Maharaja Dashrath, the King of Ayodhya, had everything that
his heart desired, three beautiful wives, Kaushalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra,
wealth, prosperity and happy subjects. But he had no sons to continue his
lineage. The King and his queens were worried about the future of the kingdom.
They went to their Kula
Guru,Sage Vasishta.
“We have everything we want in the world, but we have no
children to continue our lineage. I am not going to live forever. What will
happen to the people of our Ayodhya?” asked the worried King.
Sage Vasishta advised, “You can perform the puthrakameshti yagna.”
Maharaj Dashrath immediately
agreed.
“But,” pronounced Vasishta,
“There is only one person who can guide you in perfoming this yagna, and that
is Sage Rishyashringa.”
As Dashrath got ready for the journey, Vasishta told him, “You
and your queens have to go on foot without any encumbrage to invite the Sage.”
Dashrath agreed and
soon set out to meet Sage Rishyashringa. The Sage was pleased with the humility
and respect shown by the king and agreed to do the Puthrakameshti Yagna.
At the culmination of the yagna, Agnidev appeared from the
sacrificial fire with a pot of kheer in his hands. He gave the pot to King
Dashrath and asked him to distribute it to his queens. Dashrath gave one part
of the Kheer to Kaushalya, another to Kaikeyi and the remaining two parts to
Sumitra. They returned to Ayodhya with hope in their heart and prayer on their
lips. Within a few days, all the three queens became pregnant. Nine months
later, the King became a father to four sons. In the month of Chaitra, on the
Navami day, one son was born to Kaushalya, one to Kaikeyi and two to Sumitra.
Entire Ayodhya joined the king and queens in rejoicing when the four sons of Dashratha were born. Soon Sage
Vasishta had to perform the naming ceremony. He thought for some time before
proclaiming that Kaushalya’s son would be named Rama.
“Why Rama?” he
explained. “Because this child will give joy and happiness to everyone in the
world.”
Maharaja Dashrath was
very happy and he and his queens took the infant Rama in their hands one by one
and whispered the name Rama in his ears.
Then Vasishta said,
“The son of Kaikeyi will be named Bharata as he will protect everyone. The sons
of Sumitra will be named Lakshmana and Shatrugna, as Lakshmana is auspicious
and Shatrugna will be the destroyer of enemies.”
Vasishta being a
great Sage and visionary, knew that Rama was the incarnation of Mahavishnu,
Lakshmana of Adishesha, Bharata of the divine Conch and Shatrugna of the
Sudarshanachakra.
Rama was the darling
of everyone. Kaikeyi loved him more than her own son, and so did Sumitra.
One night as
Kaushalya was feeding baby Rama while showing him the moon.
“Chandamama” little
Rama said pointing to the moon.
It was full moon night and the moon was very
beautiful and Rama wanted it. Kaushalya first thought that he wanted more food,
but when she fed him with rice he refused saying again that he wanted the moon.
Kaushalya did not know what to do. Rama started crying out loud that he wanted
the moon.
Hearing his cries,
the King and the other queens came running. When they saw that Rama wanted the
moon, they were nonplussed.
‘How to bring the
moon down?’ They were in a dilemma. They tried to console the child, but in
vain.
Then Kaikeyi suddenly
hit upon an idea. She brought a vessel filled with water from her room and
showed the reflection of the moon to Rama.
Rama was happy and
his laughter made everyone happy.
Rama and his brothers
grew to be strong young lads and loved playing together. Lakshmana always sided
with Rama, while Shatrugna went with Bharata. Being the eldest, Rama was loved
and respected by all of them and they always listened to him. Once when they
were playing at bringing mangoes down from the tree, Rama and Bharata both
aimed at the mangoes. The person who brought down the most number of mangoes
would win. The mangoes were struck down but both felt that he was the one who
had hit the mango.
Lakshmana at once
started arguing on Rama’s behalf, whereas Shatrugna maintained that it was
Bharata who had struck the mango down. Rama at once calmed his brothers and
declared that it was Bharata who had won. This showed his selfless love for his
brothers.
The children grew up
a little more and were then initiated into learning by Sage Vasishta at his
gurukul. They were taught archery and martial arts along with formal education.
The princes were treated as equals to all other students in the gurukul. They
did not have any advantages or special treatment because they were from the
royal family. And Rama and his brothers were happy with their friends and gave
utmost respect to their Guru, Sage Vasishta.
One day, Sage
Vishwamitra arrived in Ayodhya. Maharaja Dashrath went personally to receive
and welcome him to his kingdom. He washed Vishwamitra’s feet in reverance and
accompanied him to the palace. Sage Vasishta who was present, also stood up
reverently and welcomed Vishwamitra
Maharishi.
