Gambhira Nadaiyodu Vandhaan | Mithila | Regal and Majestic

The most sacred birth place of Jagatmata Sri Sita Devi, Mithila, also called Mithilanchal, Videha or Janakpur, comprises certain parts of present day north Bihar of India and adjoining districts of the eastern Terai of Nepal. Mithila is bound by the Himalayas in the North, River Ganga in the South, River Gandaki in the West and River Mahanadi in the East.

In Srimad Ramayana, the reference to Mithila comes when Sage Vishwamitra brings Sri Rama and Sri Lakshmana here after they guard his yajna in the forest. Ramcharitmanas by Sant Tulsidas gives a detailed description of this beautiful city.

There were many small and big wells, rivers, and lakes filled with nectar-like water. The steps to the banks and wells were studded with jewels. All the four corners of the city were adorned by floral gardens, orchards and forests which blossomed with flowers, beautiful leaves and many fruits. Many different types of birds lived there. The beauty of the city surpassed description. Wherever one looked, the sight enticed the heart. There were beautiful marketplaces and unique balconies studded with gems, which appeared as if Lord Brahma had crafted them with his own hands. Exceptionally rich merchants like the God of Wealth, Kuber were sitting with many goods (in their shops). Beautiful street intersections and charming lanes were constantly sprinkled with scented water. The people of the city, both men and women, were good-looking, pious, saintly, wise, followed the path of righteousness and possessed good qualities.

The place where King Janaka’s unique palace was, seeing its grandeur even the Demigods would feel astonished. Seeing the parapet of the palace, one’s heart would get awe-struck. It appeared as if it has captured the beauty of all the fourteen regions of the cosmos. There were many bright white homes with curtains that were embroidered with gold and jewels in various ways. The exquisite palace of Sita Devi was so beautiful, that one cannot simply express its beauty. All the beautiful doors (of the homes and palaces) have bolts made out of diamonds. There were crowds of kings, performers, storytellers and bards in the city. There were many massive stables for horses and elephants. They were filled with horses, elephants and chariots at all times.

King Janaka in all reverence came to receive Sage Vishwamitra who had entered his kingdom. After he, with his convoy of Ministers offered respects to the sage, Lord Rama came there. When the Lord came, all those present there rose up (enamoured by His aura). They were all delighted to see the two brothers. Tears rushed to their eyes and their bodies got goosebumps. Beholding Sri Rama’s lovely and charming form, King Videha (King Janaka whose name also meant one who is not attached to self) literally turned videha, meaning, lost the sense of his body. Sage Vishwamitra introduced the brothers to King Janaka.

The king then told of his vow that he had made that he would get his daughter Sri Sita Devi married only to the warrior who broke the mighty bow of Shiva. He also mentioned that the swayamvar was to take place the next day.

When Lord Rama and Sri Lakshmana entered the city, beholding their beauty, groups of the city’s children followed them as their hearts and minds were enamoured by the glorious looks. When the news reached the city dwellers that the two sons of the king have come to see the city, they left all their work and ran from their homes and workplaces to see the brothers, as if paupers are running to rob a treasure. The young women were sticking to the windows in their homes to steal a glance of Lord Rama and were lovingly admiring His beauty.

They went and saw the king’s beautiful garden, which was so enticing that the Spring season lived there permanently. At that very moment, Sita Devi reached there.

Her mother had sent Her to worship Goddess Girija, whose temple was in the vicinity. She was accompanied by beautiful friends. After bathing in the lake along with Her friends, Sita Devi with a happy mind went to the temple of Goddess Girija. With a lot of devotion, She sang a Stuti to Ma Girija and said, “You very well know of my heart’s desire as You dwell in the city of everyone’s hearts. For this reason, I have not revealed my heart’s desire to you” and clasped the feet of the Goddess. Listening to Sita Devi’s humble prayers, Goddess Bhavani was overcome with love. She smiled and Her garland fell upon Sita Devi who was clasping Her feet at that moment. Sita Devi respectfully took it as Her divine blessing and placed it on Her head.

Rejoicing in Her heart, Goddess Girija said, “O’ Sita, listen to the truthful blessing of mine, your heart’s desire shall be fulfilled. You will get the naturally handsome and dark-hued groom that your heart desires. He is a mine of mercy and all-wise, He knows your humility and affection.”

One of the companions who had left them to take a look at the floral garden. She went and saw both the brothers there and returned to Sita Devi overwhelmed with love. She said, “Two young-aged princes have come to see the garden. They are charming in every way. My speech does not have eyes (to be able to behold their beauty) and my sight does not have words to communicate their divine charm.” Sita Devi found Her friend’s words extremely pleasing and Her eyes became restless to behold their sight. She glanced in all directions anxiously like a frightful fawn.

Hearing the tinkling sounds of the bangles, small bells in the waist belt and the anklets of Sita Devi, Shri Ram looked in the direction of the sound and saw the beautiful moon-like face of Sita Devi. His eyes became engrossed like a chakora bird when it sees the full moon. His charming eyes stopped blinking. It seemed as if the presiding deity of eyelids Nimi (ancestor of King Janak) felt shy and left. Through the passage of her eyes, Sita ji captured the form of Lord Ram in Her heart. Then She cleverly shut the doors of Her eyelids (thereby locking the image of Shri Ram in Her heart). Seeing the beauty of Shri Ram from toe to head and then remembering Her father’s vow, Her heart became very perturbed.

