Ramayana Story Contd: Birth of Sri Rama
Jai Sri Ram
Dasharatha the emperor of Khoshala Kingdom was ruling in a perfect way making everyone in his kingdom happy. The people were both rich and dharmic. There was complete peace and prosperity alongwith dharmic way of life in Khosala. The success of the administration was due to the eight ministers of Dasharatha who were highly efficient and skilled, so the administration was transparent and unbiased. Everything was wonderful except one worry for the people of Khoshala and Emperor Dasharatha, the worry was that Dasharatha did not have any kids.
Every man is supposed to have three debts:
First debt is deva runam(divine debt). Deva Runam exists because every human is depending on devas(gods) in his day-to-day life. Humans depend on Varuna for rains, Vayu for winds...etc. So, people are indebted to Gods for timely rains, auspicious events...etc. This debt can be cleared by performing Yagams where havisu is given to devas(gods) through Agni Deva(fire), praying to god by visiting temples and performing other vedic rituals . Second debt is rishi runam(Rishi debt). Rishis have passed on great knowledge to humans through their works. This rishi debt can be cleared by reading/writing/teaching their works. For eg: I am indebted to Valmiki for Ramayana, I am clearing my Rishi debt by reading Ramayana.
Third debt is pitru runam(Ancestors debt). Every man is indebted to his parents for giving birth to him. This debt to parents can be cleared by giving birth to another child. A son is preferable because the son carries on the name of the Gotra(clan) forward, a son can also become putra.
A putra is a son who after the death of parents performs certain rites in a place named Gaya. Not every son is a putra, only that son who performs those rites after the death of parents so that the parents are eligible for a place in heaven is called putra. This should not be construed as encouraging one gender. Because the shastras also say that the parents of girl who do Kanyadaan(gift girl away in marriage) also go to heaven. Infact, it is said that those who do kanyadaan properly will get heaven, but not just them, 10 generations before them and 10 generations after them are also eligible for heaven. Thus a girl child is also a boon(infact, a bigger boon).
Anyway, there are these three debts. These three debts are also incurred by Dasharatha. But because he did not have kids, he could not clear his Pitru Runam, it also meant that he was not eligible for heaven. Thus Dasharatha decided to do Ashvamedha Yagam to clear his papam(bad karma) that was being a hindrance in begetting kids. Dasharatha on the advice of his minister Sumantra invited Rishi Shrunga to head the yagam. Ashva Medha yagam is performed only by Emperors. It is an extremely difficult yagam to perform. Once that yagam is started, it cannot be stopped in between. If it stops unfinished then it is said that great difficulties will befall the entire kingdom and the emperor.
Thus Ashvamedha Yagam was performed rarely. Rishi Shrunga was invited because he had great tapo shakti(meditation power). Rishi shrunga had done tapasya(meditation) for many years and hence his very presence would be auspicious to the yagam. His very presence would ensure the smooth conduct of the Yagam and eventual success of Yagam.
Dasharatha asked Rishi Shrunga for permission to start the Yagam. Rishi Shrunga gave the permission. Then Dasharatha informed his teachers(Vashishta) and puruhits. Then a horse(ashva) was unleashed. This horse would traverse the entire empire into different kingdoms. The horse must not be stopped by anyone. If it is stopped then it is a challenge for war towards Dasharatha. Dasharatha would himself have to lead the army and defeat the opponent and get back his horse. So, the horse would be accompanied by a small battalion of army. The horse would traverse in this way for one year. Till the horse returned the couple(Dasharatha and his elder wife Kaushalya) should not enter yagya vatika(place for conducting yagya). Meanwhile many other vedic events would go on for one year. Many visitors from many different countries all over the world would come to watch the yagam. All of them would have to be dined(anna danam) for that one year.
Dasharatha then told the following to his servants,"
We will have to employ lot of people for the smooth conduct of impending Yagam. So, employ old people, employ those people who had already attended other yagams and vedic rituals before, employ experts of vastu, employ dharmic people. Employ good managers, event organisers, and accountants. Employ builders to build temporary housing for the visitors, employ carpentors, employ actors and actresses, and employ labours. Employ those people who know shastras, employ those who follow shastras in their life.We will be having to dine all the visitors for one year till the yagam is being conducted. Different people will come for dining. People from both rural areas and urban areas will come. But be careful, dont look down upon the rural people. Give them more priority. People from different castes will come, so be careful, employ only those people at those dining places who do not succumb to anger and emotion. Take precautions so that flare ups do not happen. Also, many Kings have to be invited. Some kings have to be invited by personally going to their house, some kings have to be invited through emissaries, some kings have to be invited by messangers...etc. Sumantra, you should personally go to Mithila's King Janaka's house and invite him because he knows all shastras and has great respect for vedas. Similarly, go to Kashi King and invite him personally because he is my close friend. Also, go and invite and King of Kaikeyi, my father-in-law, along with his sons. Similarly, invite King of Anga personally.
