Appearance of Lord Rama [From iskcondc.org]

[Jahnava Nitai Das]

Setting the scene

*****************

Attracted by the intense austerities of the rakshasa Ravana, Lord Brahma

offers him a boon. Ravana asks for the benediction that he cannot be

killed by any god, yaksha, naga, rakshasa or any other celestial being.

Arrogantly confident of his own powers Ravana does not include the puny

humans or animals while asking for the boon. Bound by the power of his

austerities, Lord Brahma grants him the boon.

 

Ravana is now practically invincible. He fights and defeats Kubera, king

of the powerful Yakshas and takes from him the mystical chariot called

Pushpaka. The chariot, controlled by the mind of its driver, is

indestructible and can travel in all directions. Surrounded by hordes of

fearsome rakshasa, resplendent in his chariot, Ravana travels likes

lightening in dark clouds, eager to establish his supremacy in the three

worlds. He enters the heavenly kingdoms but the gods aware of the boon he

has received do not dare face him. Disappointed he comes down to Earth and

spots the city of Ayodhya, the capital city of the emperor, King Anaranya.

Ravana descends on the city and issues a challenge.

 

In the fierce battle that ensues, the valiant army of King Anaranya is

completely annihilated. Ravana personally attacks the king and mortally

wounds him. The pious king, a descendant of the Solar dynasty emanating

from Iksvaku, the Sun god, in his last breath curses Ravana. 'In the very

line you deride O vile Ravana there will be born a king who will destroy

you and your entire race.' The scornful Ravana having established his

supremacy returns to his kingdom of Lanka.

 

King Dasaratha

**************

Several years have now passed and Earth is once again peaceful under the

rule of King Dasaratha, a descendant of King Anaranya. The king is pious

and loved by his subjects. There is an abundance of rain and every one is

prosperous and happy. However Dasaratha is a worried man. Coming in the

lineage of the Sun god (Surya-vamsha) and great kings like Raghu, Sibi and

Harishcandra, he is worried that the dynasty may end with him, for he has

no sons. Hoping to please the gods, he resolves to perform the Ashvamedha

yajna (sacrifice), one of the most difficult and potent sacrifices.

 

When Sumantra, a closed confidant of the king hears about this he shares

with him an ancient prophecy spoken by the great sage Sanat Kumar, one of

the first four sons of Lord Brahma. In this prophecy Sanat Kumar had

revealed that the sacrifice performed by King Dasaratha would be

successful if conducted by Sage Rishyasringa, and the king would be

blessed by four sons equal to Lord Vishnu. Sumantra then proceeds to

relate the tale of the great Sage Rishyasringa.

 

Sage Rishyasringa

*****************

Vibandaka, the son of Kasyapa Muni, lived exclusively in the deep forests

with his son Rishyasringa. Completely cut off from any contact with human

civilization, the father and son spent all their time studying the Vedas

and performing intense austerities. So secluded was the life of

Rishyasringa that he had never seen anyone but his father. With his mind,

undisturbed by any distractions, his activities guided by his learned

father, Rishyasringa grows up to be a powerful and pure sage of immense

mystic powers and vastly learned in science of the Vedas.

 

Nearby was the kingdom of Anga ruled by Maharaja Romapada, a pious king

and a close friend of King Dasaratha. The kingdom was distressed by a long

drought and the king invited the learned brahamins to recommend some cure.

The brahamins proposed that the presence of some one with a spotless

character will bring all auspiciousness to the kingdom, some one like

Rishyasringa.

 

Using various lures, King Romapada got Rishyasringa to leave the forest

and come to his kingdom and marry his daughter Shanta. As promised by the

brahmins, with the presence of Rishyasringa came the rains and all

auspiciousness. The great sage Rishyasringa resided peacefully in the

kingdom of Anga with his chaste and beautiful wife, Shanta.

 

The great sacrifice

*******************

Greatly encouraged by the predictions of Sanat Kumar as related by

Sumantra, King Dasaratha proceeds to the kingdom of Anga where he is

joyfully greeted by his old friend King Romapada. After spending a few

days enjoying the hospitality of the King, Dasaratha expresses his desire

to invite Rishyasringa for performing the Ashvamedha sacrifice. Both

Romapada and Rishyasringa accept his proposal and Dasaratha happily

returns to Ayodhya with Rishyasringa and Shanta.

