Kalpavṛksha-Pārijāta Descent

In the time of Rāmarājya, Bhagavān Rāma brought the Kalpavṛksha and the Pārijāta from Svarga to Ayodhyā. The Kalpavṛksha is the divine wish-fulfilling tree. The Pārijāta is the coral tree of the devas, also called Mandāra. During this time Durvāsa, the ṛshi known for his fierce temper, came to Ayodhyā, and a conflict arose over the Pārijāta flower. This is told in the Rājya Khaṇḍa of the Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa.

The descent of the divine trees

In the glory of Rāmarājya, Bhagavān Rāma set up both the Kalpavṛksha and the Pārijāta in Ayodhyā. This brought the rich plenty of Svargaloka into the capital on earth. The Kalpavṛksha granted every wish of those who came to it. The Pārijāta filled the city with its matchless divine scent.

Rāma also had other divine things in his keeping. These were the Cāmara, the divine fly-whisk, and the vehicles of the devas.

The text records that these trees were among the treasures of Rāmarājya, and that Svargaloka and Bhūloka were joined during the reign of Rāma. From the milk of the Kāmadhenu (the divine cow) and the fruit of these trees, Sītā prepared the food that was served to Rāma. The divine household was fed wholly from the plenty of Svarga.

This is told in the Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Rājya Khaṇḍa, Chapter 2.

The Durvāsa episode

The great and quick-tempered ṛshi Durvāsa, famed for his tapas (austerity) and his fierce temper, came to Ayodhyā in the time of Rāmarājya. Rāma received him with every honour due to a great ṛshi. He gave him a seat (āsana), water for the feet (pādya), water of welcome (arghya) and every other kind of care. Durvāsa was known in the three worlds for how quickly he gave both blessings and śāpas (curses). He was deeply honoured by the welcome of Rāma.

A conflict then arose over the Pārijāta flower, and it touched Sītā. The account does not say how it began. Even in this time of perfect rule, the care due to great ṛshis called for complete respect, and any slight, however small and unmeant, to a ṛshi of the standing of Durvāsa needed great effort to put right. Rāma met this with his usual calm. He made sure that Durvāsa was fully pleased, and the ṛshi went away content.

This is told in the Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Rājya Khaṇḍa, Chapter 2.

Sources

• Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Rājya Khaṇḍa, Chapter 2 (the descent of the Kalpavṛksha and Pārijāta, and the Durvāsa episode)