Rama
avatar is called Dharma Avatar. He not only overcame 'adharma' (evil
forces) but also taught mankind how to lead a perfect life of
truthfulness, kindness, obeisance to parents etc.
Now
we will go to the story.
In the north of the Ganga was the great kingdom called Kosala. Its capital was Ayodhya. King Dasartha ruled over the Kingdom. The people of Kosala were very happy contented and virtuous. The land was protected by a mighty army and no enemy could come anywhere near.
But the King Dhasartha was always very sad because he had no children. King Dhasaradha wanted to perform asvamedha yaga in which a Horse is sacrificed in the alter to beget a progeny and consulted his religious teachers for their advice. They agreed that performing asvamedha yaga would bless the king with a heir to his throne. All arrangements were completed and the ceremonies were set in motion strictly as enjoined by the Shastras.
In the north of the Ganga was the great kingdom called Kosala. Its capital was Ayodhya. King Dasartha ruled over the Kingdom. The people of Kosala were very happy contented and virtuous. The land was protected by a mighty army and no enemy could come anywhere near.
But the King Dhasartha was always very sad because he had no children. King Dhasaradha wanted to perform asvamedha yaga in which a Horse is sacrificed in the alter to beget a progeny and consulted his religious teachers for their advice. They agreed that performing asvamedha yaga would bless the king with a heir to his throne. All arrangements were completed and the ceremonies were set in motion strictly as enjoined by the Shastras.
Out
of the sacrificial fire came a goddess with a vessel of nectar which
King Dhasaradha gave to his queens.
In time Rama, Lakshmana, Bharatha and Satrugun were born. The king was over-joyed and brought them up with great care. They were schooled in all arts, Vedas and sasthras. They were so valorous that when the boys were only about 16 years old sage Viswamithra came to the king and complained that 'rakshasas' were obstructing the sage from performing their yagas etc and requested the king to to send Rama with him to kill the demons. Accordingly Rama set forth with the sage and killed all the demons.
In time Rama, Lakshmana, Bharatha and Satrugun were born. The king was over-joyed and brought them up with great care. They were schooled in all arts, Vedas and sasthras. They were so valorous that when the boys were only about 16 years old sage Viswamithra came to the king and complained that 'rakshasas' were obstructing the sage from performing their yagas etc and requested the king to to send Rama with him to kill the demons. Accordingly Rama set forth with the sage and killed all the demons.
King
Janaka 0f mithila kingdom was a very pious and righteous ruler. He
was long without and issue and prayed to Lord Vishnu for a child. One
day when the king was getting his land plowed he found a female child
with a strong bow
Viswamithra took Rama and Lakshmana to the 'swayamvara' where they were received with the respect due to the princes.
A number of princes tried their and in bending the bow but they could not even lift it. However Rama effortlessly lifted the bow and broke into two to the amazement of all present and the delight of Sita who was watching the proceedings from a balcony above the hall.
Rama married Sita with great pomp and pageantry and went back to Ayodhya with his bride and Lakshman and Viswamithra.
Viswamithra took Rama and Lakshmana to the 'swayamvara' where they were received with the respect due to the princes.
A number of princes tried their and in bending the bow but they could not even lift it. However Rama effortlessly lifted the bow and broke into two to the amazement of all present and the delight of Sita who was watching the proceedings from a balcony above the hall.
Rama married Sita with great pomp and pageantry and went back to Ayodhya with his bride and Lakshman and Viswamithra.
When
it was time king Dhasaradha wanted to crown Rama as the king and
retire to the forest to devote his time to penance renouncing all
pleasures of life. Called 'vana-prastha-asram this is considered the
last stage in a man's life.
Kaikeyi
the third wife of Dhasaradha and a step-mother to Rama however wanted
her son Bharatha to be crowned the king
Long
time earlier Kaikeyi saved the life of King Dhasaradha when his
chariot over turned. Pleased King Dhasaradha Promised kaikeyi two
favours she would ask for. She however did not ask for anything at
that time but said that she would make her wish known at the
appropriate time later.
Now she invoked the promise that King Dhasaradha had made and asked that Bharatha be crowned the King instead of Rama. Her second wish was that Rama should be banished to the forest and live there for 14 years as an ascetic before returning to the kingdom.
King Dhasaradha was distressed in the extreme as he had a soft corner for Rama as his eldest son. But he was cornered.
