EPILOGUE  

I wish to include here the incident of his availing the darsan of the golden festoon fastened by Vayudev a - the Wind-God soon after his hearing of the victory of Rama over Ravana to the two hills called Palakondalu near Vempalli in the Cuddapah district of Andhra Pradesh. According to legend, it was here Vayudeva was doing penance during Sri Rama's exile, particularly when he was moving further southwards. Sri Rama stayed with him for sometime at his request as he was highly pleased with his austerity and meditation. When he requested to visit him again on his return journey to Ayodhya, he granted. On learning about Sri Rama's going in Pushpaka viman, he tethered a golden festoon between the two high hills as one of the items of decoration of the place to give a befitting welcome to Sri Rama and his party. 

Sri Rama fulfilled his ambition while going back. And this golden festoon, it is believed appears only to the devout bhaktas even to this day, and is considered as a unique and auspicious sign, and only one in a million is blessed with it. Further, it heraids early easeful death to that lucky man and his reaching heaven. This rare sight was seen by Sir Thomas Munro while passing that way on his official duty, who reported it to his assistants following, with ecstatic joy, but as it signifies sure death, they grieved much over the impending calamity of their dear most officer leaving them soon.

[ Back ] [ Up ] [ Next ]