“Oh revered Maharishi
Vishwamitra! Your sacred feet have enhanced the honour of our country. Your
respected presence in our palace has made the entire Ayodhya sacred,” said
Maharaja Dashrath, while welcoming the Sage into the palace court.
Vishwamitra
acknowledged the respectful welcome of the King.
After ensuring that
the Sage had been seated comfortably, the King went up to him and enquired,
“Tell me, what can I do for you?”
“Are you sure that
you will give me what I want?” asked Vishwamitra.
“If it is in my
capacity, I promise that I will offer you whatever you require,” answered
Dashrath.
“I will not take no
for an answer anyway,” said the Sage. “I want Rama and Lakshmana to accompany
me to the forest. We are doing yagnas for the wellbeing of the world, but there
are two demons who disrupt our yagnas. I need Rama and Lakshmana to defeat
those demons so that we can complete our yagnas in peace.”
Maharaja Dashrath was
stunned. He had never expected such a request from the Sage. The children had
just come back home after a few years of stay and learning at the gurukul. How
could he part with his beloved Rama again? How would the queen mothers take it?
Dashrath mind was floundering for an answer to the Sage.
Vishwamitra waited
for a few seconds. Then he got up and said angrily, “Maharaja Dashrath, I
thought you were a man who stood by his word. You promised me that you would
give me what I want. Then why are you not answering?”
Dashrath pleaded with
the Sage, “Maharishi, Rama and Lakshmana are too young to fight with demons. Let
me accompany you and I assure you that I will fight with those demons. I will
see that you are allowed to perform your yagnas in peace.”
The Sage refused to
listen. “I don’t want you. I want Rama and Lakshmana. If you cannot give them,
let me leave. I don’t want anything else,” he exclaimed angrily.
Knowing the effect of
the anger of Sage Vishwamitra, Vasishta came forward.
“Maharaja Dashrath,
You speak like this because you are not aware of the real caliber of Rama and
Lakshmana. As a Guru, I can vouch for their exceptional power and capability.
And though I have taught them whatever I could, by being with Brahmarishi
Vishwamitra, who has so much more knowledge to impart and so many divine
asthras in his repertoire, they can acquire much more gyaan.”
Dashrath gave in and
sent for Rama and Lakshmana. Vishwamitra was waiting for this moment when he
could set his eyes on the Lord. When Rama and Lakshmana came in, Vishwamitra
drew in his breath. They were looking so innocent, so handsome.
“Father, you called
for us?” asked Rama softly.
Dashrath’s eyes were
moist. “Yes. I called for you both. This is Sage Vishwamitra,” he said.
The boys folded their
palms and greeted the Sage with respect.
“My dear sons,” said
Dashrath. “Maharishi Vishwamitra wants you both to accompany him to the forest
and protect his yagna from demons.”
“That will be a
blessing for us,” said Rama.
Vishwamitra looked at
them with great affection.
The queens by then had heard of Vishwamitra’s
strange request. They came running to plead with the Sage to allow the boys to
remain in the palace. But Rama managed to placate them.
Dashrath said, “Rama,
Lakshmana! From now, till you come back here, Maharishi Vishwamitra will
be your father, mother and Guru. Follow his orders as you would follow mine.”
“Yes Father,”
answered both Rama and Lakshmana.
They slung their bows
over their shoulders and the quiver of arrows on their backs and followed the
Sage into the forest.
Rama and Lakshmana walked along behind the Sage Vishwamitra.
When they reached the forest, the Sage sat under the shade of a tree.
“We have come a long way. I am sure you both must be feeling
hungry.” he said tenderly.
After a simple meal, the Sage taught them how to use divine
weapons. He also gave them knowledge of mantras to defeat hunger and sleep, as
that would be of use to them in later battles.
They then proceeded deep into the forest. There was a
frightening air about the forest. Rama could sense it. So could Sage
Vishwamitra, who at once stopped for a second.
“Rama, this is Tatakavan (the forest of the terrible
Tataka.) Now, both of you should be careful. Tataka and her sons Subahu and
Marich are deadly demons. They live here and do not allow us to perform our yagnas in peace. As soon as we start the sacred fire, they
appear from somewhere and pour bones, animal blood and other hideous items to
douse the fire.”
Even as he was talking, they heard a horrible sound that made
the earth tremble. Rama and Lakshmana looked up to see a huge ugly looking
demonness sleeping on a rock nearby. The terrible noise belonged to her snore.
