Jai Sriman Narayana !!
Srimad Ramayan written by Valmiki
Maharishi narrates the birth of Lord Rama (Sarga 18) and his brothers Lakshman,
Bharatha and Shatrunga in Bala Kanda.
King Dasaratha of Ayodhya, son of Vaivaswatha Manu righteous ruler from
the lineage of Solar/ Ikshvaku Dynasty conducted a Ashwamedha Yaga followed by Putrakameshti
Yaga on the river banks of Sarayu under
the guidance of Sage Vashishta, Sage Rishyasrunga, Sage Suyanjana,Sage
Vamadeva, Sage Jabali and Sage Kashyapa in the presence of a large number of
Vedic scholars and honorable Kings of various Kingdom, King of Kaikeya, King Bhanumanta of Kingdom
of Kosala, King of Magadha, King Romapada of Kingdom of Anga, King Janaka of
Mithila, King of Kasi were cordially invited by King Dasaratha at the
instruction of family priest Sage Vashishta.
King Dasaratha, Kingdom of Ayodhya was distressed
at the thought of lack of progeny to rule his Kingdom. King Dasaratha worriedly discussed the
situation with their family priest Sage Vashishta. Sage instructed King Dasaratha to invite Sage
Rishyashrunga to conduct Puthrakameshti Yaga.
In the meantime, Lord Brahma and all the deities were approached Lord
Vishnu and prayed to protect the world from the harassment of the demon King
Ravana and reinstate peace in the Universe.
The compassionate Lord Vishnu decided to descend on Earth as son of the admirable
couple King Dasaratha and Kousalya.
At the end of successful
completion of Yaga, Prajapathya Purusha/ Yajjya Purusha instigated from the
sacrificial fire with a pot of divine dessert handed to King Dasaratha with an
instruction to distribute amongst his wives for obtaining progeny. King Dasaratha divided the same into two
equal halves and offered to his two wives Kousalya and Kaikeyi. In turn, Kousalya and Kaikeyi provided
equal halves from them to Sumitra. Thus,
Sumitra had two equal portions from Kousalya and Kaikeyi.
In due course of time, Kousalya,
Sumitra and Kaikeyi got pregnant with the child. The presence of divine child in their womb
gave out a brilliant appearance of mothers. King Dasaratha performed austerities for the
welfare of his pregnant wives and the unborn offspring.
Finally, the promising day has arrived Kousalya gave birth to a stunning
boy child Rama in the month Chaithra with
the birth star Punarvasu on the Navami day so as Kaikeyi and Sumitra gave birth
to Baratha, Lakshman and Shatrugna respectively. The
arrival of divine child brought abundance of joy and peace in the Kingdom of
Ayodhya. King Dasaratha welcomed the
bundles of joy with the distribution of wealth and food amongst the people in
his Kingdom and the celebrations continued.
Rama, Lakshman, Bharatha and
Shatrungna were brought up with great affection and lots of love. In due course of time the children were sent
to learn Astra Sastra Vidya under the guidance of Sage Vashishta. Lakshman was drawn exceptionally close to Rama
following like a shadow everywhere. The
four children were grown up into charming young adults and completed their
course of study under the guidance of Sage Vashishta, eventually returned to
their palace. The four brothers
undertook a journey throughout their Kingdom for an inspection. After coming back from the tour, Rama turned
out too detached and preferred to remain in solitude. He lost interest in royal pleasures and lived
a life of an ascetic. Once, Sage
Vishwamitra arrived at the assembly of King Dasaratha and brought to the notice
of King about the continuous performances of Yagnas and Yagas in his Kingdom
and the unfortunate conclusion of the same due to the impediments created by
the demons. King Dasaratha readily
offered army of men to protect the rituals and Yaga of Sage Koushika, but Sage Vishwamithra was refused
to accept any kind of help, instead advised King Dasaratha to assign the task
of protecting the rituals to Rama and Lakshman.
Initially, King Dasaratha was not willing to send his children to perform
the hazardous task to fight against the demon, Sage Vashishta intervened and
convinced the King about the rewards and the abundance of wisdom and knowledge
the children were supposed to receive from the honorable Sage Valmiki
throughout their journey and also narrates the significance of assisting Sage
Vishwamitra in this righteous task.
Rama revealed the reason for his
dispassion towards the worldly life before the honorable sages in the assembly.
During their journey Rama has noticed the mounting miseries and sorrows,
illness and death, poverty and ignorance, lack of interest in acquiring
knowledge and wisdom, excessive attachment towards material happiness amongst
the people led them to perpetual sufferings caused him an extreme pain. The members of the assembly were awe struck
at the systematic knowledge and deepest concern of Rama towards the people of
their Kingdom. Listening to the
intellectual speech of Rama, Sage Vishwamitra earnestly prayed Sage Vashishta
who was a liberated soul capable to instruct Yoga Vashishta, the highest
knowledge about the Brahmam and eternal bliss.
