#ashwamedha

[parwatisingari]

Horse Tales From Dream to Destiny

Wisdom of the Horses. The Ashwamedha Yajna, translated as the “horse sacrifice,” entails intricate rituals where a horse roams freely, presenting a challenge to the rulers of any kingdom it enters. The symbolism behind the horse extends beyond its literal presence, as “Ashwa” in Sanskrit conveys notions of thought, breath, speed, and power, imbuing the ritual with profound significance. Dreams,…

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[humanengineers]

Is One Belt, One Road the Chinese ashwamedha?

Is One Belt, One Road the Chinese ashwamedha?

By | Devdutt Pattanaik | Indian Author

As Western hegemony wanes in the global village, China envisions the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) project. India withdraws from it. What makes cultures do what they do? The answer perhaps lies in their mythologies, which map the culture’s mind.

At the heart of Chinese mythology is belief in the Mandate of Heaven. The Emperor of China has been given the divine…

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[humanengineers]

The march of Yudhishthira’s horse

The march of Yudhishthira’s horse

By | Devdutt Pattanaik | Indian Author

In popular retellings, the Mahabharata ends tragically with vast bloodshed on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, where the Kauravas are defeated by the Pandavas. Following this episode, there is the Ashwamedha Parva. It describes how Yudhishthira becomes king and lets loose his royal horse across the land, followed by armies led by Arjun, who establishes…

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[telugufactswats-blog]

యాగం లో చనిపోయిన గుర్రం తో రాణి భోగం || Ashwamedha Yagam Real Facts || T...

[theramayana]

The Yagnya.

The golden brown cashews seemed to glow like gems on the smooth surface of pearly white milk. The ghee formed tiny swirls around the raisins, as if it had a mind of its own. This was truly the most divine payasam in the whole world! Little Audarika licked off his last portion from the leaf, as waiters clad in silk stood patiently next to him, as if they knew this would definitey not be the last. He loved this festival! He wanted the King to conduct Yagynas every month. The streets were filled with song and dance all day, there were new clothes for anyone who asked, horses and people from strange lands that he loved to stare at, and best of all - free food that tasted out of the world! His nerd friends were even able to drag him to the scholarly debates and tharkas he usually avoided, tricking him into thinking the food would taste extra special there (It did taste special alright, but mostly because he was just glad to get away).

Thousands of children like our Audarika and his friends, their fathers, mothers and grandparents, were having the time of their lives at the Ashwamedha Yagnya, even as the ritwiks toiled all day long to perform the initial invocations to Indra and several other Gods. The King was asked to crush the medicinal soma creeper and its juice was offered to the Gods. Once that was done, it was time to bring out the wooden ritual posts - twenty-one in all. Each was 21 cubits in length (a cubit is roughly 1.5 feet), with eight smooth surfaces pleated with gold - on Guru Vasishta’s precise instructions. The ritual posts were erected in the hall, decorated and worshipped. Various sacrificial animals were then tied to the posts, the bejewelled horse that had conquered several kingdoms, taking pride of place. It was time for the sacrifice.

Kausalya stepped up. Her sweaty palms gripped the thin golden needles tight, as she went around the horse three times. And then, as custom demanded, the Chief Queen began the sacrifice by piercing the horse at three strategic points. The other queens followed suit. The ritwiks took over from there and the women were sent to their chambers. The horse’s fat was drawn out and added to the sacrificial fire. The pungent smell was unbearable, but Dasharatha readily moved closer to take a strong whiff. It smelt like magic to him. The agni gleefully swallowed everything that was sent its way and the sacrifice was soon complete. Dasharatha’s heart was so gladdened, that he offered his entire kingdom to Rishyashringa, as part of the thanking ritual. The wise sage, however, promptly returned it to the king, in exchange for cows and gold. He then proceeded to address his now beloved master.

"I am satisfied, Dasharatha! The world is yet to see a king as dutiful and rightful as you. Your devotion to this Yagnya has been monumental and rest assured, it will not be in vain. I will now perform the Putrakameshti Yagnya, by which you will have four majestic sons".

The king thought he was going to burst. He watched spellbound, as the sage began another series of ritual procedures, his mantras echoing louder and louder across the hall. He clanged bells, poured more ghee into the fire and almost commanded it to rise higher and higher. Gods lined up in the skies above. The crowd grew pregnant with anticipation. They knew they were about to witness a miracle. And BANG!

