Tuesday 17 July 2012

13. The Preparations for the Asvamedha Yaga

     King Dasharatha wanted Shanta, whom he loved as if she was his own daughter, to enjoy the winter with her husband, at his kingdom.  At the onset of Spring he desired to perform the Vedic Ritual.
     Then observing all the required formalities in this regard, the King Dasharatha verily beseeched sage Rishyasringa to conduct Vedic ritual on his behalf as he wished to beget progeny for maintaining his family line.  Sage Rishyasringa who by now was highly honoured by the king said  "So it shall be, let the paraphernalia for ritual be garnered and let your ritual horse be released as a prerogative."
     Then King Dasharatha said to Sumantra, "Let the Vedic scholars and ritual conductors like Sages Suyajna, Vaamadeva, Jaabaali, and Kaashyapa, along with the family priest Vashishta, as well as other Vedic Brahmans who are there, may be invited swiftly..."
     Sumantra went and came back with all the vedic personnel and scholars as desired by the king.  The king informed them of his desire to perform the Vedic Horse Ritual for progeny.  He also told them  that he believed his desires would be fulfilled through the divine influence of the Sage Rishyasringa...
     All, including the Sage Vashishta agreed in toto to the proposed course of action informed by the King in this regard.  They also blessed the king that he would get not one, but four sons with boundless valour after the vedic ritual.
     The king was very happy to hear that.  He thanked them and called his ministers concerned and gave them suitable instructions in this regard.
     The performer of such Vedic rituals had to perform preliminary rituals for a period of one year in order to attain eligibility to perform the final one.  On conclusion of the same Dasharatha  entered into the Vedic ritual hall in the springtime of the succeeding year to the one referred to above.
     After the usual greetings and all that, the King told Sage Vashishta "Sir, I desire that the vedic ritual should be conducted strictly as stipulated in our vedic scriptures.  I further desire that it should be conducted in such a way that no obstacle occurs even in its ancillary functions.  You, besides being my very reverent royal priest are friendly and kind-hearted to me, and you alone should shoulder the burden of the commenced ritual in all good faith and credence."
     Vashishta said "I will see to it that whatever that is requested or decided by you, are materialised accordingly."
     Sage Vashishta then summoned elderly Brahman scholars, elderly architects who were all proficient and experts in conducting the construction of the ritual hall etc.,  the construction supervisors, brick-makers, carpenters, earth-diggers, accountants, sculptors, actors, dancers, etc.  Flawless scholars in scriptures and those men who were well read in Veda-s, were also called.  He addressed them all saying, "Performance of the ritual should be organised strictly as per the orders of the king.  Bricks in many thousands be brought quickly and royal palaces as temporary guesthouses be built for royal guests, with all facilities included in them."
     Sage Vasishta continued giving elaborate instructions to all the concered persons.
      Sage Vashishta then told Sumantra that all kings who were righteous be invited.
     He asked Sumantra to personally invite Janaka, the king of Mithila, a valiant one and an advocate of truth, honouring him well and duly bearing in mind that he was a long-time associate of King Dasharatha.  He further informed Sumantra the names of the kings who should be personally invited by him.
     Then Sage Vashishta and other eminent Brahmans keeping the Sage Rishyasringa ahead of them entered the ritual hall, to commence the ritual.  When all had entered the ritual hall as per canons and custom, that glorious king Dasharatha along with his wives undertook vow of ritual.
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