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When Rama was
15 years old the great sage Vishwamitra came to Ayodya. He needed Rama's help in
protecting his prayers from harassment by demons. Taraka was a very powerful demon
who would eat the sages in that area. Although still a young boy Rama was able to
kill her and free the sages from her tyranny. Vishwamitra was aware of Rama's
mission on earth which included freeing the oppressed from negative forces. This was
the beginning of many such encounters. |
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Ahalya
was the wife of sage Gautama. She was cursed by her husband for an indiscretion that
was not really her fault. She had to live on air, in an invisible state. She
would be freed from the curse when Rama would enter the ashram. It was many years
later that Rama was born and finally entered the ashram. His presence freed Ahalya
from the curse and she appeared before him. At the same time Gautama returned and
accepted back his wife. |
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King
Janaka had a beautiful daughter who many believed to be an incarnation of the Goddess
Lakshmi. King Janaka had in his possession the great bow of Rudra. When the
time came for selecting her husband King Janaka ordered that anyone who could string the
bow would win the hand of his daughter. Although many tried no one was equal to the
task. Rama effortlessly strung the bow and on pulling back the string, to the
amazement of all the bow snapped in half. |
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King
Dhasaratha have given one of his wives Kaykeyi a wish which she had put off for
years. Now she requested that Rama be banished to the forest for 14 years and that
her son Bharata should be crowned as king. Rama, ever the upholder of truth, was
happy to fulfill his fathers wish. Sita and Lakshman (Rama's devoted younger
brother) could not bear to be away from Rama so they accompanied him to the forest.
On his way he met Guha, the forest king in that area. Here Guha is washing Rama's
feet. He then took them across the holy river Ganga in his boat. |
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Rama's younger brother Bharata
was very devoted to Rama. He did not know anything about his mother's plot to win
him the kingdom. He was away at the time. When he returned he went to the
forest to bring Rama back. For Rama the kingdom was a small thing compared to
upholding the word of his father. Bharata took Rama's sandals and put them on the
throne. He wisely ruled the kingdom, serving Rama's sandals and living a simple life
as Rama was in the forest. |
Ramayana
