We had seen the introduction of Sage Visvamitra into the journey of Rama - his arrival into Ayodhya, deliberations with King Dasaratha, accompanying Rama and Lakshmana to ward off evil forces obstructing his oblations. The brothers Rama and Lakshmana who are in the comforts of the home till the time, gets along with Visvamitra into the outer world for the first time. The Sage is more than the required master to teach the princess about everything to prepare for what is plying out in their future. Having initially armed them with the mantras to protect them in this journey and after, he already had the impression of a Guru upon them. Let us continue to look at the patronage of the Sage and further story.
With Visvamitra's caring ministrations, Rama and Lakshamana spent a comfortable night sleeping in the open on a bed of grass, on the banks of Sarayu. It was the most glorious of time, at dawn before the Sun rose in the sky. There was a gentle breeze, and the air was cool and comfortable for the late-risers to cover themselves more tightly in their happy slumber, especially at the fag-end of their sleep. Sage Viswamitra and the two princes, Sri Rama and Lakshmana, who were never used to sleep on river banks in the open, were still sleeping after keeping awake for quite a long time in the night, hearing many stories from the glorious Sage. On getting up from the bed of ‘Darbha Grass’, Sage Visvamitra looked at Rama and Lakshmana affectionately, and woke up Rama with these endearing words:
“Kousalya supraja Rama, Poorva sandhya pravartate.
Uthishta Narasardoola, karthavyam Deivamahnikam.”
"O the worthy son of Kousalya, the Dawn ‘sandhya’ (twilight) time is on. Therefore, get up, O tiger among men! You have to do your morning worship.” This particular verse has now become famous among the devotees, as it has been incorporated as the very first verse of ‘Sree Venkatesa Suprabhatam’ and chanted in many households and temples in the early hours of the mornings. Hearing the exceedingly mild admonition of the renowned Sage, Rama and Lakshmana performed their ablutions at the confluence of River Sarayu and the Ganga. After giving oblations of water to the Sun-God, they chanted mentally the most sacred text, the ‘Gayatri,’ that being the highest of all ‘Japas.’
They continued the journey and soon arrived at the confluence of the holy rivers Sarayu and Ganga, which then divided into three paths. Here they came upon the sacred hermitage of Anchorites, who had after observing the most awesome of austerities for many thousands of years had become the supreme possessors of vital powers. They were curious to know about the holy site of hermitages of ‘Rishis’ of purified mind, that had been practicing the highest form of asceticism for the past many thousands of years. Rama addressed Viswamitra, “Whose holy hermitage is this? Who lives there now?” Sage Viswamitra replied: “This is the famous ‘Kaamasrama’. This is the place where Lord Siva was doing long austerities. The Devas were very worried about it because they wanted Siva to marry Parvati, the daughter of Himavan; Parvaty was also doing penance separately for getting Siva as her husband. The Devas wanted Siva to marry soon, because an Asura (demon) named Tharaka was harassing them, and he could be killed only by a son born to Siva. Due to his anxiety to get Siva marry and beget a son, Lord Indra sent Kaama Deva, the God of Love (equal to Eros, Cupid, Manmatha) to disturb the penance of Siva to facilitate his marriage with Parvati and get a son to kill Tharakasura. The God of Love, armed with a bow of sugarcane, with a bowstring of bees in line, and with arrows tipped with distinct flowers, created a spring season in this hermitage. Disturbed by Kaamadeva, Lord Siva became angry and opened his third eye, and burnt the body of Kaamadeva and made him ‘Ananga’ (without body).This is the place where Kaamadeva was burnt, and so it is known as Kaamasrama. [This place that burnt the body (‘Anga’) of Kaamadeva later on, came to be known as ‘Anga’desa.]
While Visvamitra was conversing with Rama and Lakshmana the holy men of that hallowed sanctuary sensed their presence. With their all-pervading spiritual vision reaching beyond the veil of time, they recognized their noble guests. Immensely pleased, they respectfully offered them water to wash their feet. Hospitality was extended first to Visvamitra and thereafter to Rama and Lakshamana whose grace and reverence pleased the noble souls. At dusk, the hermitage reverberated with Vedic chants. In that famed hermitage, where Kama was destroyed, the three travelers spent the night while Visvamitra regaled the princes with enchanting tales.
