Dasharatha
and his All-time
Role Model Capital Ayodhya
SIMPLIFIED
AND FAITHFUL
RENDERING
OF THE ADI KAVYA-6
Vanam
Jwala Narasimha Rao
Ayodhya, the Capital
City of Emperor Dasharatha, with all its pomp and glory, along with its
grandeur town planning and disciplined residents in every aspect, was depicted
magnificently by Valmiki in the Bala Kanda of the Sanskrit Ramayana.
During the era of King Sagara, who was highly revered and reputed, and who
deepened the oceans, belonging to the illustrious Ikshvaku dynasty, the Ramayana
was presumed to have originated. Being such a legend, the Ramayana,
endowed with values of probity, prosperity, and pleasure, deserves to be fully
seen as a mirror of ethical statecraft. Ayodhya thus stands not merely as a
city of the past but as a ‘Timeless Model’ reminding us that righteous
administration and refined civic life are inseparable pillars of enduring
civilization.
Kosala, the great
kingdom, blissful, massive, and well-flourishing with wealth and grain, was
situated snugly on the banks of the sacred Sarayu. Within it stood a
world-renowned city built by Manu, the first ruler of mankind, under his
personal supervision. That glorious city, Ayodhya, stretched twelve Yojanas in
length and three in breadth, shining with royal highways always sprinkled with
water and strewn with flowers. It was the city of order, abundance, and
aesthetic beauty. The very roads that were perfumed and kept spotless
symbolized civic pride and collective responsibility, an ethic modern cities
can still learn from.
Dasharatha made Ayodhya
his capital and abode. It was surrounded by gateways and archways, shaded by
gardens and mango groves, and fortified with majestic walls resembling jeweled
waistbands. Front yards were neat, homes grand, and workshops filled with machinery,
weapons, and artisans of every kind. Multi-storied buildings studded with
precious gems stood like Indra’s Amaravati. This was a city where security met
splendor, and governance was inseparable from grace. The grandeur of Ayodhya
reminds us that true prosperity is not in marble or gold but in the harmony
between beauty, discipline, and purpose.
Though heavily
populated, Ayodhya remained splendid with bastions, flags, and batteries of
defense. Its cultural heartbeat came from dancers, artists, and theatre groups
who lived alongside soldiers and scholars. Impenetrable to invaders and rich in
animals of burden and luxury alike, its design was likened to Ashtapada,
the ancient forerunner of chess. Every square of the city was thoughtfully
conceived, reflecting balance and foresight. In every civilization, the true
measure of progress lies in how art and defense, joy and vigilance, coexist
with mutual respect.
Groups of graceful
women moved elegantly through streets lined with ornate buildings, their
presence adding charm to Ayodhya’s vigor. The city was dense yet orderly, built
on level land where every space was put to good use. Rice was abundant, water
sweet as sugarcane juice, and music of drums, veena and mridangam
filled the air. The city seemed like a celestial station earned by sages
through penance. The message resonates today, that disciplined planning,
aesthetic sensibility, and the rhythm of culture together sustain a city’s soul
far beyond its architecture.
Ayodhya was encircled
by Vedic scholars constantly engaged in sacred fire rituals. Learned Brahmins,
well-versed in the Vedas and their six limbs, lived without want or wrongdoing.
None were immoral, none deceitful; atheism and falsehood found no shelter
there. The Vedic teachers educated their students selflessly, accepting gifts
with principle and restraint. In that Ayodhya there was no jealousy, no
ignorance, and no idleness. Such a spiritual foundation shows that moral
literacy is the truest education, a society guided by conscience never loses
its direction.
All in Ayodhya were
exuberant yet virtuous, learned yet humble, wealthy yet content. They valued
truth, generosity, and justice above all. Every household possessed enough to
live with dignity; greed and cruelty were unknown. People were self-controlled and
self-satisfied, their conduct flawless. None starved, none withheld charity. This
portrait of civic equality underlines that the worth of a kingdom lies not in
its riches but in the fairness with which they are shared.