When Rama heard about his step mother's wishes he voluntarily stepped down in favor of Bharatha and also agreed to go to the forest for 14 years. King Dhasaradha was saved the unhappy task of telling Rama to do these. But he was very sad at the thought of Rama going to the forest and died broken hearted.
Now she invoked the promise that King Dhasaradha had made and asked that Bharatha be crowned the King instead of Rama. Her second wish was that Rama should be banished to the forest and live there for 14 years as an ascetic before returning to the kingdom.
King Dhasaradha was distressed in the extreme as he had a soft corner for Rama as his eldest son. But he was cornered.
When Rama heard about his step mother's wishes he voluntarily stepped down in favor of Bharatha and also agreed to go to the forest for 14 years. King Dhasaradha was saved the unhappy task of telling Rama to do these. But he was very sad at the thought of Rama going to the forest and died broken hearted.
Rama
was not shown the remains of his father but was hustled into going to
the forest. Lakshmana his brother and Sita his wife insisted on going
with him and reluctantly Rama agreed. So the trio set forth on their
'vana-vasam' (residence in the forest).
Bharatha the son of kaikeyi was however not happy to reign over the kingdom as his mother wanted him to but went into the forest in search of Rama to persuade him to return to ayodhya take the crown. When Bharata did meet his brother Rama would not agree to return to the kingdom but insisted that his step-mother's wishes should be fulfilled. So Bharata took the pair of Rama's wooden slippers with him to Ayodhya, kept those on the throne and ruled as the Vice-roy of Rama
Rama set up an 'ashram' in the forest and settled down there with his brother and wife.
One day Rama went for a hunt and left Lakshmana behind as a guard for Sita
The present day Sri Lanka was then ruled by the ten-headed demon king Ravana. He was an ardent devotee of lord Shiva and had the distinction of having sung the whole of 'Rig Veda' in songs. He attained great prowess doing penance to Lord Siva became power-drunk and mis-ruled over his kingdom leading a life of laxity.
Once Ravana's sister Soorpanagai was wandering around in the forest and ran into Rama and Lakshmana and was struck by the handsome features of the princes. She went up to Rama and spoke to him coyly to entice him but Rama was so much devoted to Sita that he would not countenance any other women in his life. He chastised her and drove her away. She next went to Lakshmana with similar intentions. But Lakshmana did not like her obscene manners and to spite her he cut off her nose with his sword. Soorpanaga vowed to take revenge on both the brothers She ran to her brother Ravana and mus-represented her encounter with Rama and Lakshmana. She also told him about the rare beauty of Sita and kindled his desire to possess Sita.
Bharatha the son of kaikeyi was however not happy to reign over the kingdom as his mother wanted him to but went into the forest in search of Rama to persuade him to return to ayodhya take the crown. When Bharata did meet his brother Rama would not agree to return to the kingdom but insisted that his step-mother's wishes should be fulfilled. So Bharata took the pair of Rama's wooden slippers with him to Ayodhya, kept those on the throne and ruled as the Vice-roy of Rama
Rama set up an 'ashram' in the forest and settled down there with his brother and wife.
One day Rama went for a hunt and left Lakshmana behind as a guard for Sita
The present day Sri Lanka was then ruled by the ten-headed demon king Ravana. He was an ardent devotee of lord Shiva and had the distinction of having sung the whole of 'Rig Veda' in songs. He attained great prowess doing penance to Lord Siva became power-drunk and mis-ruled over his kingdom leading a life of laxity.
Once Ravana's sister Soorpanagai was wandering around in the forest and ran into Rama and Lakshmana and was struck by the handsome features of the princes. She went up to Rama and spoke to him coyly to entice him but Rama was so much devoted to Sita that he would not countenance any other women in his life. He chastised her and drove her away. She next went to Lakshmana with similar intentions. But Lakshmana did not like her obscene manners and to spite her he cut off her nose with his sword. Soorpanaga vowed to take revenge on both the brothers She ran to her brother Ravana and mus-represented her encounter with Rama and Lakshmana. She also told him about the rare beauty of Sita and kindled his desire to possess Sita.
So
he took the form of a deer and went near the ashram. Sita was so
struck by the beauty of the animal and wanted to keep it in the
ashram. She asked Rama to bring the deer to her. Rama went after the
animal which was running fast taking Rama away from the ashram. At
one point the deer gave out a cry "hey Lakshmana"
mimicrying the voice of Rama.
