🕉 RAAMAAYAN ... 1

🕉 RAAMAAYAN ... 1

BIRTH 

In the remotest antiquity of this great civilisation of the Hindus that continues uninterrupted till date was the city of Ayodhya which was the capital of Koshaala ruled by Dasharath who belonged to the Suryavangsh [Solar dynasty]. The river Sarayu fertilised the plains of his kingdom and brought abundance to it. The subjects were well provided for, well administered, and were loyal and happy. But the king was sonless and was yearning for an heir to his throne.

So, Dasharath, on the advice of his spiritual counsellors, arranged for the Ashvamedh Yajna [horse sacrifice] to be presided over by Sage Rishya-Sringa. It was a massive affair, invitees pouring in from the four corners of Aryavarta. The yajna was performed by Rishya-Sringa and his associates in strict accordance to Vedic rites. Sumptuous feasts were arranged for the invitees and everything went off well as per prior planning.

As the yajna proceeded, the Devas [gods] in their celestial sphere conferred among themselves to make good the occasion to bring about the descent of the Divine in human clay to subdue the Rakshasraaj [demon-king] Raavan who ruled over Lanka and had made life hell for the gods. Raavan enjoyed immunity against defeat at the hands of the gods by a boon he had received from Brahmaa and had proceeded to indulge in all sorts of evil activity which had plagued the gods and allowed them no rest. They complained to Brahmaa to seek a solution and the latter asked them to place their plea before Vishnu who promised to incarnate as a human to end the plight of the gods. This was because Brahmaa's boon covered Raavan against mortal harm from any except man. Hence, Vishnu's descent unto earth as mortal man.

Here in Ayodya the yajna proceeded to perfection and out of the holy fire arose a shining figure holding a golden bowl that contained god-sent paayasam [clarified rice-pudding] which it presented to Dasharath with the words that if his wives partook of it, they would be blessed with sons in due course.

Dasharath offered half of the paayasam to Kaushalyaa, a fourth to Sumitraa, the eighth part to Kaikeyi and the remaining eighth part to Sumitraa again. The queens drank it and soon conceived in their wombs the fruit of the divine offering.

Written by Sugata Bose

Bibliography: 'Raamaayana' by Chakravarty Rajagopalachari.