Right there, in the middle of the fire, stood a towering figure. His skin was red, eyes jet black and his whole body translucent. Flowing hair and a long beard framed his face, quite like a lion’s mane. He looked like fire itself had assumed a human form. He held in his hand what seemed to be a pot of molten gold, filled with a payasam that would put our Audarika’s favourite to shame. He spoke in a booming voice.

"Blessed be you, O King! Give your wives this divine dessert that I bring from the Gods. It will give you the progeny you so desire", he declared.

Overcome with emotion, Dasharatha prostrated before the Being, before accepting the offering. No sooner had Dasharatha’s hands touched the divine pot, that the Yagnya purusha vanished without a trace. After seeking the blessings of Rishyashringa and the other wise sages in the hall, the King half-ran to meet his queens. Excited and out-of-breath, he narrated the events of the hall, quite like a child that had won a special prize in school. He then proceeded to distribute the elixir among his queens, who were by now more exhilarated than he. Kausalya, being the Chief Queen, received half of the pot’s portion and consumed it immediately, should the others rise in protest. Sumitra, coming second, received half of the remaining half. Kaikeyi, being last, received one-eighth of the portion. And then after much thought, the king gave the little that remained to Sumitra again, drawing pangs of jealously from her sisters.

Now it was all done. They couldn’t believe it. The magnitude of what had just happened slowly began to sink in. The queens seem to emanate a divine glow, resplendent with joy. Their prayers had been answered. Finally, everything felt right. At a complete loss for words, all four merely hugged each other in silence. Tears streamed down Dasharatha’s cheeks, but he did not bother to wipe them away. He finally cried out all the years of pain and anguish. Now all he had to do was wait.

[theramayana]

Preparations.

"Release the horse!", he ordered. "Send our most valiant soldiers along for its protection. Clear the northern banks of Sarayu for the Yagnyashaala. Let the requisite prayers be offered every day as per scriptures. Make sure to take the advice of Guru Vasishta every step of the way. Let no stone be left unturned. I want this to be flawless. Sumantra, can you take care of the invitations? You know my priorities, but consult our Guru before you do anything..."

Dasharatha was giving out instructions left, right and centre. Preparations for the Ashwamedha Yagnya had just begun. There was so much to be taken care of, and Dasharatha the perfectionist was at the top of his game. He had brought in the best of the best to conduct this great sacrifice, and he had better live up to their expecations. Convincing Rishyashringa to make the journey had been far easier than he had assumed. All it took was a humble request from Dasharatha and some cajoling by Romapada to get him to agree. Little did both men know that Rishyashringa had been waiting for this - and considered it the prime purpose of his life.

The day Rishyashringa arrived in Ayodhya was one of great joy and an unexplainable nervousness for the people of Koshala. The king had sent word that he would be arriving with Rishyashringa and Shanta, and that the city be readied for a grand welcome. The streets were cleaned and lined with flowers, the most learned scholars appointed at prominent locations to recite the vedas as a mark of welcome, the royal army was stationed at the entrance to the city, with the three queens and all of the king's ministers. Everyone wanted to see the man who was rumoured to be a magician, a strange soul who could transform their king's fortunes. But Kausalya alone, was filled with anticipation of a different kind. All she could think of was her first-born, whom she willingly gave up years ago. A mother who had disowned her baby instead of finding a cure for its illness. The act tormented her to this day and sometimes, she even attributed her subsequent childlessness as a punishment for the sin. But today was going to be her day of redemption. Her little girl had now grown up and was coming back to change their lives forever. She weeped when she set eyes on Shanta, seated majestically next to her husband on a royal elephant. The moment she entered the palace, the three mothers took her in, showering her with the love they had been denied all these years. It was time for them to be mothers again.

