Sītā Rāma Kalyāṇa (Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa)

The Bāla Kāṇḍa of the Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa tells of the marriage of Sītā and Rāma. After the bow of Bhagavān Śiva was broken and Paraśurāma had gone, Janaka sent a messenger to Ayodhyā to invite Daśaratha to Mithilā. Four marriages took place: Rāma with Sītā, Bharata with Māṇḍavī, Lakshmaṇa with Ūrmiḷā, and Śatrughna with Śrutakīrti. After some days of joy the barāt (wedding procession) went home to Ayodhyā, and Viśvāmitra left for the Himālaya.

The messenger to Ayodhyā

The dhanur-yajña (the bow ceremony) was over and Paraśurāma had gone. Janaka lost no time. He called his most trusted messenger and sent him with all speed to Ayodhyā. The messenger carried the glad news that Bhagavān Śiva’s bow had been broken. He also carried the formal invitation to Daśaratha, king of the Ikshvāku solar line and father of the four princes, to bring the royal barāt to Mithilā for the wedding.

Mithilā is decorated

While the messenger travelled, Mithilā was changed. Janaka ordered the city to be decorated for the greatest day in its history. Craftsmen worked day and night. The streets were swept and washed. Golden artificial trees were set along the royal roads, and their branches were hung with flowers set with gems. Silk canopies and banners of many colours were raised along every avenue. The whole city was scented with kasturī, chandana and agaru. The palace and its courtyards were spread with the finest silks. Nothing was spared. The city shone as if Amarāvatī had come down to earth.

Daśaratha’s barāt leaves Ayodhyā

The messenger reached Ayodhyā and gave the news. Daśaratha’s joy had no limit, and he began his preparations at once. The barāt gathered: the four princes, the three queens (Kausalyā, Kaikeyī and Sumitrā), the ministers, and the royal purohitas led by Vasishṭha. A great army of elephants, horses, chariots and foot soldiers went with them, and countless citizens of Ayodhyā who wished to see the famous wedding. The barāt left Ayodhyā in a mood of festival and good omen, and the roads were crowded with joy.

Janaka receives the barāt

As the barāt came near Mithilā, Janaka came out with his whole court and retinue to receive Daśaratha in person. The two great kings met with warmth and respect. One was the father of the bridegrooms and the other the father of the brides. They embraced and spoke words of joy. Janaka led Daśaratha and the whole barāt into the decorated city and settled them in fine quarters made ready for them. Viśvāmitra and Vasishṭha, the ṛshis of the two houses, greeted each other with deep respect.

The muhūrta is fixed

Vasishṭha, Viśvāmitra and the gathered ṛshis talked together about the right time. Brahmā himself fixed the muhūrta (the auspicious time). It was the godhūli-velā (the holy hour of dusk when the cows return home and fill the air with sacred dust) on a day in the month of Mārgaśīrsha. The skies and the planets stood in perfect harmony for the four weddings.

The four marriages

At the fixed muhūrta the rites began. The wedding hall blazed with light and sweet scent. Vedic mantras filled the air. Janaka performed the kanyādāna (the giving away of the bride) for all four brides, with great solemnity and joy. At times his voice broke under the weight of love and of thanks to Parameśvara.

Rāma and Sītā. Rāmachandra and Sītā sat together before the sacred fire. Janaka placed Sītā’s hand in Rāma’s hand to the sound of Vedic mantras. The sindūra was applied, and the saptapadī (seven steps round the fire) was done. Brahmā and the devas rained flowers from the sky. The ṛshis raised their voices in blessing. Sītā and Rāma were joined in the eternal bond that the Vedas call vivāha. The whole universe seemed to rejoice.

Bharata and Māṇḍavī. Bharata, Daśaratha’s second son, married Māṇḍavī, the daughter of Kuśaketu, who was Janaka’s brother. All the Vedic rites were done.

Lakshmaṇa and Ūrmiḷā. Lakshmaṇa married Ūrmiḷā, the younger daughter of Janaka and the sister of Sītā. This wedding too was held with full ceremony.

Śatrughna and Śrutakīrti. Śatrughna, Daśaratha’s fourth son, married Śrutakīrti, another daughter of Kuśaketu. All four weddings were done according to the dharmaśāstra, by the assembled brāhmaṇas, under the guidance of Vasishṭha and Viśvāmitra.

Gifts and celebrations

Janaka gave each daughter away with rich gifts: gold, jewels, fine cloth, elephants, horses, cows and servants. It was the kanyādāna given in its fullest measure. Daśaratha also gave gifts to all the brāhmaṇas, to the guests and to the poor of the city. The festival went on for several days. Music, song, feasting and the recitation of sacred texts filled every corner of Mithilā. The people of both kingdoms shared in a joy rarely seen in human history.

Farewell and return to Ayodhyā

When the time came to leave, the parting between Janaka and the four brides was full of the bittersweet feeling of every such farewell. Janaka blessed each daughter in turn. Then he took leave of Daśaratha with great warmth and affection. Each king saw in the other a man of the highest dharma and virtue.

The barāt set out from Mithilā for Ayodhyā with the four brides among them. Vasishṭha led the journey with his usual grace. On the road the meeting with Paraśurāma took place and was settled. It is told separately. The great procession then went on and reached Ayodhyā to a welcome greater than any before in the city’s history. The citizens decorated every street and house. The whole city shone with lamps, flowers and music. Daśaratha was the most blessed man on earth.

Viśvāmitra’s departure

The weddings were over and Daśaratha had been seen off. Viśvāmitra had come to bring Rāma and Lakshmaṇa to the yajña forest and then to Mithilā, and that task was now fully done. He took his leave and went towards the Himālaya to take up his tapas again, with a peaceful heart and his purpose fulfilled.

Sources

• Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa, Vivāha Mahotsava
• Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa, Ayodhyā Pratishṭhāna