Gandharva and Nāga Daughters’ Weddings
This episode comes after Bhagavān Rāma freed five gandharva daughters and seven nāga daughters from the captivity of Jaladevī at the Pañcappa lake. Their fathers, the gandharva kings and the nāga kings, came to Rāma in thanks and offered the daughters in marriage to the sons of his family. Twelve weddings were held at Ayodhyā over one year, from Vaiśākha to Phālguṇa. The Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa describes that year as a time of great joy, kind welcome and peace in the family in Rāma-rājya (the rule of Rāma).
The offer of marriage
The twelve daughters were free from Jaladevī’s rule through Rāma’s help at the Pañcappa lake. Their fathers hurried to give thanks. The gandharva kings and nāga kings came before Rāma with folded hands and hearts full of devotion, and they spoke:
“O Rāma with the lotus-like face! Our daughters have been freed from Jaladevī’s imprisonment through your grace. These daughters of ours, who are pure and virtuous (arajaskā), deserve to be married to your sons. Through this, all of us will become blessed, our lineages purified. O great-souled one! If you accept, we shall all be redeemed. Whatever merit we have accumulated across seven births, may it result in kinship with you.”
Rāma received the request warmly and looked to Vasishṭha Maharshi for advice. Vasishṭha gave his advice on how to give the daughters. He noted that Kuśa must be left out of the nāga daughters, because his future wife Kumudrā would come separately by divine arrangement. He also noted that Lava and Yūpaketu must be left out of the gandharva daughters. Lava already had his bride Sumatī. Yūpaketu was meant for a rākshasa vivāha (a marriage by capture) with another virtuous woman.
This part is from Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Vivāha Khaṇḍa, Chapter 6.
The daughters given
The court jyotishas (astrologers) and Vasishṭha together named the daughters before Rāma.
The seven nāga daughters went to the seven sons other than Kuśa:
- Kañjānanā to Lava
- Kañjākshī to Aṅgada, son of Lakshmaṇa
- Kañjāṅghrī to Citraketu, son of Lakshmaṇa
- Kalāvatī to Pushkara, son of Bharata
- Kālikā to Taksha, son of Bharata
- Kamalā to Subāhu, son of Śatrughna
- Mālatī to Yūpaketu, son of Śatrughna
The five gandharva daughters went to five sons, leaving out Kuśa, Lava and Yūpaketu:
- Candrikā to Aṅgada
- Candravadanā to Citraketu
- Cañcalā to Pushkara
- Capalā to Taksha
- Acalā to Subāhu
This part is from Chapter 6.
The muhūrtas
After the daughters were named, the royal jyotishas studied the positions of the planets. They fixed auspicious muhūrtas (lucky times) for the twelve weddings across the year. Vasishṭha approved the plan:
- Vaiśākha (two muhūrtas): Lava’s wedding with Kañjānanā, and Aṅgada’s first wedding with Kañjākshī, in the śukla paksha and the kṛshṇa paksha (the bright and dark halves of the month) respectively.
- Jyeshṭha (two muhūrtas): the nāga weddings of Citraketu and Pushkara, a fortnight apart.
- Mārgaśīrsha (two muhūrtas): the nāga weddings of Taksha and Subāhu.
- Māgha (three muhūrtas): the weddings of Yūpaketu, of Aṅgada for the second time, and of Citraketu for the second time (with a gandharva daughter).
- Phālguṇa (three muhūrtas): the gandharva weddings of Pushkara, Taksha and Subāhu.
Rāma honored the jyotishas with gifts and sent them away happy. He then told the gandharva families and nāga families to go to their own realms, gather their kinsfolk and their traditional processions, and come to Ayodhyā for the weddings in their own time. This part is from Chapter 6.
Ayodhyā made ready
Rāma told Lakshmaṇa to prepare Ayodhyā for the year of weddings. Lakshmaṇa arranged these things:
- Invitations went to kings, ṛshis, citizens and friends from all seven dvīpas (island-continents) and from the nāga and gandharva realms.
- The city was decorated with flags, banners and toraṇas (festive gateways).
- The buildings were whitewashed and painted with auspicious pictures.
- Gold pavilions and maṅgala-maṇḍapas (halls for auspicious rites) were raised.
- Elephants, horses and palanquins were dressed and lined along the processional routes.
- New separate houses were built for the gandharva guests and the nāga guests, with food, drink and every comfort.
This part is from Chapter 6.
The year of weddings
The gandharvas came to Ayodhyā in their divine forms. They rode on the vehicles of their army and were attended by kinsmen and bards. The nāgas came in human form, on elephants, chariots and horses. Rāma went out himself to receive both groups. He welcomed them with music and dance and settled them in the houses prepared for them.
Through the year, Vasishṭha and the royal priests carried out all twelve weddings one after another, month by month, in the auspicious muhūrtas. For each wedding, kings from many realms were invited and came. Feasting, music and the giving of gifts filled Ayodhyā with unbroken celebration. After each wedding Rāma honored the visiting kings and ṛshis with gifts and sent them home happy, and then invited them again for the next wedding.
In all this time the gandharvas and nāgas who had come to Ayodhyā found that they could not leave. Their love for Rāma and the beauty of Ayodhyā held them as if with golden cords. They sent their own ministers and officials home to run their kingdoms, and they stayed with Rāma until his mahāprasthāna (final departure) to Vaikuṇṭha. This part is from Chapter 7.
Household life after the weddings
When all the weddings were done, Rāma had separate houses built for each of his eight sons, with gardens, servants and every comfort. The sons set up their own households.
Every morning Lakshmaṇa and the other brothers, with all the princes and their wives, bathed and performed homa (fire offering) and Śivārcanā (pūjā of Bhagavān Śiva). They honored the cows and the brāhmaṇas. Then they came to Rāma’s hall, bowed to Rāma and Sītā, and sat in their divine presence. Vasishṭha then spoke to the assembly on the Purāṇas.
Sītā and the women of the family also gathered each morning in Sītā’s court. The women offered pūjā to Durgā, then came to Sītā and sat in the places she showed them. At noon the families ate together in Rāma’s household, and Sītā hosted the women. From time to time the princes invited Rāma and Sītā to their own houses and hosted them with brāhmaṇas and great feasts.
Kauśalyā stayed in Rāma’s own household, and Sītā honored her at all times. Kaikeyī moved between the houses of Bharata and Śatrughna, one month in each. Sumitrā lived in Lakshmaṇa’s house. Rāma and Sītā lived in peace, and there was no quarrel between them or anyone in the wider family.
This part is from Chapter 7.
Sources
- Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Vivāha Khaṇḍa, Chapters 6-7