Longevity was common
among the people. The warrior class, the Kshatriyas, looked up to the Brahmins
for intellectual and spiritual guidance; the Vaishyas sustained trade and
economy; and the Shudras worked diligently in their vocations helping all
classes. Each performed their duty without resentment or rivalry. This
interdependence reflected a social harmony rooted in responsibility rather than
privilege. For any modern society, the enduring lesson is that when every
role is honored and balanced, class or caste ceases to divide and begins to
unite.
Emperor Dasharatha,
scion of the Ikshvaku dynasty, was learned in the Vedas, devoted to rituals,
and a collector of scholars and warriors. Esteemed alike by city dwellers and
villagers, he was a fearless charioteer, saintly in conduct, mighty in valor, and
a protector like Manu himself. His governance rested on truth, justice, and
compassion. Dasharatha’s example teaches that a ruler’s greatness is not in
conquest but in conscience, ruling by moral authority rather than mere might.
Ayodhya’s defense was
unmatched. Warriors trained in archery, chariotry, and swordsmanship, with
horses from Kambhoja, Bahlika, and Vanaayu, stood ready under Dasharatha’s
command. Mighty elephants, strong as mountains, came from the Vindhyas and
Himalayas. The city’s security was thus both material and moral. It reminds
us that a state’s real strength lies not just in its army but in the discipline
and unity that bind its defenders to their land.
Dasharatha’s ministers
were models of wisdom, tact, and devotion to duty. Eight of them, Dhrishti,
Jayantha, Vijaya, Suraashtra, Raashtravardhana, Akopa, Dharmapala, and
Sumantra, served with integrity and diligence. The spiritual counsel of sages
like Vashishta, Vamadeva, Suyajna, Jabali, Kashyapa, Gautama, Markandeya,
Deerghaayu, and Katyayana further sanctified the court. Their combined
guidance made governance a sacred trust, not a political privilege. It tells us
that a ruler’s vision is only as pure as the wisdom of those who advise him.
The ministers were
disciplined, scripturally learned, and steadfast in moral conduct. They neither
spoke falsehood nor acted rashly. They were courageous yet calm, truthful yet
tactful, and fully informed about their own realm and others. Their knowledge
was both practical and philosophical. Such administrators remind us that
real statesmanship demands a marriage of intellect and integrity, and one
without the other, breeds decay.
The council of
ministers excelled in administration, diligence, and discretion. Their fame
spread beyond borders for their reasoning, moral clarity, and restraint. They
were arbiters of war and peace, masters of diplomacy, and guardians of
confidentiality. Every decision reflected collective wisdom and foresight. The
essence for today’s governance is clear, that, transparency must coexist with
prudence, and consultation with confidentiality, to preserve both efficiency
and trust.
Dasharatha ruled
through a network of vigilance and justice. Guided by spies yet governed by
righteousness, he ensured fairness and truth in every decision. He was
unrivalled among kings, a friend to many, conqueror of his foes, and protector
of his subjects. Surrounded by loyal, efficient ministers, he shone in glory as
the embodiment of dharma in action. The final message of Ayodhya and its
king is timeless: when leadership blends morality with management, and faith
with foresight, the state becomes not a power structure but a moral
institution, a sanctuary of good governance for all time.
Ayodhya stands not as a
relic of mythology but as a living metaphor for balanced civilization, where
governance aligns with ethics, prosperity with compassion, and strength with
restraint. Its story is not frozen in scripture but flows into every age that
seeks order without oppression, culture without corruption, and power without
pride. From Dasharatha’s Ayodhya to our own cities, the message endures that, a
kingdom thrives not by the wealth but by the values it upholds. Thus, Ayodhya remains eternally unconquered.
Valmiki’s Poetic Acumen in describing Ayodhya’s perfection remains unmatched as
a masterpiece from which even the best of modern town planners must learn.
‘Maharshi’ Valmiki to ‘Rajarshi’ Narendra Modi
Preserving the Rich Heritage of Ayodhya
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief
Guest at the Historical ‘Consecration Ceremony’ or ‘Pran Pratishtha’ in the
newly built Ram Temple, in Ayodhya (India’s Uttar Pradesh) to be held on
January 22, 2024 at the Auspicious Muhurta 12.20 PM, appealed to ‘public at
large’ to light the ‘Ram Jyoti’ at home and celebrate the occasion, as
Diwali but not crowd the City.