Sita was panic stricken and thought Rama was in deep trouble and asked Lakshmana to immediately go and see what was wrong. Lakshmana protested that his job was to guard Sita and nothing would have happened to valorous Rama. On Sita's insistence Lakshmana left the ashram to look for Rama. All the while Ravana was watching and when Lakshmana was out of sight pounced upon Sita and carried her away in his sky-chariot to Lanka as his kingdom was called.
Rama was disconsolate when he returned and found Sita missing. He upbraided Lakshmana for leaving Sita un-guarded. On regaining composure they both set forth in search of Sita. On their way they saw the wounded jatayu the eagle who told them that he saw Ravana the King of Lanka carrying away Sita south-ward. Jatayu was wounded by Ravana when he tried to rescue Sita.
So Rama and Lakshmana went south-ward towards Lanka in search of Sita. On the way they met Hanuman who became most faithful and devoted to Rama. Through Hanuman Rama got the following of Sugriva and his army of monkeys. Sugriva and his brother Vali had some family quarrel and Rama siding with Sugriva killed Vali. This act bound Sugriva to Rama Rama sent Hanuman to search for Sita in the south-ward region and scourging around Hanuman found Sita in the Asoka-vana in Lanka disconsolate and surrounded by evil-ladies. Hanuman met Sita and took from her a ring to show to Rama that he had indeed found Sita and returned to Rama who was over-joyed that his Sita was still alive. Rama set forth with the army of monkeys to rescue Sita.
Knowing the prowess of Ravana Rama prayed to lord for strength to fight Ravana and his hordes. Shiva granted him the boon. Armed with this Rama invaded Lanka. After an epic battle he vanquished Ravana and his army and rescued Sita.
By this time the prescribed period of 'vana-vasa' was over. So Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman the ever-faithful flew back to Ayodhya in a 'pushpaka-wimana' (sky-chariot bedecked in flowers) They were received by the people of Ayodhya with pomp and pageantry. Rama was crowned the king of Kosala and commenced his glorious rule.
Sita was panic stricken and thought Rama was in deep trouble and asked Lakshmana to immediately go and see what was wrong. Lakshmana protested that his job was to guard Sita and nothing would have happened to valorous Rama. On Sita's insistence Lakshmana left the ashram to look for Rama. All the while Ravana was watching and when Lakshmana was out of sight pounced upon Sita and carried her away in his sky-chariot to Lanka as his kingdom was called.
Rama was disconsolate when he returned and found Sita missing. He upbraided Lakshmana for leaving Sita un-guarded. On regaining composure they both set forth in search of Sita. On their way they saw the wounded jatayu the eagle who told them that he saw Ravana the King of Lanka carrying away Sita south-ward. Jatayu was wounded by Ravana when he tried to rescue Sita.
So Rama and Lakshmana went south-ward towards Lanka in search of Sita. On the way they met Hanuman who became most faithful and devoted to Rama. Through Hanuman Rama got the following of Sugriva and his army of monkeys. Sugriva and his brother Vali had some family quarrel and Rama siding with Sugriva killed Vali. This act bound Sugriva to Rama Rama sent Hanuman to search for Sita in the south-ward region and scourging around Hanuman found Sita in the Asoka-vana in Lanka disconsolate and surrounded by evil-ladies. Hanuman met Sita and took from her a ring to show to Rama that he had indeed found Sita and returned to Rama who was over-joyed that his Sita was still alive. Rama set forth with the army of monkeys to rescue Sita.
Knowing the prowess of Ravana Rama prayed to lord for strength to fight Ravana and his hordes. Shiva granted him the boon. Armed with this Rama invaded Lanka. After an epic battle he vanquished Ravana and his army and rescued Sita.
By this time the prescribed period of 'vana-vasa' was over. So Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman the ever-faithful flew back to Ayodhya in a 'pushpaka-wimana' (sky-chariot bedecked in flowers) They were received by the people of Ayodhya with pomp and pageantry. Rama was crowned the king of Kosala and commenced his glorious rule.
This
in short is the epic story of Rama the perfect.
Maha-Vishnu
took this incarnation to show to the world an example in virtuous
living.
From another angle this marks the period when humans evolved as a perfect being in the long process of evolution.
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From another angle this marks the period when humans evolved as a perfect being in the long process of evolution.
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