The lessons on Yoga Vashishta were parted with the intellectuals
assembled and the Knower of All - Supreme Lord Rama. As a result, Rama grown into an
extraordinarily righteous and lived a life prescribed in the Veda Sastras.
Rama and Lakshman followed Sage
Vishwamitra through the woodlands to protect the Yagna. All
the way through their journey Sage Vishwamitra taught them invaluable Sastra
Vidyas/Mantras/Bala and Athibala which helped them grow immensely stronger. Sage Vishwamitra narrated the atrocities the
demons Thataka who has the strength of 1000 elephants and her two sons Subahu
and Maricha and their notorious acts causing several impediments to the fire
sacrifices performed by pouring bones and unpolluted materials into the sacred
fire. Rama killed Thataka and Subahu at the
shot of a single arrow and Maricha ran off from the field. In this way, Rama and Lakshman safeguarded
the Yagnas performed by Sage Vishwamitra.
All the sages were praised the valor of Rama and Lakshman, blessed them.
Sage Vishwamitra along with Rama
and Lakshman proceeded to Mithila where the grand Swayamvara of the daughters
of King Janaka was organized. On their
way, Sage Vishwamitra narrated his early life and the requirements of
austerities, King Bhageeratha and his severe perseverance to bring river of
life Ganga to Earth, the churning of Milky Ocean etc. They stopped at the deserted hermitage of
Sage Gautama. At the touch of Rama’s feet the rock instantly
turned into Ahalya, the chaste wife of Sage Gautama. In this way, Ahalya was released from the
curse and the pious couple Sage Gautama and Ahalya reunited once again.
As soon as Sage Vishnwamitra
along with Rama and Lakshman entered the city of Mithila, they could sense the merriment
all over the place. The city was
splendidly decorated, the people were jubilant and the Kings from neighboring
cities were flown into the palace to take part in the challenge. Sage Vishwamithra described the significance
of the bow - Shivadanuss belonged to Lord Shiva that was impossible to
lift. On one occasion Sita was playing
in their garden with her friends, the flower ball went beneath the Shivadanuss,
she effortlessly lifted the bow and regained the flower ball. After witnessing this miraculous incident
King Janaka decided that whoever bend and split the glorious Shivadanuss would marry
Sita. As they were entered into the majestic palace garden,
Rama’s eyes fell on a gorgeous young girl who was immersed in her
activities. Soon, Sita’ attention turned
towards the young charming prince, she got into the rapture of Rama’s
captivating beauty. Both of them were
looked at each other’s eyes it created stirring waves in them. Her eyes were so passionate, that was the
moment the two of them yearned for each other’s company dearly.
Sage Vishwamitra and the two
princes were received with utmost reverence by King Janaka and they were led to
the assembly hall where the Swayamvara was held. The magnificent hall full of King of various
cities were seated opulently dressed.
Sage Vishwamitra gracefully entered into the hall with the two charming
princes of Ayodhya. The Kings who were
present in the hall took their turns and approached the bow with full of vitality
and pride, shortly returned unsuccessful with lots of perspiration. Subsequently, Rama elegantly walked towards
the bow, lifted it effortlessly and the bow broken into two pieces with a
thunderous noise. It was the moment of
triumph and ecstasy, the entire crowd praised the vigor and valor of Rama. Soon, King of Ayodhya was invited with his
family to Mithila, a grand wedding function was organized. King Janaka offered his 4 daughters Sita,
Urmila, Mandavi and Sukirti to King Dasaratha’s young and charming sons Rama,
Lakshman, Bharatha and Shathrugna respectively. Both the parents were decided to perform the
wedding of their children on the same day.
The grand wedding took place according to the Vedic principle.
The wedded couples were resumed
journey to their palace. On their way to
Ayodhya, there appeared Parasurama with all the vengeance to terminate the
Kshatriya clan from the Earth.
Parasurama, the 6th incarnation of Lord Vishnu was born to
Sage Jamadagni and his chaste wife Renuka.
Though Parasurama was born as a Brahmin he had the gallantry and mystic
powers of a Kshatriya. Sage Vashishta
and King Dasaratha intervened and tried to appease his very intention to fight
against Rama. But all their efforts went
in vain, Parasurama ferociously approached Rama, a distinct divine touch of
Rama on the vicious weapon of Parasurama
compelled him to realize the presence of Lord Vishnu. Instantly, Parasurama’s vitality to fight
against the supreme Lord has turned into timid.
Sage Parasurama surrendered all the mystic powers to the Supreme Lord
and proceeded to Mount Mahendra for further austerities. The wedded couples reached Ayodhya and led a
blissful married life.
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
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