Several months passed, in which Rishyashringa and his wife settled into the palace - the former enjoying the company of the intellectuals of Ayodhya and the latter finally finding peace in her home. Winter passed and spring arrived, the time for auspicious beginnings. It was then that the King convened a meeting with Rishyashringa, Vasishta and all his ministers to start the pre-yagnya rituals. A sacrifice of this scale required preparations to be started a year before the actual yagnya could be performed. The royal horse had to be decorated and released, which would travel around to various territories and establish the king's invincibility. Any king that dared stop the horse would have invited the mighty Dasharatha to war. The vedic ritual hall had to be built at an appropriate place, with precise measurements as given in the ancient architectural texts. Kings from across the world had to be invited and due prepartions made for their stay. These kings usually brought with them small armies, horses and elephants, which had to be tended too. Huge sheds had to be erected for onlookers, mammoth kitches that would supply food and drink at all hours of the day, and large stages at different locations where song, dance and entertainment would take place in the evenings. Large quantities of clothes, gold, silver, cows and other gifts had to be kept at the ready. Certain hymns needed to be chanted at certain times of day, and all the Gods worshipped to ensure their support for a trouble-free event. Dietary restrictions were imposed on the King and his queens, and they were also to perform certain rites at requisite times. All of these needed to follow exact vedic prescriptions.

On instructions of the King, Vaishta summoned scores of brick makers, builders, supervisors, carpenters, sculptors, accountants, musicians, dancers, scholars, preists, foot soldiers, animal caretakers and the many others who needed to work together for the grand event and informed them of their duties. They were to follow his instructions to the last grain of salt and could not afford to err on any account. More importantly, they had to do it all with utmost devotion and respect, without a sign of negligience. Even a small mistake could prove costly, as the tiniest of errors could bring disaster to the entire kingdom, if the Gods were displeased.

Once all departments had been sent off to carry out the tasks cut out to them, Vasishta and Sumantra sat down to draw the guest list.

"We must invite all the rulers of the earth, Sumantra, who are righteous and perform their duties without flaw. All the people of their kingdoms shall be invited too - the Brahmanas, Kshyatrias, Vaishyas and Shudras, without any discrimination", said Vasishta. "And then of course, there are some kings I want you to invite personally".

"It shall be my honour, Gurudeva. Where would you like me to travel?", asked Sumantra.

"Firstly, invite the valiant Janaka, king of Mithila, for he never falters from the truth. The King of Kashi has always been friendly with us, so be sure to visit him too. And then of course there are Kaikeyi's father Kekaya, Kausalya's father Bhanumanta and King Romapada, without whom this Yagyna wouldn't have happened."

"And the southern kingdoms?"

"Ah yes, please invite all the kings of the south. And don't miss the mighty Magadha, Sindhu and Sauraashtra kingdoms either".

"I can do that. Are you sure we haven't left anyone out?"

Lists got longer, hours flew faster and the men toiled harder than ever. Four seasons came and went, all witnessing the earnest labour of the King and his people. Soon it was spring again. Sumantra was back from his long and ardrous journey. Slowly the visitors trickled in, surrouded by mighty armies and laden with generous gifts. The ritual hall was completed, the kitchen was doling out delicacies for all the guests, the entire city wore a festive look and the ritual steed flew back into Ayodhya, untouched and unbowed. The King and his queens, having completed a year of prayers and rites, bathed in the Sarayu and entered the packed Yagnyashaala. The servants kept double checking their lists and moving around tensely. The preists took their positions. The visitors fidgeted in anticipation. All the devas lined up on the skies to watch the spectacle unfold.

Rishyashringa made one final survey of the ritual hall and signalled to the King.

"The Ashwamedha Yagnya shall begin".

[theramayana]

Ayodhya.

Ayodhyaa Mathuraa Maayaa Kaashii Kaanchii Avantikaa | Purii Dvaaravatii chaiva saptaite mokShadaayikaaH ||

The Garuda Purana lists 7 cities as the holiest of holy, the sacred lands where one can obtain moksha (liberation) - Ayodhya, Mathura, Haridwar (Maaya), Varnasi (Kasi), Kanchipuram, Ujjain (Avantika), and Dwarka (Dvaaravati).

                                                     ~~

Spread over an area of roughly 10 square kilometres, present day Ayodhya has a population of around 50,000 people with an average literacy of 65%, according to the 2001 census. Every nook and cranny of this city, carries with it a legacy, sometimes with proudly and sometimes grudgingly. Everything in Ayodhya has a connection to the Ramayana. This is where Hanuman lived, this is where Luv and Kush took bath, this is where the horses were kept for the Ashwamedha Yagnya, this is where the karsevaks gathered on the fateful 6th of December...after a while, you never know where history ends and myth begins. But all of these spots are marked, photographed and even prayed to, with equal fervour and enthusiasm. Who cares really?

