Five People Who Benefitted From The Marriage of Sita and Rama

“Those who sing of the auspicious occasion of the initiation and the wedding of Sita and Rama with excitement get countless auspicious blessings day after day, says Tulsi.” (Janaki Mangala, Chand 24.2)

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उपबीत ब्याह उछाह जे सिय राम मंगल गावहीं
तुलसी सकल कल्यान ते नर नारि अनुदिन पावहीं

upabīta byāha uchāha jē siya rāma maṅgala gāvahīṁ
tulasī sakala kalyāna tē nara nāri anudita pāvahīṁ

1. The father of the bride

It was his idea. It was the extravaganza of extravaganzas. It was the hottest ticket of the season. News stretched far and wide. There were no space constraints; invitations were not limited. Rather, King Janaka wished that every capable suitor should arrive at the contest of the bow, which was something like a sacrifice.

The yajna would determine the bride to his beautiful daughter. She was found by Janaka himself, while ploughing a field. It was like literally reaping a reward for attention to duty and religious observance. Janaka had affection for the newfound baby, and a voice from the sky confirmed the relationship. This was Janaka’s daughter in all dharma. He named her Sita.

2. The bride

When she reached the appropriate age, Sita was ready to be married. Rather than follow the conventional route, where the parents find a suitable match, through family connections and compatibility based on horoscopes, Janaka decided on a self-choice. The ceremony would be svayamvara, with a notable stipulation. Sita would be married to the prince who could lift the mighty bow of Lord Shiva.

The bride would benefit in the arrangement since her husband would automatically be the strongest man. The strength would be used for providing protection. Janaka’s daughter was so beautiful that there was no shortage of contestants to arrive in the city of Tirahuta.

3. The younger brothers of the groom

The winner of the contest was Shri Rama, who was the eldest son of King Dasharatha. Rama lifted the bow and applied string to it in the twinkling of an eye. The exact unit of time measurement was nimesha. This is one of the measurements of time passed forward in the Sanskrit culture.

इत्युक्तस्तेन विप्रेण तद्धनुस्समुपानयत्
निमेषान्तरमात्रेण तदाऽनम्य महाबलः
ज्यां समारोप्य झडिति पूरयामास वीर्यवान्

ityuktastena vipreṇa taddhanussamupānayat
nimeṣāntaramātreṇa tadā’namya mahābalaḥ
jyāṃ samāropya jhaḍiti pūrayāmāsa vīryavān

“Hearing the words of the vipra, my father brought the bow forward. Bending the bow in the twinkling of an eye and applying string to it, the mighty prince Rama, who was full of valor, quickly drew the bow at full length.” (Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 118.47-48)

Janaka was in a charitable mood. Rama had His younger brother with Him at the time. Lakshmana would also get a bride. So would Rama’s two other younger brothers, Bharata and Shatrughna. Rama and the three men known as Ramanuja would get married at the same time.

4. The guru

It was a training mission which brought Rama into the forest areas. The guru named Vishvamitra insisted upon having Rama as something like a bodyguard. Lakshmana came along, as well. By the mere presence of those two brothers the threat to the sages was over, but Rama was made to prove Himself anyway. After overcoming the female beast named Tataka, Vishvamitra passed along secret mantras to the brothers.

बधी ताड़का राम जानि सब लायक
बिद्या मंत्र रहस्य दिए मुनिनायक

badhī tāṛakā rāma jāni saba lāyaka
bidyā mantra rahasya di’e munināyaka

“Rama showed His tremendous knowledge of fighting by killing the demon Tataka. The muni then gave to Him knowledge of secret mantras to be used in fighting.” (Janaki Mangala, 36)

With the joy of Rama winning the contest, the guru simultaneously received blessings. It was Vishvamitra who brought the two brothers to the contest of the bow. It was Vishvamitra who requested Janaka to allow Rama to have a try at lifting the bow.

5. The well-wishers

Goswami Tulsidas says that those who sing of the glorious occasion, the marriage of Sita and Rama, along with the initiation rites that took place in the forest for the two brothers, receive auspiciousness day after day. This applies to both men and women, nara and nari. A person may be restricted from a temple or an ancient tradition based on the circumstances of their birth, but no one is prohibited from remembering Sita and Rama and the amazing story of their union.

Shri Rama is Bhagavan, which means that He is the most fortunate. Sita Devi can also be considered fortunate, as she has Rama for a husband. Despite knowing their high standing, devotees still wish them well. They bring offerings to them in a steady manner, in something like a dedicated vow, dridha-vrata.

सततं कीर्तयन्तो मां
यतन्तश् च दृढ-व्रताः
नमस्यन्तश् च मां भक्त्या
नित्य-युक्ता उपासते

satataṁ kīrtayanto māṁ
yatantaś ca dṛḍha-vratāḥ
namasyantaś ca māṁ bhaktyā
nitya-yuktā upāsate

“Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.14)

Devotees wish to always remember that joyous occasion. It is not a blip in time that is later forgotten, as if completely erased from memory. Saintly people sing of the occasion and recommend others to do the same. The blessings are for the individual in their relationship with the Almighty, as He is always there for the surrendered souls.

In Closing:

Blessed are we on this day,
Fruitful our time to pray.

That Sita this prince to wed,
Who by respected sage led.

To bow on sacrificial ground,
Lifted and broken in thunderous sound.

Rama the most suitable one of all,
Fondly and forever to recall.