Pran Pratishtha, an important Temple
Ritual, will invoke the life force in the 51-inch-tall idol of five-year-old
Ram Lalla, the central figure in Ceremony, and designated by Shri Ram
Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The seven-day Ceremony, commences on January
16 with rituals like ‘Atonement Ceremony, Dashvidh Bath, Vishnu Worship etc.
Prior to this, the Trust Secretary Champat Rai launched the ‘Akshat
Distribution Program’ on the New Years’ Day.
‘Rama Janma Bhoomi’ or Ayodhya’s
innate Importance since Maharshi Valmiki’s time is immemorial. It was vividly
described in Sanskrit Valmiki Ramayana, and the Legend was that, Ayodhya, then
located on the banks of Sarayu River like now, with Ganga and Panchal Pradesh
on one side and Mithila on the other side, was the Birth Place of Sri Rama.
The present Ayodhya is shrunk in size
and Rivers too have changed their course. PM Modi, envisioned developing
Ayodhya with world-class infrastructure, improved connectivity, revamped civic
amenities, preserve, and protect its rich heritage. Towards this, on December
30, 2023, Modi inaugurated the renovated ‘Ayodhya Dham Railway Station’
building equipped with ultra-modern features, and the new ‘Maharishi Valmiki
International Airport’.
Lead roles and central characters in
Valmiki Ramayana, Sitadevi, (Incarnation of Maha Laxmi) and Sri
Ramachandramurthy, (Incarnation of Lord Vishnu) were born in Human Form in
Tretha Yug, to establish righteousness. One fine morning, Valmiki was at River
Tamasa for a Holy Bath and saw a couple of crane
birds, near river's foreshore, flying in togetherness and chuckling
delightfully.
He
then noticed a hunter killing the male bird with his arrow which fell
instantaneously on the ground reeling with blood covered wings. The female bird
on seeing this, and out of state of compassion cuckooed with sorrow. In this
scenario, Valmiki cursed the hunter and the sentences that he articulated
surprisingly became a four-line stanza with each line equally postulated, with
many meanings in it. That was the Genesis of Valmiki Ramayana.
Taking
cue from there, Valmiki authored the legend Ramayana
eulogizing Rama's prominence, with evenly worded verses, and words yielding
great meanings which runs into
24,000 Sanskrit Shlokas. This
literary poetic exposition acknowledged as the first ever one, in Sanskrit
language was transcreated for the first-time verse by verse into Grammatical
Telugu running into 24,000 stanzas, by
great Telugu poet Vavilikolanu Subba Rau, adored
as ‘Andhra Valmiki’ by the contemporary Sanskrit and Telugu Literary Scholars. These
nine volumes literal metrical translation
of Sanskrit Ramayana, Sri Madandhra Valmiki Ramayana
Mandaram, penned hundred years ago, is widely known for its ‘Spiritual and
General Encyclopedic’ nature.
Valmiki taught 24,000 shlokas
composed by him to Lava and Kusha, the twin sons of Rama and Sita, born while
Sita was in forests. They both sang the ballad among the groups of sages and
saints in Ayodhya, and won laurels. Rama on hearing their performance, brought
them to his palace, to listen to the ballad along with his brothers. That is
how the 'Legend of Sita and
Raghu Rama’ came to prominence first. The story begins with ‘Ayodhya’ a
spiritually and righteously rich city from the times of ‘Maharshi’
Valmiki to ‘Rajarshi’ Narendra Modi.
The Sanskrit ‘Valmiki Version’ of Ramayana
and its near word-to-word Telugu metrical translation of ‘Andhra Valmiki,’ narrated the
earliest Ayodhya. In the Kosala country adjoining River Sarayu where all the
people lived happily, there was a glorious city with well-devised royal
highways called Ayodhya, surrounded with gateways and archways.
This greater Ayodhya with its natural
beauty in all aspects, can only be compared with Heavenly Capital Amaravati. As
Lord Maha Vishnu manifested in the form a human being there, the city came to
be known as ‘Ayodhya,’ and, in His (Vishnu or Sri Rama) Service, there was
Nirvana, a place of perfect peace and happiness, like heaven. ‘Ayodhya’
visioned by ‘Maharshi Valmiki’ and envisioned by ‘Rajarshi Modi’ is the city,
what we see today!!!