One of such landmarks is a lovely old building known by the locals as Badi Jagah - The Big Place. In its better days, it would have been a magnificient palace worthy of a king, where Dasharatha would have lived with his kith and kin. Little would he have imagined how his city would turn out several millenia later. His Ayodhya was a city that was true to its name. A-yudhya (yudh = war). The city that could not be fought. The inconquerable. It was a rectangular city, laid out like the ancient board game of Ashtapada (a precursor to chess), 180 kms in length and 36kms in width. Full of trees, gardens and happy people, Ayodhya was also impenetrable, with huge walls and deep moats guarding it on all sides. There were no liars, thieves and misers in Ayodhya. Neither were there any illiterates or starved ones. The city had the best horses, which were bred in countries far away. It also had the most skillful archers, who strictly followed the rules of archery. They would not kill someone who was alone, someone who did not have a successor or predecessor, or someone who was running away from them. Sonic archery - shooting a target by listening to its sound, was also banned in Ayodhya (Can you guess why?). As a patron of the performing arts, Dasharatha ensured that musical instruments like veena, mridangam and dundubhi were always played at central places in the city, for the enjoyment of his subjects. He lived a good life, our man Dasharatha. He ruled justly, conquered several colonies and had taken not one but three wives.

As he stood atop the terrace of his palace and watched the sun rise on his kingdom, he felt proud. This was a kingdom that would be spoken about for several thousand years to come. But something constantly bothered him. He needed answers. As he gazed at the rising sun, a dying Shravan's face suddenly flashed in front of his eyes. He shuddered and looked down. What he saw gave him some solace. Making their way towards him across the lawn were his eight ministers, the eight most intelligent men of Ayodhya. Dhristi, Jayantha, Vijaya, Suraashtra, Raashtravardhana, Akopa, Dharmapaala and Sumantra. Sharp, skillful and strategic, these men were brains behind all that Dasharatha took credit for. They spoke to each other in hushed voices, wondering what an emergency meeting this early in the morning could be about. Sumantra alone was quiet and walked by himself. Once they had reached the terrace and bowed to the King, they enquired what it was that was troubling a man so wise.

"Why don't I have any sons? Who will rule this kingdom after me? I didn't build all that to give it away for free or have it conquered by someone else!". Dasharatha was someone who couldn't stand being helpless.The ministers were silent, knowing fully well that he already had something in mind.

"Do you think performing an Ashwamedha Yagnya will help me beget sons?", he finished.

The discussion continued almost until lunchtime, as they discussed the feasibility, logistics and requirements for such a large exercise. The horse sacrifice was a long and arduous ritual to please the Gods, described in detail in the Yajur Veda. It was to be done by kings only, for power, glory and prosperity of his kingdom. It is also one of the five vedic rites banned in the Kali Yuga. The daunty Sumantra quickly fetched Suyajna, Vaama Deva, Jaabala and Vasishta to join the discussion, so that the exact vedic procedures could be discussed. At the end of it, everyone went back resolved to get started on the Yagnya as soon as possible. Sumantra alone stayed behind.

"Yes, my friend?" inquired the king.

"O Conqueror of the Universe, I'm sure you know fully well that in an exercise like this, we cannot leave anything to chance. The ritual must be performed without a single fault, in keeping with the exact rules laid down in the Vedas. Even the slightest mistake might anger the Gods and prove damaging for not just you, but our entire Kingdom.."

"Of course, Sumantra! We have the best vedic Brahmans right here in our kingdom. We will ensure that all their needs are met. No stone shall be unturned to make this the best sacrifice the Gods have ever seen. Are you not sure of our abilities?"

"I know of your quest for perfection more than any other man, my Lord. Which is exactly why I wanted to bring this up now. There is someone who has a track record in carrying out such large sacrifices with utmost precision and devotion. The Anga kingdom begot rains only after his interference, when a famine almost threatened to wipe out their populace. He is right person to lead this noble ritual and ensure progeny for your great race. But it is a mammoth task to convince him to come to our land. He lives in the forests and prefers not to mix with humans. If you consent, then I-"

"Who is he?", interrupted the impatient king.

"Your son-in-law", Sumantra snapped back.

Dasharatha stood stunned, as realization slowly dawned upon him.