Dasaratha’s funeral rites
Then the great learned wise Sage Vasishta looked at Bharatha who was affected by emotions, grief, and intellectual craving for affection “ Hey Prince! Great Famed one ! enough of your grief. Please carry out the Funeral rites of the Emperor so he can may reach the best of Noble worlds without delay” thus he counseled/commanded. Hearing thoe words Bharatha too got encouraged and overcame sorrow some how and started performing the final Funeral Rites.
They took out Dasaratha’s body from the wooden vessel filled with oil and kept it outside to wipe it clean of the oil. Since the body ws kept for number of days in oil , it became slightly yellow but the body remained intact without any deformity and looked as though he was sleeping. Then the body was kept on a bed laid with best of carpets and Bharatha lamented “King ! Myself and Shatrugna had gone to a far away place.Great Warrior Rama and Lakshmana were sent to forest and you have also left for heaven,what was the reason? What have you done? Whilst the people are grieving for Rama who always do good for all the worlds and the greatest amongst men has gone away from them , you too shook of their hands off ,where have you gone? Who do you think is there to look after the welfare of the citizens when Rama is gone and you too have left them? Without you this world is like the Lady who has lost her eyesight and looks awkward. Ayodhya is not shining in your absence like the night without Moon.and as he was lamenting like this Sage Vasishta stopped him “ The Emperor’s funeral rites for his body should be done without delay and completely. You please control your grief and concentrate on that.” Said Sage.
Bharatha accepted same and hurried the Priest, Rithviks, and Acharyas. The earlier Puja materials like Garhapathiyam and other Homas were removed without being affected by pollution because of Dasaratha’s dead body being there.Rithviks and their assistants removed those religious materias carefully in an orderly manner.The helpers took the King’s body in a palanquin with tears rolling down for their dear king. They threw flowers made of Gold, Silver and dresses infront of the king’s body procession. Some were spraying fragrant materials like Sandal wood, Akil in the incese pot. Some others stacked the Funeral pyre with special trees like Padmagahm, Devadaaru, Parimala . The Queens accompanied by old Ladies in planquins came from the city to the Funeral place. Then the Rithviks placed Dasaratha’s body in the centre on top of Funeral pyre woods, Bharatha and Queens went around Dasaratha’s body in a clockwise manner , the Body was set fire with the fire of Agnihothra which king is used to pray by Bharatha; the 4 Rirkviths Hotha,Uthgatha, Athvaryu & Brahma as per Pitrmedha procedure chanted vedic verses and all the rites were completely performed. The experts of Samaveda sung Samagana melodiously. Queens wailing was heard all over.Then all boarded their vehicles and went to Sarayuriver , did water Tharpana and other rites and took bath befre going home. The Queens and Ministers entered the city with tears.Relations slept on the floor for 10 days and observed the bereavement.(Slokas 23).
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