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The Fire-ordeal and Renunciation
Then fill the pit with sandal wood." Accordingly hundreds of men dug the pit. Meanwhile Sita was staying in a beautiful cottage in the garden of Mahendrodaya. Shri Ram, Lakshman, Shatrughna, Lav, Kush, Hanuman, Bhamandal and the others remained in the garden. Shri Ram's heart was torn with grief and repentance. Lakshman was deeply plunged in thought. Lav and Kush were cheerful thinking "Our mother is sublime and this will be proved by the ordeal." Sugriv, Hanuman and others were lost in thoughts relating to the terrible war they had fought against Ravan, "The sublime Sita, for whose sake we fought the war staking our lives, will enter fire tomorrow and we will have to be mute and helpless witnesses to that heartrending spectacle. We can do nothing to prevent it. What a mockery of fate this is !"
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While the pit for the ordeal was being dug in the Mahendrodaya garden, in another part of Ayodhya, a great muni was absorbed in deep spiritual austerities facing great impediments. He was carrying out spiritual austerities to destroy his karmas.
King Harivikram was ruling over the northern valleys among the Vaithadhya mountains. He had a son by name Jayabhushan. When Prince Jayabhushan reached the proper age the king performed his marriage with eight hundred beautiful princesses.
One day, he noticed his wife Kiranmandala and his maternal uncle's son Hemashik lost in sensual delights. His anger shot up to the high skies. Checking his anger, he began to carry out a deep self-scrutiny but his anger did not abate. In consequence, he banished Kiranamandala and adopted the path of Samyamdharma.
In this manner, there arose a bitter animosity between Jayabhushan and Kiranamandala. After her death, Kiranamandala was born as a Rakshasi (demoness). Once Jayabhushan Muni during his travels happened to come to the city of Ayodhya. He was staying outside the city. He, having freed himself from all passions and desires, was always engaged in meditation, Kayotsarg and profound spiritual contemplations.
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