too like Bharatha renounced all comfort
In keeping Bharatha happy he made a mighty effort

The Kingdom of Kosala was like a Yogi in meditation
Well disciplined and there by powerful by contemplation
On an ultimate reality that he remembers but never sees
In the Kingdom, Lord Rama replaces the ultimate reality with ease

Thus life in Ayodhya came back to normal
People started to do their works that were formal
All the while praising the selflessness of the brothers of Ram
And always, chanting with content, ‘Jai Shri Ram! Jai Jai Shri Ram!!’

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