Vishvamitra briefed Si Rama about
Siddha Hermitage
Vanam Vasudasa Valmiki Ramayana-9
Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao
When
Rama and Lakshmana curiously enquired about Siddha Hermitage, sage Vishvamitra
narrated to them like this.
“Sri
Ramachandra! This place once was the domicile of Vamana the incarnation of Lord
Vishnu. The very fact that Lord Vishnu penanced here indicates that this place
is a celebrated one. Even sage Kashyap got success here. And hence this was
named as Siddha Hermitage. While Vishnu was in his penance here in the Siddha
Hermitage, Emperor Bali after conquering Indra, the Wind gods, the Siddhas etc.
was ruling this kingdom in righteous manner and became popular in all the three
worlds for his magnanimity. The place where Bali lived was known as
Mahabalipuram. When Bali was conducting a grand celebration, a great
incomparable Vedic Ritual, all the gods approached Vishnu and requested him to
visit the place of ritual and accomplish the task benefiting gods. They
appealed and requested him to incarnate in the form of a dwarf for effectively
dealing with emperor Bali”.
“Meanwhile,
the great sage Kashyap along with his wife Aditi penanced many years for the
grace of Lord Srimannaarayana and in response the Lord appears to him. Pleased
with his devotion Vishnu asked him to seek any boon that he wants. Kashyap
requested the Vishnu that he should be born as his son and save the Devatas
from the predominance of emperor Bali. He also requested that the place become
popular as Siddha Hermitage in future. Agreeing to his request Lord Vishnu in
the form of a dwarf was born to Kashyap’s wife Aditi known as Vamana. In the
dwarfish incarnation he approached Bali. Dwarf Vamana solicited Bali and
received a space that can be covered with three steps. Vamana occupies the
entire universe with his two steps and for the third step he used the head of
Bali. Then Vishnu gave the universe-the whole world to Indra”.
“Those who
penance here they will not undergo any stress. I am also benefited with this
hermitage. Monsters and demons are causing obstacles to my ritual and they will
come here and the moment they come they are to be eliminated and killed. We are
now going to my hermitage. That hermitage, the way it belongs to me, also
belongs to you both”.
Thus,
speaking Vishvamitra, led Rama and Lakshmana to his hermitage and entered the
place. On their entering the hermitage and on seeing sage Vishvamitra the all
other resident sages approached him and suggested that he may undertake the
ritual of solemnity that day itself. If done like that, said the sages, that it
will benefit Vishvamitra and also the place will become an accomplished one as
Siddha hermitage. Accordingly, Vishvamitra methodically undertook the course of
ritual, controlling his senses and silently. Rama and Lakshmana after spending
that night vigilantly got up next morning as usual and completed their morning
prayers and were involved in Vishvamitra’s assigned task.
Rama
and Lakshmana safeguarding Vishvamitra ritual
Early in
the next day morning the brothers Rama and Lakshmana and after greeting him
said, “Oh! Great Sage! At what time those monsters are likely to come here to
disturb the ritual? If you let us know, then we will effectively safeguard the
ritual from them so that the moment is not passed away”. As the sage
Vishvamitra was observing the pledge of silence and hence will not be able to
reply, rest of the sages available there, told Rama that they have to safeguard
the ritual for six days and nights from that day with utmost caution.
As per the
indication of sages Rama and Lakshmana vigilantly watching safeguarded the
ritual for six day and nights. While the last night was approaching Rama
alerted Lakshmana of possible outbreak from monsters. Then a vociferous and terrifying blare was
engendered in the sky on the last night. As anticipated, demons named Mareecha and Subhahu came to hinder the ritual. On noticing the platform of fire dumped with
streams of blood, Rama acted skilfully and hit out Mareecha to a long distance
and killed Subhahu. Rama thus made the ritual of sage Vishvamitra a success. On
seeing Rama crushing the monsters and demons who came there to obstruct the
ritual, the sages congregated there, worshiped Rama and admired and applauded
him. Vishvamitra said that “Rama! I am fully satisfied and successful. By
enthusiastically safeguarding my ritual you established the name and fame of
this great hermitage once again”.
Vishvamitra proceeding to
Mithila with Rama and Lakshmana
Rama and Lakshmana woke-up early in the
morning and after attending to daily morning routine, approached and greeted
Vishvamitra and other sages present in the hermitage. They told him that they
both were waiting for his further orders to accomplish. Replying to Rama and Lakshmana
Vishvamitra said like this.
“Oh!
Ramachandra! A highly prestigious ritual is going to take place to be performed
by King Janaka of Mithila. I along with other sages are going there. You also
come along with us. King Janaka with him has an enormous blissful bow that has
unimaginable power. Its greatness is unparalleled. Neither Gods, nor
Gandharvas, nor Asuras, nor Pannagas, nor Kinnaras, nor Monsters, nor Human
Beings are capable of lifting the bow and pull the string. Everyone who tried
to handle it failed miserably. Rama, you will have an opportunity to see it and
if possible, lift it to string and also watch Janaka’s admirable ritual”.
Satisfied with the words of Vishvamitra the brothers Rama and Lakshmana
prepared to accompany him. Vishvamitra bidding farewell to the forest gods
Vishvamitra told them, on accomplishment of the ritual he plans to go to
mountain Himalayas. He went around the hermitage and offered his respects to it
before starting on his journey. Along with him sages, Ram and Lakshmana also
started. On the way after the sun set, they had a bath in the River Shona and
relaxed there that night after performing evening rituals. Then Rama evincing
keen interest on the place where they stayed enquired about it as to whom it
belonged. Vishvamitra started narrating all about it.
