The Princess of Ayodhya

She sat in her mother's chambers inside the Inner Palaces, looking at the maids busy with their daily cooking and cleaning. Hurrying throughout the palace, they were making preparations to show some hospitality to the king of Anga Desh, who was arriving at the court tomorrow. He had something important to discuss with the king. Something of benefit to Ayodhya.

She was his only heiress. Yet she has lived a neglected life. She pined for his love, and he showed none to her. Her mother and stepmother loved her, brought her up, dressed her, braided her hair and taught her the lessons of life. She was entitled to all the luxuries of a princess, yet her father's unwanted child. Her anger grew by the day as her father became more and more eager for a son. There was a constant line of Rishis and Munis coming to the court to help and advise the king. As was the rumour among the servants, the King of Anga Desh was coming for the same purpose.

The princess sighed. Nobody in the palace understood her pain. All they thought was what more could she want after the luxuries of the palace? Her anger was channelled by her stepmother into learning skills of self-defence and warfare. She was indeed a brave princess.

The palace was abuzz at the Anga king's arrival. The court session began. The queens sat in the Inner Palace with their daughters, discussing how the king would provide them with a son, an heir to the throne. Their attitude brought tears to her eyes. She fought them back bravely. Suddenly, Manthara came into the room.

"Princess Shanta, you have been summoned to the court by your father immediately. "

Everyone looked surprised. She was never even talked to by members of the court, including her father. Why summon her? Has he realised her value?

A happy Shanta rushed into her father's court with a smile. The tiny bells on her Ghagra Choli attracted the attention of the court as everyone stared at her wide-eyed. They had never seen the princess smile. With a hesitant pause, the King looked at his counterpart from Anga, who nodded willfully.

" Princess, this is the King of Anga. She is the Princess I told you about."

"Your Daughter. . ."

" umm... Kaushalya's daughter... "

Her smile vanished.

" Princess, the king has come here with a proposal for you."

Her heart skipped a beat. Was this old king trying to marry her?

" Their land has been cursed with drought for several years.... only Rishyasringa Muni can save them by summoning the gods of the rain. He needs your help."

The princess was puzzled. How could she help? She has never heard of this person before.

The king of Anga spoke now.

" Rishyasringa has been confined to his ashram by his father's chakra line, which he cannot cross. Hence, we cannot bring him to Anga. His father did this to protect his son from lust and pleasure. The only way to break this is if he readily accepts the company of a lady. However, the line cannot be crossed easily; the mantras are powerful. Many who tried have been reduced to ashes."

" So, what makes you feel I am any different?"

" You are brave and strong-minded. If you can lure him to you and bring him to Anga, I promise to pray to the gods to help them give your father and mothers what their hearts desire, a son! I desire a daughter. My wife and I are going to adopt you as our own."

She saw her father's eyes light up with hope. She understood that she meant nothing to him. She was being pushed to the death's face by her father for his wish for a son! Angry yet composed, she replied, " I am ready, Rajan. Please give me a day to get ready for the trip and say goodbye to my mother."

She could see smiles on all the faces of the court, and she was weeping inside.

She quietly made her way into the dark courtyard as her mother rushed out, concerned. She looked distraught.

" What is it, Shanta? Why did your father summon you?"

" He wants me to leave this palace and go with the Rajan of Anga. To attract and lure a sage in exchange for sons for you."

Her words were as cold as stone. Her mother grew numb.

The whole Inner Palace was crying as the mothers helped their daughter pack her things. Every girl needed to go someday or the other, but not like this. Her life ahead was dark, difficult and uncertain. She was still their teenage child, and they wanted to shield her from the world.

Idols of the Sage Sringi and his wife Shanta in their ashram at Sringaverpur

She was taken to a tent near the sage's ashram to carry out her task. She bathed and dressed in a fine sari and her best jewellery. She waited for Rishyasringha's father to leave him alone and go to collect fruits. She came out of hiding and started singing in a beautiful voice.

Rishasringha came out curious about the beautiful voice and asked, " What are you doing with such a wonderful voice?"

" I am a lady ."

" Why are you so different from me? Your body so different from mine?"

" Because I think differently from you."

Enchanted by her voice, he wanted to know her more, but was scared of his father. " Go away before you hurt yourself"

" No, step out of your circle and come to me"

He denied her request. Every day they met, but he did not cross his circle. They became friends through music. Day by day, he saw this brave girl live through the hurdles of jungle life and fall in love. He finally stepped out, much to his father's dismay. She married him and took him to the land of Anga as promised.

With his yogic power, he brought life back to Anga by summoning the Rain Gods. Later, he made his way to Ayodhya to perform the yagna that led to the birth of the four Princes as promised. The Princess, however, came back to the place that rejected her for being a girl for the last time for this yagna. She decided to stay with her newfound family, looking after them and her husband's ashram. Their descendants are the Rishyasringha Rajputs.

Such was the work of Karma that the King got his sons for his daughter's sacrifices and lost his life in the love of his sons as a result of ignoring the Laxmi (lady luck) of the house.

Etched In Stone

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