The Gods Enter the Mandap in Brahmin Form
Bala Kanda, Chhand 29
Doha 319 · Movement 2 of 3
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Ram is seated with honour and arati is performed again. Women gaze upon the bridegroom, sing auspicious songs, and offer jewels, garments, and ornaments in abundance.
Brahma and other great gods enter disguised as learned Brahmins. Heaven does not demand a separate gallery; its rulers accept humble forms to witness the rite from within sacred custom.
They behold Ram as the sun opening the lotus of Raghu's lineage and count their lives fulfilled. Knowledge of his divinity does not make the ceremony unnecessary. It makes every ritual gesture more astonishing. The gods who receive worship elsewhere come here dressed as priests, grateful simply to look upon the bridegroom.
Gods hide beneath Brahmin robes and consider heaven fulfilled by one sight of the seated Ram.
Read the passage from the Manas
बैठारि आसन आरती करि निरखि बरु सुखु पावहीं।। मनि बसन भूषन भूरि वारहिं नारि मंगल गावहीं।। ब्रह्मादि सुरबर बिप्र बेष बनाइ कौतुक देखहीं। अवलोकि रघुकुल कमल रबि छबि सुफल जीवन लेखहीं।।
Seating Him with honor and performing aarti, they gazed upon the Bridegroom and found supreme delight. They lavished jewels, garments, and ornaments upon Him, while women sang auspicious wedding songs. Brahma and the other great gods, disguised as learned priests, came to witness this wondrous spectacle. Beholding Rama, the Sun of Raghu's lotus dynasty, they counted their very lives fulfilled and blessed.