"Dasha Avatar" |
Rama Avtar - The Rama Incarnation |
| Ravana was the son of sage Vishrawa.
He had obtained a boon from Brahma that he could not be defeated either by a demon or a
man.He was the supreme devotee of Shiva who himself gave him the name, 'Ravana'. The
demons made him the king of Lanka. Being in the company of demons he became devilish. The gods approached Vishnu and requested him, "Kindly save us from the terror of this arrogant demon." Vishnu assured them, "I'll relieve the three worlds from his terror after taking birth as a son of king Dasharatha of Ayodhya." Vishnu took birth as Rama, the eldest son of Dashratha, king of Ayodhya, to teach mankind the importance of duty over desire. His legend is told in the epic Ramayana. Dashratha had three queens namely Kaushalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi. He performed a Yagna with the desire to have a son for the welfare of the world. By the blessings of Yagnapurusha all his three queens gave birth to sons. Kaushalya gave birth to Rama; Sumitra to Laxmana and Shatrughna; and Kaikeyi to Bharata. All the four had great affection for one another.
Vishwamitra requested Dasharatha, "'The demons create tremendous tension for us. Kindly send your son Rama to set them right." Dasharatha sent Rama and Laxmana with Vishwamitra. When they entered the forest they found complete silence there. Rama inquired, "Whose fear terrifies them so much in this region?" Vishwamitra replied, "A female demon named Tadaka lives
here. She assumes various forms and frightens people." Suddenly Tadaka attacked Rama by showering stones on him but Rama sent an arrow to her and she was shot dead. The mighty sons of Tadaka learnt about her death and they
attacked Rama and Laxmana but they too were severely beaten. Maricha was sent thousands of
miles away by an arrow Subahu was shot dead on the spot. Vishwamitra took Rama and Laxmana with him to Mithila.Janaka announced, "I'll marry my daughter to the person who can successfully charge the bow presented to me by Lord Shiva." Numerous kings tried their hand at it but failed. Asked by
Vishwamitra Rama rose Rama tried to bend the bow to charge it and the old bow broke into two. Rama and Sita got married. Parashurama was angry because Rama broke the bow which he had presented to Janaka. But Rama could cope with him. Parashurama could get an idea about his valour during the conflict. Rama returned to Ayodhya. Dashratha proclaimed about his coronation. All except Manthara, the maid servant of Kaikeyi, welcomed it.Manthara poisoned the ears of Kaikeyi. "If Rama became the king, Bharata would be his
subordinate. Kaikeyi was not crooked but she was misguided by Manthara. She took offence and retired in solitude. When Dasharatha tried to please her she got a chance to ask
for those two boons.Dasharatha was shocked at this and he swooned. When Rama learnt about
it he rushed to the spot and said to Kaikeyi, "Mother, I gladly accept the command of
my father. Bharata will be the king and I'll go to live in the forest." |
The family preceptor Vashitha taught them the science of arms.When
Vishwamitra was performing a Yagna the demons began to harass them. 
In the meantime Tadaka appeared on the spot with a giant body,
terrible face and long sharp nails.Rama said to Vishwamitra, "I would kill her if you
allow me." 
from his seat and tried to charge the bow which he
could lift up in a jerk, leaving all the persons in amazement.
Now
is the time for you to ask for the two boons which Dasharatha promised you in the
battlefield: Bharata be coronated as the king and Rama be sent to the forest for fourteen
years."