Vibhīshaṇa Laṅkā Abhisheka (Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa)

After Rāvaṇa was slain, Bhagavān Rāma had Vibhīshaṇa crowned king of Laṅkā. In the Laṅkā Kāṇḍa of Tulasīdāsa’s Rāmacaritamānas, Rāma himself is bound by his vana-vāsa vrata (vow of forest exile) and cannot enter the city. So he sends Lakshmaṇa, with Sugrīva, Aṅgada, Nala, Nīla and Hanumān, to perform the abhisheka (the sacred crowning) with all the honours of a king. Hanumān is then sent to Sītā with the news.

Rāma’s command

Vibhīshaṇa had performed Rāvaṇa’s last rites under Rāma’s direction. Vibhīshaṇa and the other rākshasa chiefs had then come back to Rāma. Bhagavān Rāma called Lakshmaṇa and told him what was to be done:

“Saumitri! Nīvu — Sugrīvuḍu — Aṅgaduḍu — Naluḍu — Nīluḍu — Hanumantuḍu munnagu varindō laṃkaku pōyi, manaku mitraḍu mahōpakārī yagu Vibhīshaṇuniki laṃkā rājya paṭṭamu gaṭṭi rāvavasindi. Nēnu vanavāsavratuḍanai yunnananduna ī śubhakārya nimittamai laṃkalōniki rājāla kuṃṭiṃi”

The meaning: “Saumitri! You, together with Sugrīva, Aṅgada, Nala, Nīla, Hanumān and the others, go to Laṅkā and crown our friend and great helper Vibhīshaṇa as king of Laṅkā. I am under the vana-vāsa vrata and cannot enter Laṅkā for this auspicious purpose.”

The coronation in Laṅkā

Lakshmaṇa went into Laṅkā without delay, with all the vānara commanders. They gathered everything needed for a royal abhisheka: the sacred waters, the golden vessels, the royal robes and the regalia. The purohitas (priests) and ministers of Laṅkā were called. The sāmantas (chiefs who owed service to the king), the kinsmen and the close advisers gathered in the great throne-hall.

Before the whole assembly, Vibhīshaṇa was led to the royal throne, the same throne from which Rāvaṇa had once ruled the three worlds. The party led by Lakshmaṇa performed the abhisheka with exact observance of the śāstras and all the signs of royalty. The royal tilaka (mark) was put on his forehead: śāstrōktamugā rājya tilakaṃbu peṭṭiṃri. Vibhīshaṇa became the recognised king of the rākshasa kingdom of Laṅkā.

Rāvaṇa’s kingdom had been a symbol of terror and adharma. It now passed into the hands of one who had been a devotee of Rāma since birth.

Hanumān brings the news to Sītā

After the coronation Rāma called Hanumān and sent him into Laṅkā with a message for Sītā. Hanumān entered the citadel of Laṅkā. The rākshasas, who now served Vibhīshaṇa, welcomed him with formal honour and led him to Sītā.

Sītā was sitting in the Aśoka grove. She knew the vānara from far off and called out: “Vīrāgraṇī! Vanacarulakshēmamā! Rāmacandramūrti kuśalamā!” The meaning: “O foremost of heroes! Are the vānaras well? Is Rāmacandramūrti in good health?”

Hanumān bowed before her humbly and told her everything: the welfare of Rāma and Lakshmaṇa, the death of Rāvaṇa, and Vibhīshaṇa’s formal crowning as king of Laṅkā.

At this news Sītā was overcome with joy, āmandānaṃda paravaśata, and wept tears of happiness. She said: “Kapipuṃgavā! Ī śubhavārta nāku erikiṃcina naṃdulaku ninne vidhamu nēnu satkariṃca galanu!” The meaning: “O foremost of vānaras! How can I honour you enough for bringing me this good news?” She blessed Hanumān again and again and asked him to arrange for Rāma’s darśana as soon as possible.

The earlier sea-water coronation

This formal coronation in Laṅkā after Rāvaṇa’s death is a different event from the sea-water abhisheka at the ocean shore, held when Vibhīshaṇa first joined Rāma’s camp. That earlier event belongs to the Sundara Kāṇḍa. It was Rāma’s sign of recognition and his promise of protection and future kingship. The abhisheka in the Laṅkā Kāṇḍa is the formal installation, with all the rites of rāja-dharma (the duty of a king), by which Vibhīshaṇa actually took up his kingship.

Sources

• Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa (Tulasīdāsa’s Rāmacaritamānas), Laṅkā Kāṇḍa, Vibhīshaṇa Abhisheka section (Vibhīshaṇuniki Laṃkārājya Paṭṭamu Gaṭṭuṭa).
• Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa, Sundara Kāṇḍa, the earlier sea-water abhisheka of Vibhīshaṇa.