At daybreak having performed the morning rituals Rama and Lakshmana arrived on the banks of Ganga preceded by Visvamithra. The noble hermits of the Kama hermitage procured a boat for their honored guests, wished them a safe journey, and bade them farewell with their blessings. Paying respectful homage to the pious hosts Visvamitra along with the young Ikshvakus crossed the gushing Ganga. As the boat reached mid-stream, Rama and Lakshmana heard a deafening noise and when Rama asked Visvamitra about it, he said, "In the mind of Brahma was born a vision, which manifested itself on mount Kailas as a lake. It was conceived in the intellect of Brahma it came to be known as Manasa sarovar. The river Sarayu flows from Manasa and the great noise that you hear emanates from the turbulence of its waters. The roar of the bounding flow reaches a crescendo when its waters clash with those of the Ganga, at the confluence of the two mighty rivers. Do pay homage to these two holy rivers". Rama and Lakshmana did so and then reached the southern bank of the river. Marching forward at a brisk pace they soon came upon the most fearsome of forests. Trackless and dense it showed no signs of any human having ever ventured into it. Filled with beasts and birds of prey swarming with insects shrill with the incessant call of crickets and the shrieking of vultures, the forest was a cacophony of multitude sounds. The wooded canopy thick and dark was made up of Bilva, Asvakarna, Kabuka, Tinduka and Patella under which lions, tigers, boars and elephants roamed.
"What forbidding forest is this?" Asked Rama and Visvamitra said, "Long ago this land flourished as Malada and Karasu. Abounding in wealth and grain it was built by divine beings. At that period of time Indra killed Vritrasura. Doomed and overpowered by the sin of slaying a Brahmin, Indra was cursed with impurity and endless hunger. Taking pity on his plight, the devas aided by the spiritual and ascetic powers of heavenly sages cleansed him of that transgression. The impurity and taint shed by Indra was deposited at this spot. Purified and freed of his monstrous hunger Indra bestowed a wonderful boon on the land for having absorbed his taint to absolve him of his sin. By the power of the boon Malada and Karusa became flourishing cities of great renown. As the years went, they became increasingly prosperous. Blessed with riches and plentiful grain, there was no dearth of anything in the land. Several years later a yakshni called Tataka arrived upon that affluence in the form of fear and destruction. With the strength of a thousand elephants and capable of taking any form at will the ignoble Tataka was the wife of an intelligent yaksha by name Sunda. Her son Maricha was gigantic, and his powers matched to those of Indra. The wicked mother and the son struck terror and wrought havoc on Malada and Karusa. It is here that the yakshini dwells, infesting the forest and obstructing free passage. None can traverse it as she hungers for human flesh. Repulsive, unconquerable, and revolting of form, she strikes fear in the hearts of all living beings and also reigns supreme rendering in this region devoid of all human life. O! Rama, slay Tataka with the might of your arms and rid the forest of her diabolic presence. Freed of evil, the land will once again become habitable".
Rama having heard Visvamitra asked him another question,"The yakshas are said to be gracious and mild. How did this yaksha woman come to possess the might of a thousand elephants?" The sage said, "Tataka by virtue of a boon acquired phenomenal strength. In the days gone by, there lived a powerful and famed yaksha, by name Suketu who performed great austerities for begetting a son. Prajapati did not grant Sukethu a son but gave him a daughter upon whom he also bestowed the strength of a thousand elephants. Born by the boon of the Lord Creator, Tataka grew to be ravishingly beautiful and was given in marriage to Sunda, son of Jharjha.
