Janaka Places Sita's Hand into Ram's
Bala Kanda, Chhand 34
Doha 324 · Movement 2 of 3
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Janaka and Sunayana wash the lotus feet held forever in Shiva's heart, remembered once to cleanse the stains of Kali, whose touch restored Ahalya and whose nectar Shiva bears upon his head. Sages make their minds bees around those feet, yet Janaka holds them in his hands.
Bride and groom join their palms while the two family gurus conduct the declaration of lineage. At the taking of hands, Brahma, gods, humans, and sages fill with bliss. Janaka follows worldly and Vedic law and gives his daughter.
As Himavan offered Girija to Shiva and the ocean offered Lakshmi to Vishnu, Janaka offers Sita to Ram. Fire receives the rite, the sacred knot is tied, and the wedding rounds begin. Videha, called bodiless, loses himself anew before the dark form receiving his child.
Sita's hand enters Ram's, the knot is bound, and all worlds turn with them around the fire.
Read the passage from the Manas
लागे पखारन पाय पंकज प्रेम तन पुलकावली। नभ नगर गान निसान जय धुनि उमगि जनु चहुँ दिसि चली।। जे पद सरोज मनोज अरि उर सर सदैव बिराजहीं। जे सकृत सुमिरत बिमलता मन सकल कलि मल भाजहीं।।1।। जे परसि मुनिबनिता लही गति रही जो पातकमई। मकरंदु जिन्ह को संभु सिर सुचिता अवधि सुर बरनई।। करि मधुप मन मुनि जोगिजन जे सेइ अभिमत गति लहैं। ते पद पखारत भाग्यभाजनु जनकु जय जय सब कहै।।2।। बर कुअँरि करतल जोरि साखोचारु दोउ कुलगुर करैं। भयो पानिगहनु बिलोकि बिधि सुर मनुज मुनि आँनद भरैं।। सुखमूल दूलहु देखि दंपति पुलक तन हुलस्यो हियो। करि लोक बेद बिधानु कन्यादानु नृपभूषन कियो।।3।। हिमवंत जिमि गिरिजा महेसहि हरिहि श्री सागर दई। तिमि जनक रामहि सिय समरपी बिस्व कल कीरति नई।। क्यों करै बिनय बिदेहु कियो बिदेहु मूरति सावँरी। करि होम बिधिवत गाँठि जोरी होन लागी भावँरी।।4।।
They began washing those lotus feet, their bodies thrilling with waves of love, while from sky and city rose songs, drums, and cries of 'Jaya!' spreading in all four directions. Those lotus feet that forever abide in the heart of Shiva, the conqueror of Kama; those feet which, remembered even once, purify the mind of every stain of Kali Yuga. Those feet whose touch redeemed the sage's wife, Ahalya, though she had been steeped in sin; whose nectar Shambhu bears upon his head as the very limit of purity, praised by all the gods. Making their minds into bees, sages and yogis worship those feet and attain the goal they seek. Those same feet the blessed Janaka now washes; all the world cries, 'Jaya! Jaya!' Bride and groom join their palms as the two kulagurus perform the saakhochaaru rite. Beholding the paanigrahana, Brahma, the gods, men, and sages are filled with bliss. Seeing the groom who is the root of all joy, the couple's bodies thrill and their hearts overflow. Following the ordinances of custom and Veda, King Janaka, jewel among kings, gave away his daughter. As Himavana gave Girija to Maheshvara, and the ocean gave Shri to Hari, so Janaka offered Siya to Rama, and new and glorious fame spread through all the worlds. How shall Videha plead? He has been rendered bodiless by that dark and beautiful form. The homa was duly performed, the sacred knot was tied, and the wedding rounds began.