Ayodhya ruled by Ikshvaka dynasty or Surya
Vamsha kings, was encompassed with Vedic Scholars who always worshiped the
Ritual Fire. Brahmins of Ayodhya were known for charity donating their wealth.
Reciting Vedas, the sacred theology was their ceaseless activity. Kshatriyas
evinced interest in the teachings of Brahmins, for intellectual and religious
support. Trading class Vaisyas were supportive of king and helped in refining
state’s economy. The working class, while performing their own duties, pursued
their hereditary professions. All advocated truthfulness and were satisfied
with their own riches without greed.
Ayodhya
City was well protected by king Dasharatha during his rule, ably assisted by
his intelligent, capable, religious, virtuous, valorous, noble, courageous,
effectual, good-natured ministers. Governance was made meaningful with their
virtuous, skillful, and efficient administration. Without any distinction,
everyone who lived in Ayodhya were virtuous, exuberant, scholarly, and learned
in every aspect. Dasharatha having no children, while performing Vedic Ritual
‘Putra Kameshti’ to beget children, a heavenly being ‘Prajapatya Purusha’
emerged from the fire of Altar, with a gold vessel containing divine dessert
and gave it to Dasharatha.
As advised by Prajapatya Dasharatha
distributed the dessert to his three wives. In the twelfth month after Putra
Kameshti, in the first month of Lunar new year, on the ninth day, in the
constellation of Punarvasu, and when Sun, Mars, Jupitar, Venus as well as
Saturn were in exaltation in their respective houses and when Aries,
Capricornus, Cancer, Pisces, Libra, Jupitar and Moon were in conjunction,
Dasharatha’s wife Kousalya gave birth to the incarnation of Universe, Lord Maha
Vishnu, the ‘Sri Rama’ in Ayodhya. Ayodhya thus became the
Birth Place of Sri Rama or Rama Janma Bhoomi.
Modern history recorded a dispute that was
started in 1528, when the land on which Babri Masjid Mosque stood, considered
by Hindus to be the Birthplace of Rama. To put an end to this longstanding
‘Ayodhya Dispute,’ on November 9, 2019 the Five-Judge
bench of Supreme Court, unanimously directed the Government of India to create
a Trust to build the Ram Mandir Temple and form a Board of Trustees. SC also
directed that the possession of the disputed 2.77 Acre land to be given to the
Personification of the Hindu God, the ‘Ram Lalla Virajman,’ whom it identified
as a ‘Juristic Person.’
The
Apex Court reversed the 2010 Allahabad High Court Judgment and awarded the
title to the deity, Shri Ram Virajman. On February 5, 2020, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi announced the formation of 15-member Trust to oversee
construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The estimated cost of Rs 18,000 crores,
is being funded through donations from public. First donation of one rupee was
made by Union Government.
On
August 5, 2020, PM Modi conducted Bhumi Puja and laid foundation stone. With
change of design, the Ram Mandir will be almost double the size of what was
originally planned. In the 70 Acres of Land Allocated to the Trust various
temples are being built, featuring the Main Temple Complex of 2.7 Acres in
which Shri Ram Idol will be placed as the central figure and worshipping will
be done by the Devotees. It also features an octangular shaped Sanctum and a
circular structure perimeter. The temple is enclosed by a four-cornered wall,
‘Prakara’ with a running length of nearly 750 meters. The uniqueness of the
14-feet wide wall lies in its double-storied structure, allowing devotees to
perform Parikrama on the upper floor.
Undeniably,
it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who richly deserves to be ‘Abundantly and
Exceptionally’ credited with construction of Ram Mandir, and the entire Hindu
Community is obliged to him for this. Former PM Late PV Narasimha Rao whose
heart was set on constructing Ram Temple but in vain, Senior Advocate K
Parasaran who successfully fought Ayodhya Dispute Case, and former ICS officer
late KK Nair as Faizabad District Magistrate, who in 1949 restored Hindus Right
to worship at the Rama Janma Bhumi, by defying Nehru orders, too, ‘Remotely
Deserve Heart of Heart Greetings’ from every Indian. (Photographs courtesy Rama Bhakta JOGESH)
