Ramayana_VOLUME V with index

STORIES TOLD BY
VISWAMITRA
They proceeded on their way listening to the thrilling stories that
lighted every river and spot of land: (RKRV Part I p.101)
Ashram of Siva:
Soon they got ready for the journey and stood before the sage
with arms folded. Viswamitra asked, “Dear ones! Now we can
move towards our hermitage, can’t we” And Rama replied, “We
await your command!” So, they started walking, with the sage in
front and the brothers behind. Soon, they reached the confluence
of the Sarayu with the Ganga. The brothers prostrated before the
holy river, and cast their eyes all around the holy spot. They saw
a hermitage, with heavenly vibrations pervading the
surroundings. It struck them as very ancient and full of hoary
associations. Lakshmana questioned the sage, “Master! Who
lives in that holy hermitage What is the name of the great
personage who dwells there” The sage smiled at the inquiry. He
said, “Dear ones! God Siva had come here long ago with His
divine attendants, to engage in austerities prior to His wedding
Parvathi. While He was fulfilling His Divine obligations from
here, Manmatha (the God of Love) obstructed the spiritual
practices and caused anger to sprout in the Divine Heart. He
opened His Third Eye, which threw such searing flames that
431