Rama’s Birth

Both illusion and reality is me, just me!

Rama’s Birth

Interesting excerpts from Valmiki’s Ramayana on the occasion of  
Ramanavami, April 2. 2020

When was Rama born? 

ततो यज्ञे समाप्ते तु ऋतूनाम् षट् समत्ययुः |

ततः च द्वादशे मासे चैत्रे नावमिके तिथौ || १-१८-८

नक्क्षत्रे अदिति दैवत्ये स्व उच्छ संस्थेषु पंचसु |

ग्रहेषु कर्कटे लग्ने वाक्पता इंदुना सह || १-१८-९

प्रोद्यमाने जगन्नाथम् सर्व लोक नमस्कृतम् |

कौसल्या अजनयत् रामम् सर्व लक्षण संयुतम् || १-१८-१०

विष्णोः अर्धम् महाभागम् पुत्रम् ऐक्ष्वाकु नंदनम् |

लोहिताक्षम् महाबाहुम् रक्त ओष्टम् दुंदुभि स्वनम् || १-१८-११

Rama was born during the Lunar month of Chaitra, Ninth day of the Waxing moon, Moon near Pollux and Castor, Sun in Aries, Saturn in Libra, Jupiter (above the horizon) in Cancer (rising in the East), Venus in Pisces, and Mars in Capricorn. Apparently, this combination happened on 10th January, 5114 BCE

Where was he born?

आयता दश च द्वे च योजनानि महापुरी |

श्रीमती त्रीणि विस्तीर्णा सु विभक्ता महापथा || १-५-७

The City had well planned highways(s) (सु विभक्ता महापथा) and 12 yojanas (दश च द्वे) long and 3 yojanas (त्रीणि) wide. One could envision it abutting the River Sarayu with steps leading down to the river. There is controversy on the length of Yojana. It seems that even by conservative estimates, Ayodhya may have been as big as 500 sq miles- same as modern Delhi, LA, etc., with highways, markets, and a thriving art/culture.

चित्रम् अष्टापद आकाराम् वर नारी गणैर् युताम् |

सर्व रत्न समाकीर्णाम् विमान गृह शोभिताम् || १-५-१६

Ayodhya was like any modern metropolis, and had a grid pattern of streets (अष्टापद आकाराम्), fairly dense with multi-story high buildings (विमान गृह शोभिताम्).

गृह गाढाम् अविच्छिद्राम् सम भूमौ निवेशिताम् |

शालि तण्डुल संपूर्णाम् इक्षु काण्ड रसः उदकाम् ||१-५-१७

The housing was dense with high land coverage (गृह गाढाम् अविच्छिद्राम् ), on leveled ground (सम भूमौ), and with abundant grain, sweet water.

सा योजने च द्वे भूयः सत्यनामा प्रकाशते |
यस्याम् दशरथो राजा वसन् जगत् अपालयत् || १-६-२६

The walled City ruled by Dasharatha had another fortification 2 Yojanas beyond the main fortification of the City (much like what you find at Hampi Vijayanagara) making it impregnable (ayodhya)

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to be continued...