Mahatma Sri Sri Krishna Premi Maharaj sings of this stroll of Lord Rama in Mithila and the exchange of loving glances between Lord Rama and Sita Devi in his kirtan ‘maNimayamandirE mahitajAlarandhrE’ in the 13th kriti of Sri Raghava Shatakam (100 kirtans on Sri Ram Charitra)

The next day Lord Rama entered the swayamvar arena following Sage Vishwamitra and followed by Sri Lakshmana. Sri Swamiji’s kirtan emerges from him at this juncture.

rAgam: aThANA       thALam: Adi

pallavi

gambhIra naDaiyODu vandAn –
rAman thambi lakkuvanuDan muni kaushikanuDan midilaikku
Lord Rama walked majestically into Mithila, accompanied by His brother
Lakshmana and Sage Kaushika (Vishwamitra)

Anupallavi

gnAniyAna janakanum chokkip pOnAn
The enlightened King Janaka was mesmerized
mAniyAna makkaLum seyal maRandanar
The dignified subjects (of Mithila) went oblivious

charaNam

sUriya chandirargaL ivargaLO
asvini kumArargaL ivargaLO
alladu gandharvarAja kumArargaLO
kaDavuLE thAnO ena viyandirukka

The people of Mithila wondered if they
were the Sun and the Moon, or Ashwini Kumaras,
or sons of Gandharva or God Himself!!

kALai vEnkai Anai simham
thOTriDum naDaiyazhagan ivan enbar
They said the regal walk of a bull, tiger, elephant or
lion would stand no match to the beauty of Lord Rama’s gait.

pAril pArtthadillai ivanoruvanaip pOl puNNiyam
seydadu nam mithilaiyE enbar
‘The world hasn’t seen someone this charming, Mithila has been blessed’, they exclaimed.

dEviyum dEvanum uNarvinAl kalandanar
The Goddess (Sita Devi) and Lord Rama merged as one in emotion
shiva dhanusai uDaitthu sIthaiyai maNandAn
The Lord broke the bow of Shiva and wedded Sita Devi

uvagaiyaDaindadu mithilai nagaramE
The city of Mithila was delighted

migaiyilaiyidu sonnadu silavE || ga ||
This (my narration) is no exaggeration; in fact I have mentioned very less.

Even today, in this serene kshetra, one can have darshan of Sri Sita Ram Vivaha Mantap, the place where King Janaka found baby Sita Devi emerge from the earth, the swayamvar arena, Sri Girija Mandir and the place where Lord Rama redeemed Ahalya from her curse.

Link to view the song:

 

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Tamil
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ராகம்: அடாணா தாளம்: ஆதி

பல்லவி

கம்பீர நடையோடு வந்தான் – ராமன்
தம்பி லக்குவனுடன் முனி கௌஶிகனுடன் மிதிலைக்கு

அனுபல்லவி

ஞானியான ஜனகனும் சொக்கிப் போனான்
மானியான மக்களும் செயல் மறந்தனர் || க ||

சரணம்

சூரிய சந்திரர்கள் இவர்களோ
அஸ்வினி குமாரர்கள் இவர்களோ
அல்லது கந்தர்வராஜ குமாரர்களோ
கடவுளே தானோ என வியந்திருக்க || க ||

காளை வேங்கை ஆனை ஸிம்ஹம்
தோற்றிடும் நடையழகன் இவன் என்பர்
பாரில் பார்த்ததில்லை இவனொருவனைப் போல்
புண்ணியம் செய்தது நம் மிதிலையே என்பர் || க ||

தேவியும் தேவனும் உணர்வினால் கலந்தனர்
சிவ தனுஸை உடைத்து ஸீதையை மணந்தான்
உவகையடைந்தது மிதிலை நகரமே
மிகையிலையிது சொன்னது சிலவே || க ||

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English
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rAgam: aThANA thALam: Adi

pallavi

gambhIra naDaiyODu vandAn – rAman
thambi lakkuvanuDan muni kaushikanuDan midilaikku

anupallavi

gnAniyAna janakanum chokkip pOnAn
mAniyAna makkaLum seyal maRandanar || ga ||

charaNam

sUriya chandirargaL ivargaLO
asvini kumArargaL ivargaLO
alladu gandharvarAja kumArargaLO
kaDavuLE thAnO ena viyandirukka || ga ||

kALai vEnkai Anai simham
thOTriDum naDaiyazhagan ivan enbar
pAril pArtthadillai ivanoruvanaip pOl
puNNiyam seydadu nam mithilaiyE enbar || ga ||

dEviyum dEvanum uNarvinAl kalandanar
shiva dhanusai uDaitthu sIthaiyai maNandAn
uvagaiyaDaindadu mithilai nagaramE
migaiyilaiyidu sonnadu silavE || ga || 

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End Of Song
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