Dasharatha is a king in the kingdom of Koshala, it's capital Ayodhya, a beautiful luscious place. It's people are happy and prosperous. Dasharatha lives in a palace protected by a thousand warriors. Dashartha has 8 sage counselors and 2 family priests Vashishtha and Vamadeva. Dasharatha has been unable to have a son with his three wives, Kaushala, Kaikeyi, and Sumitra.
Dashartha and his wives complete a ceremony of horses sacrifice so that they may have sons. 21 other posts were set up with other animal for the sacrafice
mantras were chanted by the brahmins (who were paid in gifts) and for the entire night the wives Kaushala and Kaikeyi stayed beside the dead horse.
After the ceremony the gods promised four sons.
Ravana, the king of the Rakshasas, needs to be defeated. He is able to enslave gods, and obstructs sacrifices.
To do so, Vishnu, a god, promises to come to earth in the bodies of the four sons of Dasharatha, and specifically, Rama, as Ravana can be defeated by man.
Rama was a beautiful and special child.
Vishvamitra, a brahmarishi, comes to Dashartha from Siddhashrama and ask for his help. Two devils have been terrorizing his dwelling, polluting his sacred fire and ruining sacrifices.
Dashartha promised Vish anything, and Vish asked for the help of his son, the only one able to defeat the devils. Dash was not happy about this, but had to keep his promise so sent Rama and his brother Lakshmana to help.
They came across Thataka, a rakshasa. She ravaged the country continuously. Rama challenges her with his bow, but did not want to kill her because she was female. After removing both her arms, nose, and ears, she became invisible and was still able to rain stones down upon the party. The sage urged them to finish her and Rama did with a single shot. The sage summoned spiritual weapons for Rama who in turn asked for them to wait to when they were most needed, and he thought about them, to appear. Maricha and other rashasas appeared for a surprise attack on the offering and Rama summoned his weapons and killed them.
Vish tells Rama of the story of Ganga, a goddess who appeared on Sagar Island.
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Shiva Catches Ganga Falling to Earth.
India, circa 1740
(LACMA)
Rama then asks about an abandoned hermitage. Vish decides to tell Rama of the story of the sage Gautama and his wife Ahalya. Ahalya was a beautiful woman who the god Indra fell in love with. He was so infatuated that he disguised himself as her husband and seduced her. Gautama finds out and curses them both, causing Ahalya to become invisible.
As Rama and Lakshmana are wandering the city, showing off their handsomeness to the citizens, all girls couldn't look away from them. Through the rest of the day the wandered and rested, eventually leading to a garden, the garden of the king, a paradise. Princess Sita was wandering the garden as well and happen to come across Rama. They instantly fell in love. Sita then prays to understand her feelings, and they are clarified as love. Rama returns with flowers that night.
When Rama and Lak meet Janaka, he presents a bow in which he promises his daughter as a wife to the man who can wield it, to which even gods have failed.
Rama asks for the bow of Rudra and breaks it, everyone watches in awe. Janaka proudly gives his daughter to Rama.
Parashurama, a bull-like man, and an avatar of Vishnu, appears. Parashurama challenges Rama with another bow (under the pretense that the ancient bow was not enough), the bow of Vishnu. Rama easily strung the bow and pulled it. Para praised him.
Rama married Sita, and his brothers also find wives, the other daughters of Janaka.
Dash, understanding he has four sons, undoubtedly names Rama as an heir. The citizens of Dharma agree. The brahmins ready for Rama's intallation.
Manthara, a hag who is a maid to Kaikeyi, tried to decieve her and turn her against Rama in favor of her son Bharata be king. He lies to her and says that Rama would kill Bharata, driving Kai into an anger, asking what she can do to prevent Rama's crowning. Dasharatha had once promised Kai two boons for saving him after a war, and she was planning to use these against him.
Kai proceeds to request that Dash make Bharata heir and send Rama into exile. Dash is taken by surprise and mourns that his wife has become evil.
Rama goes into exile at his father commands/boons without question. While he decides to go alone, Sita and his brother Lak pleaded to go with him. He tried to convince them of the perils of the jungle but they insisted, Lak and Rama leaving in robes of bark.
Sita prayed to Ganga that they would have safe return after fourteen years. His wife and brother confirmed that they are with him till the end of his exile because they love him so much.
Dash, lamenting in his death, remembers when he accidentally killed a hermit, the son of an older hermit. That hermit cursed him to lose a son. He dies attended by Kau and Sumitra. His sons are not there to see him off.
