The coronation was planned for Pushya day in the month of Caitra in Pramoda year when Rama entered his 25th year. Rama was informed of the Pattabhisheka the previous day, i.e., on the day of Punarvasu. He and Sita conducted the necessary rituals for the function. The night passed by. That was when Kaikeyi made her dreadful demands to Dasaratha. As a result, the next day (when the coronation had to take place) Rama was informed that he must leave the country and live in the forest like an ascetic for 14 long years.
Lakshmana decided to join Rama in exile. Sita insisted
that she too would join. Rama’s mother Kausalya was inconsolable. She expressed
something that contains a clue on Rama’s age at that time. She said,
दश सप्त च वर्षाणि तव जातस्य राघव
|
असितानि प्रकान्क्षन्त्या मया दुह्ख परिक्षयम् || २-२०-४५
(Meaning: “Oh, Rama! I have been waiting for seventeen
years after your birth with the hope that my troubles will disappear at one
time or the other.") (VR: 2- 20-45)
As one who had been waiting to see her son taking the
crown, it was difficult for Kausalya to accept that he had to renounce the
crown and go to the forest. In this context she said she waited for 17 years
since his birth to see the day he was crowned. She said,
“dasha sapta ca varSaaNi tava jaatasya raaghava |”
The word Jaatasya has been debated by scholars as to
whether it refers to his birth or second birth during Upanayana. If it is taken
to mean birth, 17 years of age doesn’t fit with other inputs we have seen so
far. Rama was married for 12 years at the time of exile. If he was only 17
years old at the time of exile, it means that he was married in his 6th
year. The age difference with Sita being 7 years (as told by Sita to Ravana
that she was 18 and Rama was 25), Sita was not even born when he was married!! Such
an absurd derivation will have to be made if we assume that Kausalya meant his
age as 17 years at the time of exile.
Moreover, there are two contexts (discussed earlier)
on his age as 25 at the time of exile. We also had an input from Sita’s version
that he was exiled on the 13th year of his marriage. There is also
the version from Mareecha on his age when Vishvamitra brought him to the forest
to destroy the demons.
The year of Rama’s Upanayana
Taking all this into consideration, we must understand
that Kausalya was referring to his second birth, i.e., Upanayana time. Already
we know that Rama completed 24 years as of Caitra Punarvasu when he was
informed of the coronation. Deducting 17 years from that, we get the year 7 as
completed age when he had upanayana. In other words, his upanayana was done on
his 8th year. This was Pramādi or Ananda year, corresponding
to 5106 BCE. In Caitra Pramādi Rama completed his 7th year. In
Caitra Ananda he completed his 8th year. In between these two years
his Upanayana took place. In the absence of information on the month we are not
able to give the exact date.
Exile date.
On the morning of Pushya in Caitra Rama
was informed of the exile. He immediately informed his mother, Kausalya and
obtained her permission. Then he informed Sita and tried to persuaede her to
stay back but relented after she insisted that she would accompany him. Then
Lakshmana also decided to join. Rama distributed his wealth to rishi-s. The
sequence of these events appear to have happened on the same day.
By that evening, Rama departed to the
forest. In that context, the planetary positions are mentioned.
त्रिशन्कुर् लोहित अन्गः च बृहस्पति बुधाव् अपि |
दारुणाः सोमम् अभ्येत्य ग्रहाः सर्वे व्यवस्थिताः || २-४१-११
{Meaning: Trisanku, Lohintanga, Brihaspati as
also Budha and all other planets assumed a menacing aspect and got
stayed with the moon. (VR: 2-41-11)}
The day being Pushya, the Moon was on Kataka (cancer).
It was joined with Mars (Lohintanga) and Jupiter (Brihaspati). The simulation also
shows the same confirming that we are proceeding in the right way of
decipherment.
Rama’s exile
Budha (Mercury) was the 12th lord in his
natal horoscope. The 12th house indicates exile. The Lord of that
house, namely, Mercury was just crossing into Aries in the star of Ketu. It was
in 0 degree of Aries which is recognized as Baalya avasta signifying trouble.
The star lord Ketu was in the 12th to Mercury (which was the 10th
house from the 12th) and was in the star of Mercury, namely Revati.
Thus, there was mutual parivartana of the 12th lord and the 12th
from the 12th lord which aggravates the 12th house significance
of confinement and exile. This is indicated by Valmiki in the above quoted verse.
Other planets also assumed a menacing aspect, says Valmiki.
Saturn was in Saade Sati. Rahu casts its aspects on Kataka (It is also likely
that Rahu joined Saturn as the simulation doesn’t show the exact position of
the nodes). Venus, the 4th lord signifying home was in the 8th
in the star of Jupiter.
Trisanku is not a star of the zodiac, but in summer (Caitra
month) month it will be visible in direct south after sunset. It must have shone
brightly as though it was casting a menacing aspect.
In the next verse it is said that Vishakha appeared in
the sky, veiled in the mist (VR: 2-41-12).
Vishakha is in line with Trisanku in the south. It
will appear overhead in the latitudes of India while Trisanku will appear in
direct south of it. This combination can be seen even today in the summer
months, confirming our contention that we are looking at the same part of the
sky as it was during Rama’s time.
Vishakha was the Kula-nakshatra of the Ikshvaku-s (VR:
6-102-36). That is the reason its appearance has been specifically mentioned.
1st day night: They stayed on the banks of Tamasa River.
Rama didn’t eat anything and took water only. The next morning, he deceived the
residents and went to the forest.
2nd day: After travelling a long distance in the chariot driven
by Sumantra, Rama crossed the rivers, Vedasruti, Gomati and Syandika. By that night
he crossed Kosala city. Rama stayed under a fig tree on the banks of river Ganga on that night.
Rama met Guha on the banks of Ganga (near Shringaberapura). The date was 19th
December, 5091 BCE (Pramoda, Caitra, Aslesha, Shukla Dwadasi.
3rd day: Crossed the river Ganga with the help of Guha. That
night was spent on the base of a tree.
4th day: Reached Bharadwaja ashrama at the confluence of
Ganga and Yamuna. The date was 21st December, 5091 BCE. It
was Pramoda year, Caitra Shukla Chaturdasi, Purva Phalguni star.
Spent the night at the ashrama. The rishi told Rama
about Chitrakoota, located at 60 miles from the Ashrama.
5th day: Crossed the river Yamuna and stayed on the banks of
Yamuna. Sumantra left for Ayodhya after hearing from Guha that Rama departed
for Chitrakoota.
6th day: Rama proceeded to Chitrakoota and built a Parna shala and
entered it. The day was 23rd December, 5091 BCE. Pramoda, Caitra
Pournami in Hasta nakshatra. That night the Full moon was eclipsed.
That night Dasaratha passed away.
The fear about the dreadful combination came true.
On the night (December 24th early morning)
in 5091 BCE, Dasaratha died at the time of Lunar eclipse while Rama along
with Sita and Lakshmana was sleeping in the newly built leaf-hut in Chitrakoota.
Reproducing the time that he feared very much.
Dasaratha’s
death time
Here I have not changed the tithi to the next one because, in Caitra, Full moon is possible in Hasta nakshatra. Since Dasaratha spoke about affliction to his birth star by Rahu, eclipse is indicated. In the absence of knowledge of the exact position of Rahu, we must deduce that the moon was eclipsed when it passed close to Rahu. The eclipse could have lasted for a few minutes and was partial. Since eclipse has to be indicated I picked out 2 am when the Pournami was still running and moon was at a distance when eclipse was possible.
(Cont’d)
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