“This is Tataka,” said the Sage. The boys were amazed at the
sight of the gigantic demonness.
Hearing their voices, however, Tataka woke up to see who was
brave enough to come near her. When she saw the two young boys with Maharishi
Vishwamitra, she let out a deafening roar. She looked around and lifted a huge
boulder and threw it with full force at them.
Rama at once sent an arrow which broke the boulder into a
thousand pieces. Tataka was looking bewildered. But she soon brought a weapon
in her hand and threw it. Rama’s arrow broke this weapon too. It was almost
evening and the sun was beginning to set. Sage Vishwamitra knew that the
strength of the demons increase after twilight and it would get difficult to
vanquish them.
“Rama, kill Tataka immediately,” he ordered.
Rama hesitated to kill her as she was a woman. He had
already maimed her with his arrows. But hearing the Sage’s orders, Rama sent
forth an arrow aimed at Tataka’s heart, which killed her instantly. Realising
the significance of Tataka’s death, all the Devas showered Rama and Lakshmana
with flowers from heaven. Thus Rama began his mission of removing evil forces
from the earth by first killing Tataka.
Later the Maharishi and other Rishis gathered around the two
princes.
“I am going to start my yagna
now,” said the Sage. “And I want you both to keep a watch for the demons Subahu
and Marich. They will not keep quiet when they know that their mother has been
klled.”
The Sage started his Yagna along with the other sages. As if
on cue, as soon as the sacred havan fire was lit, Subahu and Marich, already
enraged by the death of their powerful mother, came to stop the yagna with a
huge demon army. Lakshmana killed all the other demons while Rama killed
Subahu. Another arrow left by Rama, threw Marich very, very far away. The sages
peacefully completed the yagna. The next day a messenger arrived from Mithila
Nagari, the kingdom of Janaka Maharaja. It was an invitation for Sage
Vishwamitra to attend the Swayamvara ceremony of the King’s beautiful daughter,
Sita. Vishwamitra asked Rama and Lakshmana to get ready to accompany him to
Mithila Nagari.
Janaka Maharaja was the wise and learned king of Mithila. He
was known to be a just and able ruler. Once when the king was on a mission, he
heard the cry of a child. He discovered a girl child in a furrow under a
ploughed field. He lifted her up and finding nobody to claim her, took her home
to his queen Sunaina. Believing her to
be the child of Bhumi Devi, (Mother Earth) they adopted the child and named her
Sita. Janaka and Sunaina adored Sita and brought her up with great love and
care. In time, they had another daughter named Urmila, who was even more
attached to Sita. Janaka’s brother had two daughters called Mandvi and
Shrutakirti. The four cousins grew up together happily.
Once, when Sita was playing with her sisters she discovered
a beautiful bow placed ceremoniously on a table. Being curious, she lifted the
bow. Janaka, who was watching the entire incident, was stunned. Sita, a young
girl had lifted the divine Shiva Dhanush, which no one had ever been able to
do. He knew that his daughter was not an ordinary child. To lift the divine
bow, she had to be divine too.
Years later, when Sita grew up to marriageable age, Maharaja
Janaka remembered this incident and decided to make that the backdrop of her Swayamvar. In those days, Swayamvars were held by royal families, and kings and princes of
various regions were invited, to allow their princess to choose the man whom
she wished to marry. Likewise, Janaka, realizing that only a divine and strong
person could string the Shiva Dhanush, pronounced a condition for Sita’s swayamvar.
“The man who lifts and strings the Shiva Dhanush will be
offered Sita’s hand in marriage,” he announced.
Sita’s beauty was incomparable and every king or prince in
the nearby regions wanted to marry her. Since invitations for the Swayamvar had been sent far and wide,
all the Kings and Princes were expected to assemble in Mithila. The same
invitation had been given to Sage Vishwamitra. He accepted the invitation and
went to Mithila with Rama and Lakshmana. He was received with great respect and
humility by the Janaka Maharaja, who personally led him to the dwelling
allotted for the Sage. In the evening Sage Vishwamitra sent Rama and Lakshmana
to collect flowers for his nitya puja.
While they were plucking the beautiful flowers in the pushpa vatika, Sita and her sisters were
going for worship at the nearby Gowri Mata temple. Rama’s glance fell on Sita
and at once he was attracted by her incredible beauty. Lakshmana noticed Rama’s
attraction and realizing that Sita was an incarnation Goddess Lakshmi, he
folded his hands in humble prayer. Sita’s eyes too fell on Rama and she knew at
once that Rama (the incarnation of Lord Mahavishnu) was the man she wanted to
marry. She ran towards the temple and
prayed to Goddess Parvati to bless her and grant her wish that only Rama should
be her husband.
