Rāma’s Yuvarāja Paṭṭābhisheka

The preparation for Rāma’s installation as Yuvarāja (Crown Prince) is the first episode of the Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa of the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa. King Daśaratha felt old age coming. He saw that Rāma was fully ready to be king. He called his ministers, the kings under him and the royal assembly, and told them he would crown Rāma as Yuvarāja the next morning. The court, the brāhmaṇas and the citizens of Ayodhyā were all full of joy. The preparations were grand and auspicious. But the coronation never happened. That same night it was undone by the plan of Manthara and the boons of Kaikeyī, and it became the beginning of Rāma’s exile in the forest.

Daśaratha’s decision

Daśaratha had ruled Ayodhyā for a long and glorious reign. In his old age he thought about who should rule after him. He saw in Rāma the right heir. Rāma was good in every way, loved by the people and the court, trained in all the arts of dharma and war, guided by Vasishṭha, and had the character that suited the throne of the Ikshvāku line.

The Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa begins by telling how deeply the people of Ayodhyā loved Rāma. He moved among them with love and was easy to approach. He respected his elders, and he was just and gentle.

Daśaratha called a great assembly of ministers, friendly kings, ṛshis and leading men from all over the kingdom. He announced that Rāma would be crowned Yuvarāja the next day. The assembly received the news with great joy and gave its formal approval. Vasishṭha was named to lead the preparations. (Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, Chapters 1–5)

The preparations

The preparations for the coronation were grand. Ayodhyā was decorated from gate to gate. Banners hung from the buildings and garlands of flowers were strung across the roads. The streets were freshly swept and sprinkled with water. Sandalwood paste and flowers were placed at the doorways. The citizens put on their best clothes, and musicians played. The whole city waited in happy hope.

Vasishṭha directed the gathering of the materials needed for the coronation: auspicious vessels, holy water from all the great rivers, special grasses, flowers and gems for the abhisheka (the ritual sprinkling). The ṛshis of the royal court looked after their preparation.

Daśaratha also advised Rāma in private to spend the night fasting with Sītā and to keep a vrata (a vow) to prepare for the coronation at dawn. (Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, Chapters 5–8)

The reversal

That same night the plan of Manthara and Kaikeyī came to its end. Daśaratha was faced with the two boons, and everything was turned around. The coronation that all Ayodhyā had prepared for became the exile. The morning that was to see Rāma on the throne saw him leave the city in bark cloth. (Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, Chapters 9–40)

Sources

• Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, Chapters 1–8 (the announcement and the preparations)
• Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, Chapters 9–40 (the reversal and the exile)