Invite the Kings of old kingdoms Sindhu, Saurasthra and Saveera. Invite the Kings who rule the kingdoms of south." Thus Dasharatha gave many orders to ministers to invite many kings from around the world.
Meanwhile, eager visitors kept pouring into Ayodhya from all quarters of the country and around the world. Many Kings came to the Yagam. All the ingredients used in the yagam were brought and the yagam started. Many vedic programmes were being conducted along side for the one year. Finally, after one year, the horse that was left one year ago, returned. The yagya vatika was built at the banks of river Sarayu. In that Yagam, every ritual was being conducted exactly as the shastras had prescribed them. This was being supervised by Guru Vashishtha. Finally, havisu was given so that Indra was satiated.Then after that, many people dined. Many lakhs of Brahmanas dined, many lakhs of servants dined, many lakhs of sanyasis dined, and many lakhs of citizens dined. Many old people dined, many women dined, and many children dined. People who were well-dressed and decorated with ornaments like Mukut(headgear) and ear-rings made of gold were serving to all the people who dined there. These servers very polite. These words were being heard outside these dining stalls," eat, eat; do you want more; give them silk clothes;....etc". Only such words were heard but not one harsh word was heard in that place.All the people who ate there were extremely pleased with the food, hospitality, serving and politeness. With their heart's content and stomach's full, all those visitors gave ashirvaad(blessings) to the Dasharatha.
A agni kunda(place where fire is prayed to) was built in shape of Garuda(divine vehicle of Sri Maha Vishnu) in the position of descending on the earth with golden bricks. Then Kaushalya(the eldest queen of Dasharatha) would be required to kill that horse(that has traversed the entire earth for one year) with three small knives. While killing Kaushalya would have kill without any malice, fear or cruel feeling. Kaushalya did as prescribed in a patient manner. Then that night the dead body of horse would be laid down at a certain place. Kaushalya would have to sleep that night along side the dead body. Again, she should not get frustrated and be cheerful the whole night. Kaushalya did so.Then the next day, the horse's medha(brain) is removed and it is refined. Then it is heated in the fire while chanting some vedic mantras. At this time certain smoke comes out of it, this smoke must be breathed by Dasharatha, so as to remove his papam that was being the hindrance in his beggetting children. Then, Dasharatha would have to gift away his wives to ritwicks(priest who conduct yagam). Because the ritwicks do not accept wives, Dasharatha would have to give money and take back his wives. All this is part of the yagam. Hence, this yagam is extremely difficult perform. Dasharatha did all that.Once the yagam was over, Dasharatha gifted away his entire Kingdom to four ritwicks who conducted the yagam. This rule was put by none other than Brahma. So, Dasharatha did it. Then the ritwicks said,"O, great one, what should we do with this empire? Only you are capable of running it, so, please take it back." Thus, those ritwicks gave back the entire kingdom to Dasharatha.
Dasharatha, then, gifted to those ritwicks ten lakh cows,ten crores gold coins,and forty crores silver coins. To those brahmanas who had just come to watch the yagam, Dasharatha gave one crore gold coins.
Then Dasharatha turned to Rishi Shrunga and said thus,"O venerable sire, you have guided this yagam to success and now my papam that was being hindrance to me begetting progeny is removed. sire, now for the cause of begetting progeny, please head an appropriate ishti(a vedic ritual similar to yagam conducted after a yagam)."
Rishi Shrunga said,"I am telling to you, Dasharatha that you will have four sons who will increase your kula's reputation. I have thought about it and decided that you should perform putrakameshti prescribed in shashtras."
