HOLY UNION ....................

Mithila was beautifully decorated. The people of Mithila sang and danced joyfully, celebrating the union of the four couples. Chants from the holy books were read and the four weddings took place with much grandeur.

Rama was married to Sita, Lakshmana to Urmila, Bharat to Mandvi and Shatrughana to Shrutakirti.

After the weddings, king Janak told Rama, "My daughter Sita will stay with you like your shadow and will always be true to you."

All the noblemen, courtiers and commoners enjoyed themselves at the grand feast held for the newly-wed couples.

Vishwamitra blessed the four princes and their brides. He then bade them farewell and went to the Himalayas.

After the ceremonies, Dashratha returned to Ayodhya with his sons and their brides.

Parshurama

It was Parshurama who had given Lord Shiva's bow to a forefather of Janak. Lord Shiva had taught Parshurama the art of archery and had given him this bow.

As his favourite weapon was the axe (called Parshu in Sanskrit), he was called Parshurama.

When Rama broke the bow into two, a tremendous sound was produced, which reached the ears of Parshurama. On hearing this sound, the enraged Parshurama decided to go to Mithila. On the precincts of Mithila, Dahaaratha and the wedding procession saw the enraged Parshurama heading towards them.

Parshurama was known to have removed Kshatriyas from te face of the earth twenty-one times. So the Kshatriyas were afraid to confront him. But Sita respectfully approached and greeted him. Parshurama belssed her and said, "May good luck always follow you."

Parshurama said to Rama, "Prove your valor by stringing the bowstring of Vishnu's bow and fighting with me."

Rama easily stringed t bow. He then folded his hands and said. "O great sage you are my elder. I cannot strike you".

Parshurama recognized Rama's divine origin and returned to the Himalayas.