Dashartha and his wives complete a ceremony of horses sacrifice so that they may have sons. 21 other posts were set up with other animal for the sacrafice
mantras were chanted by the brahmins (who were paid in gifts) and for the entire night the wives Kaushala and Kaikeyi stayed beside the dead horse.
After the ceremony the gods promised four sons.
Ravana, the king of the Rakshasas, needs to be defeated. He is able to enslave gods, and obstructs sacrifices.
To do so, Vishnu, a god, promises to come to earth in the bodies of the four sons of Dasharatha, and specifically, Rama, as Ravana can be defeated by man.
Rama was a beautiful and special child.
Vishvamitra, a brahmarishi, comes to Dashartha from Siddhashrama and ask for his help. Two devils have been terrorizing his dwelling, polluting his sacred fire and ruining sacrifices.
Dashartha promised Vish anything, and Vish asked for the help of his son, the only one able to defeat the devils. Dash was not happy about this, but had to keep his promise so sent Rama and his brother Lakshmana to help.
They came across Thataka, a rakshasa. She ravaged the country continuously. Rama challenges her with his bow, but did not want to kill her because she was female. After removing both her arms, nose, and ears, she became invisible and was still able to rain stones down upon the party. The sage urged them to finish her and Rama did with a single shot. The sage summoned spiritual weapons for Rama who in turn asked for them to wait to when they were most needed, and he thought about them, to appear. Maricha and other rashasas appeared for a surprise attack on the offering and Rama summoned his weapons and killed them.
Vish tells Rama of the story of Ganga, a goddess who appeared on Sagar Island.
Shiva Catches Ganga Falling to Earth.
India, circa 1740
(LACMA)
Rama then asks about an abandoned hermitage. Vish decides to tell Rama of the story of the sage Gautama and his wife Ahalya. Ahalya was a beautiful woman who the god Indra fell in love with. He was so infatuated that he disguised himself as her husband and seduced her. Gautama finds out and curses them both, causing Ahalya to become invisible.
As Rama and Lakshmana are wandering the city, showing off their handsomeness to the citizens, all girls couldn't look away from them. Through the rest of the day the wandered and rested, eventually leading to a garden, the garden of the king, a paradise. Princess Sita was wandering the garden as well and happen to come across Rama. They instantly fell in love. Sita then prays to understand her feelings, and they are clarified as love. Rama returns with flowers that night.
When Rama and Lak meet Janaka, he presents a bow in which he promises his daughter as a wife to the man who can wield it, to which even gods have failed.
Rama asks for the bow of Rudra and breaks it, everyone watches in awe. Janaka proudly gives his daughter to Rama.
Parashurama, a bull-like man, and an avatar of Vishnu, appears. Parashurama challenges Rama with another bow (under the pretense that the ancient bow was not enough), the bow of Vishnu. Rama easily strung the bow and pulled it. Para praised him.
Rama married Sita, and his brothers also find wives, the other daughters of Janaka.
Dash, understanding he has four sons, undoubtedly names Rama as an heir. The citizens of Dharma agree. The brahmins ready for Rama's intallation.
Manthara, a hag who is a maid to Kaikeyi, tried to decieve her and turn her against Rama in favor of her son Bharata be king. He lies to her and says that Rama would kill Bharata, driving Kai into an anger, asking what she can do to prevent Rama's crowning. Dasharatha had once promised Kai two boons for saving him after a war, and she was planning to use these against him.
Kai proceeds to request that Dash make Bharata heir and send Rama into exile. Dash is taken by surprise and mourns that his wife has become evil.
Rama goes into exile at his father commands/boons without question. While he decides to go alone, Sita and his brother Lak pleaded to go with him. He tried to convince them of the perils of the jungle but they insisted, Lak and Rama leaving in robes of bark.
Sita prayed to Ganga that they would have safe return after fourteen years. His wife and brother confirmed that they are with him till the end of his exile because they love him so much.
Dash, lamenting in his death, remembers when he accidentally killed a hermit, the son of an older hermit. That hermit cursed him to lose a son. He dies attended by Kau and Sumitra. His sons are not there to see him off.
- King Dasharatha -
- Dasharatha's Sons
- Rama: Avatar of Vishnu
- Vishvamitra
- Thataka
- Bhagiratha and Ganga
- Ahalya
- Sita
- King Janaka
- Rama Wins Sita
- Parashurama
- Rama and Sita's Wedding
- Rama the Heir Apparent
- Manthara and Kaikeyi
- Kaikeyi and Dasharatha
- Rama is Banished
- Rama Goes into Exile
- Crossing the River
- Dasharatha's Karma
- Dasharatha's Death
(I know I did too much here but I got carried away with taking quick notes over every story)
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