Havisu is the ghee(and other items) that is poured into yagam along with mantras. This havisu is received by the devas(gods). The havisu is also divided among devas in a certain manner. When a yagam is conducted, then all the devas come to receive their share of havisu. In the kali yuga, devas are not visible. In dwapara yuga, they were visible to only some. In treta yuga, devas(gods) were visible to everyone. Thus, when Dasharatha started doing putrakameshti, all the devas, gandharvas, siddhas, and Brahma came there to receive the havisu. All the devas were seated and Brahma was also seated. The devas were waiting to be called to receive havisu. Devas on seeing Brahma asked him,"Bhagwan, a rakshasa(demon) named Ravana after receiving boons from you, has started troubling and torturing everyone.
He has not left anyone in peace. He is troubling rishis, yakshas, gandharva and even weak brahmanas. No one is able to stop him because of the boons you granted to him. He has started ordering even the nature. Surya(sun), Marut(wind), Varuna(rain),and even Samudra(sea) are being commanded by him according to his wishes."
Then, Brahma said,"Yes,sons, I know, he is torturing everyone. He has not left alone anyone. He is troubling devas, gandharvas, kimpurushas, nagas, siddhas and yakshas. Ravana had performed a great tapa(meditation), so I had to give him a boon. But, there is a way out. Ravana had asked that day when I came before him after his tapasya(meditation) that he should not die in the hands of devas, gandharvas, siddhas, kimpurushas, kinneras, nagas, and asuras(demons). He did not mention naras(men) and vanaras(half-men). He did not forget them, he did not mention them because of deep disrespect towards those races. He underestimates their prowess. So, a human can kill Ravana."
Suddenly at that time, Sri Maha Vishnu appeared at that place. Sri Maha Vishnu appeared along with a divine counch(shanka) and disc(chakra). On seeing Vishnu, everyone rised and started praying to Sri Maha Vishnu. Then devas requested Sri Maha Vishnu thus," Bhagwan, you are a great one. You have always saved us when we were in trouble in the past. Today, also you are our refuge. So, you must take a birth as a human. This Dasharatha is a dharmic emperor, his wives are well natured and mild mannered. You must take the avatar as a man being taking birth as a son of Dasharatha and his queens. Please bless us and help us."
Before we go further, I will have to mention one thing. Sri Maha Vishnu will not just kill Ravana because devas requested. In Bhagavatham, Vishnu gives conditions on which he will kill someone. Vishnu says,"When someone starts troubling/misbehaving/torturing/criticizing with sudha sadhu(those who harm no one and are living by complete belief in me), devas, vipras(those who study vedas and are living as vedas prescribe), cows, vedas and finally me, then once the threshold is crossed, I will kill that person." Also, when Vishnu kills, he does not do so out of anger but he does so the same way a surgeon removes a rotten part that threatens to harm the rest of the body. So, when Vishnu kills it is out of love and kindness and not anger.
So now Sri Maha Vishnu replied to devas' request thus, "I will kill Ravana because he is frightening and torturing everyone without reason. I will kill Ravana along with his sons, brothers, army, relatives, friends and allies. Then, I will live and rule this earth for 11000 years. I will prove that humans are not as weak as the arrogant Ravana assumes. I will live a perfect human's life. I will be born as the son of Dasharatha." Then devas said,"Bhagwan, once you have killed Ravana and his supporters, please come to heaven." Vishnu agreed. Thus, there were two objectives of Rama avatar: One was to killl Ravana once he crossed a threshold by committing the sins mentioned in the paragraph before. Second objective was to live the life like a human being in a perfect manner so as to prove that a human being is not weak and is capable of achieving great things life without going away from the path of Dharma. That was the reason, Rama went to forest and bore many other sorrows in his avatar. Otherwise, if the only objective was to kill Ravana, then it could have been done very quickly without much fuss or effort.
Then Dasharatha started putrakameshti and gave havisu to all the devas. Suddenly, a great figure appeared in the fire(agni). It was huge like a mountain, he was red in colour. He was dressed in red and black dress. His face was shining bright. He had a huge moustache. He had huge eyes. He was holding a golden bowl which was covered with a silver plate. He came out of the fire. Everyone in that assembly was astonished and watched him. His voice echoed like a drum. Then he spoke to Dasharatha thus," This payasam(a food dish) created by devatas(gods). Receive it, you will get kids, fortune and prosperity. Give it to your favourite queens. You will beget kids."
