9. THE WEDDING (PART-4)

Camels bearing enormous loads went along with parched

throats until they could find the bitter margosa leaves—since

they avoid tender greenery—and were thirsty again after

chewing them, like men who look only for wine to quench

their thirst, which again produces more thirst. Sturdy menfolk

bore on their shoulders gifts and supplies for the journey.

Brahmins who practised austerities followed, remaining

aloof, afraid alike to walk amongst the elephants, for fear of

being jostled, and in the areas where there were women,

who might distract their inner vision. Some hopped along

lightly on their toes, in order not to trample on any live creature on the ground;

others held their fingers over their

nostrils, both to perform breath control and to keep the

fingers from touching their nether portions while their minds

were fixed on God.

The noise of the rolling chariot wheels, trumpets, and

drums, and the general din, made it impossible for anyone to

hear what anyone else was saying. After a while people

moved along dumbly, communicating with each other only by

signs, their feet raising an enormous trail of dust. Bullocks

drawing wagons loaded with baggage, excited by the noise

of drums, suddenly snapped off their yokes and ran helter-

skelter, adding to the melee, leaving the baggage scattered

on the road. Elephants, when they noticed a tank or a pond,

charged away for a plunge, and remained submerged in the

water up to their white tusks. Musicians sat on horseback

playing their instruments and singing.

Behind this army, the king's favourites in the women's

apartments followed. Surrounded by a thousand attendants,

Queen Kaikeyi came in her palanquin. Next came Sumithra,

accompanied by two thousand attendants. Surrounded by

her own musicians came Kausalya, mother of Rama. She

had also in her company several dwarfs and hunchbacks

and other freaks. But her main companions were sixty

thousand women of great beauty and accomplishment who

followed her in a variety of vehicles. In a white palanquin

studded with pearls, sage Vasishtha, chief mentor at thecourt, followed, surrounded by two thousand brahmins and priests. Bharatha and Sathrugna, also younger brothers of

Rama, came next. Dasaratha, after performing his daily

duties and religious rites and presentation of gifts to

brahmins, started to leave his palace at an auspicious

conjunction of the planets, ushered by a number of priests,

men bearing in their arms golden pots filled with holy waters

which they sprinkled on his path, while several women

recited hymns.

When the King emerged from his palace, many rulers from

the neighbouring states were waiting to greet him. Conch

and trumpets were sounded, and loud cheering and the

recital of honours, when his carriage began to move.

After journeying for a distance of two yojanas, the King

with his army and followers camped in the shadow of Mount

Saila. Next day the camp moved on to a grove beside a

river.

The forward portions of the advance party, which had

already reached Mithila, were received and absorbed into

homes, palaces, and camps in the capital. As further

contingents kept coming in, they too were received. The line

of movement was continuous from Ayodhya to Mithila. King

Dasaratha's party was the last to arrive. When the scouts

who watched for their arrival flew back on horses to report

that Dasaratha's party had been sighted, Janaka went forthwith his ministers and officials and guards of honour to receive him. The two kings met, greeted each other,

exchanged polite formalities; then Janaka invited Dasaratha

to get into his own chariot and proceeded towards the

capital. While they were entering the gates of the city, Rama,

accompanied by Lakshmana, met them, greeted his father,

and welcomed him. Dasaratha swelled with pride at the

sight of his son, whose stature seemed so much grander

now.

At this point Kamban begins to describe the preparations

for the wedding of Rama and Sita. It is one of the most

fascinating sections of the epic. The details of the wedding

pavilion; the decorations; the arrival of guests from other

countries; the flowers and gaiety; the citizens' joy and

participation; the activities in the bride's house and then at

the bridegroom's, and the preparation of the bride and

bridegroom themselves: their clothes and jewellery, the

moods they were in—all are described by Kamban in minute

detail, running to several thousand lines of poetry.

At an auspicious conjunction of the planets suitable to the

horoscopes of Rama and Sita, in ceremonials conducted by

the high priests of Mithila and Ayodhya in Janaka's court,

Rama and Sita became man and wife.

"Those who were together only a little while ago came

together again, and there was no need for any elaborate

ritual of speech between them," says Kamban, describing the couple's first meeting at the conclusion of the wedding ceremonies.

Through Janaka's efforts, Rama's three brothers were

also found brides and were married at the same time, in

Mithila. When the celebrations ended, King Dasaratha

started back for Ayodhya, with his sons bringing home their

wives. On the day they left, Viswamithra told Dasaratha,

"Now I return to you Rama and Lakshmana. Their

achievements are immeasurable, but there is much more

ahead. They are blessed men." Then he took leave of them

and abruptly left northward. He was retiring into the

Himalayas, away from all activities, to spend the rest of his

days in contemplation.