Rāma at Kailāsa

During his northern tīrtha-yātrā (journey to holy places), Bhagavān Rāma went up to Kailāsa, the home of Bhagavān Śiva. His whole retinue came with him on the Pushpaka Vimāna. He visited the divine sabhā (assembly hall) of Brahmā on the Himālaya peaks and received the Kāmadhenu from Brahmā. Then he went on to Kailāsa, where Śiva and Pārvatī came forward themselves to receive him. Śiva says that he is Rāma’s pautra (grandson). Gifts pass between them, and Sītā asks that the Kāmadhenu be hers and the Cintāmaṇi stay with Rāma.

At Brahmā’s sabhā

Rāma bathed at Mānasa Sarovara and Bindu Sarovara. Then he climbed the great divine path (mahāpatha) of the Himālaya and came to the divine sabhā of Brahmā. It was a splendid hall on the shining heights of the mountain, shining like Meru. The whole party came down from the Pushpaka. Rāma and his retinue bowed before Indra and the assembled devas. Rāma and Brahmā embraced. Rāma worshipped Brahmā and all the devas there at length and honoured them richly.

Brahmā worshipped Rāma in return and gave him the Kāmadhenu, the divine wish-fulfilling cow of svarga. Rāma put Kāmadhenu on the Pushpaka Vimāna. Then, with Brahmā and the assembled devas, he went to Mahā-Kailāsa.

Śiva and Pārvatī come forward

News of Rāma’s coming reached Kailāsa. Bhagavān Śiva was sitting on his Vṛshabha throne with Pārvatī. He rose at once and came forward to receive his guest. When Rāma learned that Śiva was coming, he quickly got down from the Pushpaka and went on foot toward Śiva. Rāma bowed full length before Śiva and Pārvatī. Śiva lifted Rāma up from the ground and embraced him. Pārvatī drew Sītā close to her.

Pārvatī’s gifts to Sītā

Pārvatī dressed Sītā in a full set of divine ornaments:

  • Tāṭaṅka, divine earrings
  • Nūpura, anklets
  • Keyūra, armlets
  • A pair of cūḍāmaṇis, jewelled head ornaments
  • A kiṅkiṇī necklace, a waist ornament with tiny bells that ring
  • Pāpaṭachera, hair-parting ornaments with the sun and moon on them
  • Hāras, necklaces of pearls and gems

She gave all of these with great joy and love, as a mother dresses her daughter.

Śiva’s declaration

Śiva honoured Rāma with full royal worship. Then he spoke of who he is in relation to Rāma:

“O Rāma! Brahmā was born from your navel-lotus. From Brahmā’s weeping I was born, and I took the name Rudra. So I am your pautra (grandson). I carry out your command, and I bring about the dissolution of the world only because you direct me to. You may ask: if the pralaya (dissolution) happens at your word, where does the pāpa (sin) of the pralaya go? But know this: these tīrtha-yātrās you are making are not from any fear. They are for loka-śikshaṇa, teaching the world dharma.”

Śiva praised Rāma at length in this way and then gave him royal gifts.

The royal gifts from Śiva

Śiva worshipped Rāma as a ruler of the whole world and gave him:

  • A divine siṃhāsana (throne)
  • A royal chatra (parasol)
  • Cāmaras (fly-whisks of honour)
  • The finest śayya (bed)
  • A pānapātra (drinking vessel)
  • A golden bhojana-pātra (food vessel)
  • Kaṅkaṇas (wrist ornaments)
  • Kuṇḍalas (earrings)
  • Bāhubhūshaṇas (arm ornaments)
  • The best kirīṭa (crown)

Last of all, Śiva placed the Cintāmaṇi, the great wish-fulfilling gem, on Rāma’s chest.

Sītā asks for Kāmadhenu

Sītā looked at the Cintāmaṇi lying on Rāma’s chest. She felt a playful shyness and said to Rāma with a smile: “Let the Kāmadhenu be mine and the Cintāmaṇi remain yours.”

Rāma agreed with great delight. So Sītā took the Kāmadhenu, the divine wish-fulfilling cow that Brahmā had given, and the Cintāmaṇi stayed with Rāma.

After they returned to Ayodhyā, Rāma made the divine pāyasam (sweet milk rice) from the milk and ghee of the Kāmadhenu and served it to all the citizens of Ayodhyā. The Cintāmaṇi was placed on the royal throne.

The invitation to the Aśvamedha

After the exchange of gifts, Rāma bowed to Śiva and spoke of the coming Aśvamedha yāga. He formally invited Brahmā to come to the Aśvamedha after one month, and Brahmā accepted. The whole company then came down from Kailāsa, and the journey went on southward to Haridvāra.

Sources

  • Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Yātrā Khaṇḍa, chapter 9 (sarga 9)