 

The preparation of the Ashvamedha sacrifice are elaborate and extensive. A

pure bred white horse is allowed to roam freely all over the Earth,

accompanied by the army of King Dasaratha. Any king who challenges the

sovereignity of King Dasaratha could stop the horse and then would have to

fight the armies of the king. However, since every one is happy with

Dasaratha, this does not happen and after one year the horse returns

accompanied by the triumphant army. In the meantime the elaborate

preparations for the sacrifice have also been completed. All the great

kings, the learned brahamins, the austere sannyasis and the pious citizens

have been invited to the sacrifice and given generously in charity. Thus

under the guidance of Rishyasringa the great Ashvamedha sacrifice is

perfectly executed and completed.

 

The demigods meet

*****************

Rishyasringa then commences the second sacrifice for a son, called the

Putra-kamesti sacrifice, that can only be performed by the most pious and

learned. As the sacrifice begins, the demigods approach Lord Brahma.

Greatly distressed by the boons of invincibility that Lord Brahma has

conferred to Ravana, the demigods implore Brahma to approach Lord Vishnu

to descend in a human form, as the son of Dasaratha, for the destruction

of the evil Ravana.

 

Attracted by the prayers of Lord Brahma and the demigods, the omnipotent

Lord Vishnu arrives, mounted on His bird carrier, Garuda. Observing the

distress of the demigods, the compassionate Lord Vishnu agrees to descend

as the son of Dasaratha, accompanied by His expansions as His three

brothers. In this incarnation, Lord Vishnu promises, He would annihilate

the evil kingdom of Ravana, rule the planet for ten thousand and ten

hundred years and for posterity set forth the standards of a person ideal

in all respects. Lord Vishnu also instructs the demigods to prepare for

His arrival by expanding themselves on Earth. Since the greatly arrogant

Ravana had not asked for protection from animals, the demigods are

instructed to expand in the form of monkeys and bears.

 

Thus instructed, the demigods create a race of celestial monkeys and

bears, immensely powerful and mystical. The race is headed by Vali (son of

Indra) and his younger brother Sugriva (son of Surya). The celestial

architect Vishvakarma begets Nala and the Ashwini twins beget Mainda and

Dvivida. At this time also appears the famous Hanuman (son of Vayu the

wind god). From Jambavana, the son of Brahma appear a race of powerful

bears. Thus this divine race of monkeys and bears, their strength and

numbers increasing to the thousands, roam the Earth and await the descent

of Lord Vishnu.

 

The sacrifice concludes

***********************

As the sacrifice draws to an end, an effulgent figure appears in the fire

of the sacrifice and offers a pot of the sacred payasam (sweet rice) to

King Dasaratha. In a grave voice like rolling thunder, the mystical being

instructs King Dasaratha to share this with his wives in order to receive

the blessings of a child.

 

The great Dasaratha then pleases all the assembled priests and guests with

expensive gifts and charming words of true humility. Having received their

blessings he proceeds to the inner chambers of his palace where his three

wives are expectantly waiting. He first offers the pot to his eldest wife,

Kaushalya, who partakes of half the offering and gives the bowl to Sumitra

who takes half of the remaining payasam. Kakeyi then takes half of the

remaining payasam. Dasaratha then offers the pot again to Sumitra who

finishes the remnants.

 

Birth of Lord Rama

******************

In this way imbued by the potency of the offering, the three queens soon

begin to show signs of expectant mothers. First born is the son to Queen

Kaushilya, Lord Ramacandra, an incarnation of the Lord Vishnu. Next

Kaikeya gives birth to Bharata and finally Sumitra, having partaken of the

payasam twice, gives birth to the twins, Lakshmana and Shatrugahana.

 

The Ramayana

************

Thus was set the stage for the annihilation of Ravana who would be

eventually killed by a 'mere mortal' Lord Rama assisted by an army of

monkeys and bears headed by Sugriva and Jambavana and His greatest

servitor Hanumana. The epic Ramayana recited by the great sage Valmiki

under the instructions of Lord Brahma records the pastimes of Lord

Ramacandra. The recitation or hearing of the Ramayana is considered most

auspicious for spiritual advancement, more so on the appearance day of its

hero, Lord Ramacandra.

 

All glories to Lord Rama!

All glories to Ramayana!!

 

Reference: Valmiki Ramayana, Bala Kanda, Sarga 8-12