Citraketu, Son of Lakshmaṇa

Citraketu was the second son of Lakshmaṇa and Ūrmilā. He was born in Ayodhyā during the years of Rāma-rājya, the rule of Bhagavān Rāma. He is one of the eight royal princes of the Ikshvāku line born in his generation.

This Citraketu is not the king Citraketu of the Bhāgavata Purāṇa. He grew up in the palace of Ayodhyā with his elder brother Aṅgada and six royal cousins. He had his upanayana (the sacred thread ceremony), finished his Vedic study and went on a tīrtha-yātrā (a journey to holy places).

Birth and childhood

Citraketu was born as the second son of Lakshmaṇa and Ūrmilā in the flourishing years of Rāma-rājya. Ayodhyā celebrated his birth with the same grandeur as the birth of his elder brother Aṅgada and the other princes. The devas sounded instruments and showered flowers. Bhagavān Rāma arranged festivals in the royal avenues. Vasishṭha performed the jātakarma, the nāmakaraṇa and all the other saṃskāras (rites of passage).

Citraketu grew up in the palace with seven other royal princes:

  • his brother Aṅgada
  • Kuśa and Lava, sons of Rāma and Sītā
  • Pushkara and Taksha, sons of Bharata and Māṇḍavī
  • Subāhu and Yūpaketu, sons of Śatrughna and Śrutakīrti

The Janma Khaṇḍa describes all eight as moon-faced and charming. They wore golden ornaments. They crawled, toddled and spoke sweetly, and they delighted their mothers and fathers.

Upanayana and brahmacarya

Vasishṭha performed Citraketu’s upanayana in due course, with great festivity. Bhagavān Rāma kept the tradition of celebrating the upanayana of his brothers’ sons with even more grandeur than that of his own sons. Citraketu received the gāyatrī-mantra upadeśa (instruction in the Gāyatrī mantra) and was taught the rules of brahmacarya (the student’s life). He then studied the Veda at Vasishṭha’s feet, together with all the royal princes.

After their education, all eight princes made the great tīrtha-yātrā through Bhāratavarsha. They returned to Ayodhyā to joyful celebration.

Not the Citraketu of the Bhāgavata Purāṇa

This Citraketu, son of Lakshmaṇa and Ūrmilā, is a different person from the king Citraketu of the sixth skandha of the Bhāgavata Purāṇa. That king lost his son, learned jñāna (knowledge) and received a curse from Pārvatī while speaking with Nārada, and became Vṛtrāsura. The two share only the name.

Marriages

At the svayaṃvara of Sumatī at Vaṭapura, Citraketu was among those presented. Sumatī passed over him and chose Lava.

Twelve gandharva and nāga daughters were freed from the captivity of Jaladevi at the Pañcappa lake. After that, Vasishṭha Maharshi gave two brides to Citraketu:

  • Kañjāṅghrī, a nāgakanyā (a nāga maiden). They married at Ayodhyā in the muhūrta (auspicious time) of Jyeshṭha śukla paksha (the bright fortnight).
  • Candravadanā, a gandharva princess. They married at Ayodhyā in the Māgha muhūrta.

In the genealogical account, each wife bore Citraketu eight sons and one daughter.

Sources

  • Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Janma Kāṇḍa, Chapter 9
  • Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Vivāha Kāṇḍa, Chapters 3, 6–7, 9