Year II-Chap.3-RAMAYANA - Ygic.us

Year IIChapter 3-RAMAYANAhumans. The devas (gods) appealed to Lord Vishnu to protect them from histyranny. The Lord reassured them that he will soon incarnate as a human tovanquish Ravana.The childless Dasaratha was advised by hisfamily priest Vasishta to perform a firesacrifice ceremony seeking the blessings ofGod for children. Lord Vishnu, the preserverof the universe, decided to manifest himselfas the eldest son of Dasaratha in order to killRavana. While performing the fire worshipceremony, a majestic figure (angel) rose fromthe sacrificial fire and handed to Dasaratha abowl of rice pudding (kheer/payasa), saying,"God is pleased with you and has asked you todistribute this rice pudding to your wives -they will soon bear your children."The king received the gift joyfully and distributed the payasa to his threequeens, Kausalya, Kaikeyi, and Sumitra. Kausalya, the eldest queen, gave birthto the eldest son Rama. Bharata, the second son was born to Kaikeyi andSumitra gave birth to the twins Lakshmana and Shatrughna. (Rama'sbirthday is celebrated now as Ramanavami).Bala KandaThe four princes grew up to be tall, strong, handsome, brave and intelligent.They learned the holy scriptures well. Of the four brothers, Rama wasclosest to Lakshmana and Bharata to Shatrughna. One day, the revered sageVishwamitra came to Ayodhya. Dasaratha was overjoyed and immediately gotdown from his throne and received him with great honor.Vishwamitra blessed Dasaratha and asked him to send Rama to kill theRakshasas who were disturbing his fire sacrifice (yagna/yaaga). Rama wasthen only fifteen years old. Dasaratha was taken aback. Rama was too youngfor the job. He offered himself, but sage Vishwamitra knew better. Thesage insisted upon his request and assured the king that Rama would be safein his hands. Ultimately, Dasaratha agreed to send Rama, along withLakshmana, to go with Vishwamitra. Dasaratha strictly ordered his sons to31