Dasharatha was pleased to hear it. Then he he circumabulated that figure, and received the payasam. The figure vanished. Dasharatha halved the payasam and gave it to his eldest queen Kaushalya. Kaushalya ate it. Then he halved the remaining half and gave it to his another queen Sumitra. Then Dasharatha halved the remaining part again and gave one part to Sumitra and gave the rest to another queen Kaikeyi. All the three queens ate the payasam.
Meanwhile, Brahma called all the devas to his lokam(world) and said," Vishnu will be born as human by the name of Rama to kill Ravana. But along with Ravana, several other rakshas(demons) have to be eliminated. You all have to create beings who possess your powers in vanara(half-human) race to support Ramachandra. I have already created a vanara named Jambavantha before. You all do the same." A vanara named Vali was born with Indra's powers, a vanara named Sugreeva was born with Surya(sun)'s powers, Tara was born with Brihaspathi's powers, Gandhamadana was born with Kubera's powers, Nala was born was born with Vishwakarma's powers(Vishwakarma is a divine engineer/architect who builds cities for devas, Nala who is born with his powers builds the famous Ramasethu in Ramayana.),Neela was born with powers of Agni, Mainda and Divida were born with powers of Ashwini devas, Sushena was born with powers of Varuna, Sharaba was born with powers of Parjanya, Hanuman was born with powers of Vayu. Hanuman was most mighty of all these vanaras, who is also the first devotee of Rama, who has extra-ordinary intellect was born with powers of Vayu. Thus, many crores of vanaras were created.
All these vanaras were endowed with great physical might, courage and beauty. These vanaras had the power to play with mountains, they can jump more than 100 yojanas(1yojana is about 8 KM), they can jump and touch the clouds with their hands, they can fight with elephants in forests, they can fight with ferocious animals and kill them, they have the power to uproot huge trees, they can use their nails, teeth, elbows, knees and hands to kill their opponents in a fight, they know the use of all the astras(weapons with mantras) and sh'stras(weapons). They can move on earth, sky and water.Meanwhile, Dasharatha who had divided the divine payasam and distributed it to his queens was waiting eagerly for the birth of his kids. Yagam was completed and Dasharatha returned to his palace. All the visitors who wore the dresses gifted by Dasharatha went back to their places pleased with the hospitality.
After one year, in Chaitra(an indian month) month on the navami(ninth), at Karkataka lagnam punarvasu nakshatram(an indian astronomical time) when five astronomical planets like kuja, chandra, surya..etc were at their high point(supposedly an auspicious time), Sri Maha Vishnu himself who is prayed to by whole world was born to Kaushalya as the eldest son of Dasharatha. At his birth, all the devas were pleased and made divine noises to convey their happiness. Both the mother Kaushalya and her son were glowing divinely. Kaikeyi gave birth to a son who would be later named Bharatha. Then two sons were born to Sumitra. Thus Rama was born first, then Bharata, then Lakshmana and lastly Shatrughna. Devas were extremely happy with this occurance and flowers were dropped from heavens. Apsaras(divine dancers) danced in the sky. Divine drums were beaten in the skies. Everyone in the kingdom of Khosala was happy and overjoyed. Everyone celebrated as if a child was born in their own home. Even the visitors and tourists joined in. Dancers danced, actors entertained, there were celebrations at every place in the kingdom. Dasharathadonated and gifted away many cows and riches to the needy and deserving. After eleven days,Dasharatha requested the kula guru(teacher of family) and purohith(priest) Vashishta to give names the newborns. Vashishta named the eldest son as Rama so that it is easily pronouncable to all and sundry because the name had the power to take away the troubles of the people. Rama is made of two beeja(seed) aksharas(alphabets): Ra and Ma. One is agni(fire) beeja akshara and the other is amrutha beeja akshara. One beeja aksharam is from ashtakshari maha mantram(om namo bhagvate vasudevaya) and one beeja askharam is from panchakshri maha mantram(om namah shivaya). This name thus derives great power which can give immediate relief to anyone who utters it. Vashishta took great care so that the name is easy for everyone to pronounce it. Thus the name Rama came into existance. Thus Vashishta named the son of Kaushalya as Rama, then he named the eldest son of Sumitra as Lakshmana, then he named the son of Kaikeyi as Bharata and the youngest child of Sumitra and Dasharatha was named Shatrughna.
Jai Sri Ram
To be Contd...(Next Episode is Introduction of Vishwamitra and killing of Tataka)
