Ramayana Kuchela

 

Known epic, unknown story.

We all know the story of Sudhama, more popularly known as Kuchela, the poor boy who used to be Sri Krishna’s mate at the Gurukul, and how he received Sri Krishna’s blessings and came out of poverty. This happened during Krishnavatar, which was after Sri Vishnu’s previous avatar as Rama.

What we do not know is Lord Rama also had a close friend like Kuchela. His name was Ananth. When Rama and his brothers were studying at Sri Vashisht’s ashram, Ananth hailing from a very poor background was also at the ashram attending to errands. He took great joy in assisting Rama and Lakshman, particularly Rama. Rama also reciprocated with great kindness towards Ananth, and they became thick friends.

Ananth took great pleasure in serving to fulfill all of Rama’s needs – arranging the palm leaves, sharpening the writing pin, cleaning and arranging Rama’s bow and arrows, serving food, etc. He could not bear Rama’s absence even for a day, so attached was he to Rama and vice versa.

It was Ananth’s duty to get into the thick of the forest for a few days every month to collect the ‘dharba’ grass for the ashram’s needs. At one such instance, it so happened that the learning period at the Gurukul for Rama and his brothers was over, and they had to leave the Ashram with the blessings of Guru Vashisht.

On return from the forest, Ananth was sad to learn that Rama had already left the Ashram a few days ago and gone to Ayodhya. Unable to bear Rama’s departure, he immediately took permission and left for Ayodhya. Unfortunately, as was his bad luck, by the time he reached Ayodhya, Rama and Lakshman had just left Ayodhya with sage Vishwamitra for assisting him and protecting his yagna in another forest.

Further saddened at the predicament of Rama in having to leave the comfortable palace to be with the sage in the dense forest, he felt angry at sage Vishwamitra and vowed to follow them to the forest, find them somehow and be of help to Rama.

His love for Rama was so intense that he forgot everything else including food and water, and kept on wandering into the forest chanting “Rama, Rama” all the time. Unable to find them even after several days of wandering, he finally sat at some place and went into meditation chanting Rama’s name. As days passed and as he continued chanting oblivious to everything around him, nature took over. Thick grass grew tall all around him and he was eventually covered by an ant-hill. Only his chant of “Rama, Rama” was feebly audible outside.

Time and tide wait for none. As Ananth was deep in a meditative trance, the entire events of Ramayana had all happened fast – Rama’s successful stint to the forest with sage Vishwamitra, his wedding with Sita, his father’s orders to give the throne to Bharatha and leave for the forest again, Sita’s abduction by Ravan, finding her with the help of Hanuman, conquering Ravan and redeeming Sita had all been completed in the fast spinning cycle of time, and Ayodhya was getting ready in preparing for the coronation of Rama. Ananth, in complete isolation from all this, was continuing to hold his breath, just chanting so very mildly inside the anthill.

The news of Rama’s coronation had reach all parts of the vast continent, and all kings, sages and people from every part were converging towards Ayodha. One of the sages happened to stumble on the anthill, waking Ananth from his meditation. Ananth did not realise that a long time had passed while he was sitting there, and started asking for Rama. It took some time for others to comprehend his situation. Taking pity on him, they explained in detail everything that had happened from the time of Rama leaving Ayodha, and informed him of the impending coronation of Rama in a few days. Though pained to learn the difficulties his dear Rama had to endure, Ananth was happy to learn that finally all was ending well, and joined the others on their way to Ayodhya.

As Ananth entered Ayodhya, he was thrilled to see the city in all its festive colors and preparations. Vedic chants were being recited at every corner, the great sages Vashisht and Vishwamitra were overseeing arrangements for the coronation; kings and princes from all countries and devas and their consorts had all assembled to witness the grand event.

Rama, who had risen quite early that day and had completed his ritual bath, wearing impeccable attire and adorned with royal ornaments, majestically entered the hall and prostrated before the three queen-mothers. At this instance, Ananth could not control his pent up longing for Rama and ran towards him, shouting “Hey Rama, where had you gone all these years, I have been searching for you!”, much to the surprise and shock of the assembled audience, and reaching Rama, held him in tight embrace, even before the sentries could realise what was happening.

As they tried to pull Ananth away from Rama, Rama stopped them, embraced Ananth again, and with a torrent of tears flowing from his eyes, uttered the words, “kindly pardon me, Ananth!”. Those nearby where shocked to see the would-be monarch apologising to an unknown old man in an inappropriate appearance and realised that this man must be important to Rama. Looking all around and again embracing Ananth, Rama said, “I am sorry Ananth, I should have properly taken leave from you at the time of my exiting the Ashram. It was my mistake I did not do so. Once again, kindly pardon me.” As the others understood the weight of the friendship and as Rama and Ananth stood in embrace, Hanuman who was watching everything was immensely appreciative of Ananth’s gesture, and tears flowed from his eyes too as he realised that there was another person in Rama’s life whose love and dedication was equal or more than his own towards Rama.

Sage Vashisht arrived there and asked Rama about who Ananth was. Rama was only pleased to tell him, “don’t you recognise him, Sage Vashisht? This is none other than Ananth, who was there in your Ashram, assisting me when I was studying there! In fact, when everyone around here is addressing me with respect, I am so happy that there is one person who could call me in singular term, just like my father would have called me had he been alive! As Ananth has fulfilled that wish of mine, I now consider him equal to my father! Am I not right, sage?”. Even Vashisht was moved to tears on seeing the unbound love and affection Rama was bestowing on Ananth. Everyone gathered there cheered.

Rama turned to Hanuman and asked, “I need to repay in a great measure to my dear friend who spent all his time searching for me, meditating for me and finally finding me at the right time. What do you think would be the appropriate way of honouring him?.

Hanuman replied, “Prabhu, you admitted that you consider him equal to your father. In that case, it is my considered opinion that it is only appropriate that you seat him on the throne first, pay respects to him and take blessings from him before proceeding with the coronation.” Everyone, including the great sages, agreed to Hanuman’s view.

Ananth shrunk in humility, wondering whether he was even remotely worth the kind of greatness that was being bestowed him him. Despite his denial, Rama made him take the honor by seating him on the throne first, washing his feet and paying appropriate obeisance to him. The coronation rituals followed after.

Now, don’t you think it is possible that the same Ananth, having experienced the boundless love, affection and respect of Rama, wanted to again experience the same during Sri Vishnu’s next avatar and hence was born as Kuchela during Krishnavatar?

Sri Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai Ram!

April 4, 2020

(Looks like my translation from a Tamil source)