The next day dawned. Kings and princes from many lands were
present at the swayamvar hall in
Janaka Maharaja’s palace. It is believed that the powerful king of Lanka,
Ravana, too was in attendance. One by one all the great kings and princes tried
their hand at lifting the Shiva Dhanush,
but failed. It was the turn of Ravana. Ravana was a devout Shiva bhakt, and the other kings expected him to life the bow. But
he too tried and failed. Seeing the powerful kings fail one by one, Sita was
happy. Her heart was with Rama, who was seated along with Lakshmana and Sage
Vishwamitra watching the scene. But Janaka Maharaja was sad. He was wondering
whether Sita would remain unmarried because of the condition that he had laid.
“Is there no one in this Sabha who can fulfill the condition
for winning my daughter’s hand?” he lamented. “Is this world bereft of strong
men?”
At this Lakshmana could not contain his anger. “When my
brother Rama is in this Sabha, how can you even think or say such a thing?” he
thundered.
“Calm down Lakshmana,” said Sage Vishwamitra.
He then spoke to the Janaka Maharaja. “These two boys with
me are sons of Maharaja Dashrath of Ayodhya. They are learned, strong and wise,
and have protected our yagna from
terrible demons like Tataka, Subahu and Marich. So with your permission, dear
Maharaja, let Rama try to string the Shiva
Dhanush.”
Janaka Maharaj looked at the Sage and nodded. Vishwamitra
looked at Rama and asked him to try.
Rama took Sage Vishwamitra’s blessing, and walked up to the
table where the Shiva Dhanush was
placed. He gave a quick glance to Sita, who was praying to Goddess Parvati.
Then Rama humbly and respectfully prostrated before the Shiva Dhanush. Lifting the divine bow with ease he strung the
thread to the bow, but the force broke the bow into two with a huge sound.
At last there was a relieved smile on the face of Maharaja
Janak and his Queen Sunaina. Sita was overwhelmed with joy. Flanked by her
sister and cousins, she walked towards Rama with the Varmala and garlanded him shyly.
The great kings and princes who had already tried their hand
and were present at the palace sat transfixed. The same thought ran through
their minds.
‘How could this young man lift and break the bow, which the
mightiest of kings could not lift an inch?’
Suddenly there was a commotion at the entrance, as a furious
Sage stomped his way inside towards Rama. Maharaja Janak was stunned. It was
Sage Parashuram. He got up and folded hands greeted the Sage.
“My Lord, entire Mithilanagari is sanctified by the advent
of your sacred footsteps.”
“Enough Janaka,” the Sage waved him down. “I want to know who
had the temerity to break the sacred Shiva Dhanush?”
His fury was terrifying. But Rama was absolutely calm. With
great humility, he said “I did.”
Sage Parashuram turned towards him. Lakshmana could not
contain his anger at the direct affront to his beloved brother. He got up to
confront the Sage, but Vishwamitra Maharishi held him back.
The moment Sage Parashurama laid his angry eyes on Rama, a
strange sense of calm ran through his veins. He calmed down. He realized that
Rama was the next incarnation of Mahavishnu.
He blessed the royal couple and said, “Rama, my work in this
world is over. So I will hand over all the powers of my penance to you. It will
help you in fulfilling your duties.”
Lakshmana and the others in the court were looking on in
amazement. Janaka Maharaja heaved a huge sigh of relief.
Maharishi Vishwamitra now got up. He folded his hands and
thanked the Sage for blessing his pupil. Parashurama blessed him and took his
leave.
But Vishwamitra still
had something to suggest to Janaka Maharaja.
“As I mentioned earlier, Rama is the eldest son of King
Dasharatha. Lakshmana here is one of his three brothers, the others being
Bharata and Shatrugna. You have two daughters and your brother has two
daughters. Why not conduct the marriages of all of them with the four sons of
King Dasharatha?”
Janaka happily agreed saying, “If Maharaj Dasharath agrees,
I would be happy to give our daughters in marriage to the four princes.”
Immediately emissaries were sent to Ayodhya. Maharaj
Dasharath and his queens were overjoyed and came to Mithila with horses and
elephants laden with gifts.
The wedding of the four brothers, (Rama with Sita, Bharata
with Mandavi, Lakshmana with Urmila and Shatrugna with Shrutikirti), were
conducted with great revelry.
1 #BirthofRama #Rama’sChildhood #Vishwamitra #TadakaVadh #Mithila #Janaka #Sita #SitaSwayamvar #SitaKalyanam