To this charming couple was born a son strong and invincible. Though born of yaksha parentage, he was cursed to become a rakshasa. Later when Agastya killed Sunda. Enraged, Tataka went on a rampage and she along with her son Maricha rushed forth with the intent ofon devouring the sage. Agastya the most powerful of ascetics cursed Maricha and denounced Tataka saying, "From now on you will take the hideous form of a rakshasa woman and losing all beauty, will live on human flesh". Provoked and fuming Tataka exploded into a violent senseless anger. Wrecking vengeance on the sacred land hitherto tread upon and sanctified by the holy feet of Agastya, she rendered it unfit and unworthy of all human habitation. "Rama, you alone can end Tataka's reign of terror. Diabolic of nature, maligned by the curse she is a threat to this very earth.Kill her for the welfare of the Brahmins and the cows. You need not show her either pity or compassion that is usually shown to a woman. It is the duty of a king, to do so in the interest and safety of his subjects. To this end you should not differentiate between man and woman. To protect his people the king should discharge his duty towards an act whether it is cruel or compassionate, sinful or honorable. It is an eternal law which binds those in power, appointed to bear the burden of the kingdom. Rama! Slay her for she does not abide by dharma. Destroy her like Indra destroyed Manthara, the daughter of Virochana, who wanted to annihilate the earth. Many divine persons and eminent men of great honor and valor have slain unrighteous women for the sake of dharma".
Rama bowing to Visvamitra with great reverence said, "In Ayodhya, my father Dasaratha commanded me in the presence of the eminent to carry out every wish of yours, without hesitation. Out of respect for his father's words and your wishes I will execute that act of dharma, for the welfare of not only the cows and Brahmins, but also for the prosperity of the country. I stand ready to do as you bid and take upon myself the task of eliminating the menace of Tataka". Rama then held his bow and twanged at the string, sending out a fearful sound, which reverberated in all the four directions even as the dwellers of forest trembled with fear. Tataka unaware and confused at what could have caused the thunderous sound ran out in a great fury.
Wrathful and ugly, Tataka came bounding striking terror into the hearts of the not so brave. Seeing her, Rama said to Lakshmana, "She looks invincible, and she possesses magical powers. I am going to disfigure her by cutting her nose and ears for I am averse to killing a woman. I will also deprive her of her strength and her power of motion by doing away with her limbs. The infuriated monster charged forward generating a fierce dust storm which dismayed Rama and Lakshmana for a moment. Tataka then rained on the Ikshvaku princes who in anger retaliated that rain of rocks with a rain of arrows and cut off the hands of the demon as she was advancing. Deprived of her limbs, worn out, roaring with anger and writhing in pain, Tataka then lost her ears and nose to the wrath of Lakshamana. Then using her magical powers, she vanished from sight but did not stop from sending another torrent of rocks as a parting shot. Seeing Rama and Lakshmana hit by the rocks Visvamitra spoke up, "She does not deserve any more mercy. This yakshini who is sinful and wicked deserves death. She will regain her strength soon, so slay her before dusk, for after the Sun sets the rakshasas become invincible". Rama marching forward detracted the raining rocks with his arrows, which were capable of detecting and traveling in the direction of sound.
Frustrated that her being invisible proved futile, Tataka hurled herself at Rama, who swift as lightening shot her in the chest with an arrow and she fell lifeless. Seeing the mountainous heap of matter, as frightening in death as in life, the lord of the gods and the gods themselves honored Rama and commended his valor. Indra blessed Visvamitra with prosperity and fame for having gratified the devas by encouraging Rama to annihilate the fearful yakshini. He also wanted Visvamitra to reward Rama with the astras of Bhrisasvas the two weapons endowed with ascetic power and energy. "Rama alone is worthy of them. He alone can use them to ward off many such evils to come and protect the celestials", said Indra. Devatas and siddhas praised Rama for killing Tataka. Liberated from the curse of Tataka and her dreaded presence the forest regained its radiant charm and came to be as splendid as that of Kubera's Chitraratha. Visvamitra happy at the death of Tataka, fondly kissed Rama on the forehead saying that they should all rest for the night and journey on to his hermitage on the morrow. Rama retired for the night and woke up at dawn to the call of Visvamitra.
At daybreak, smiling with affection Visvamitra said "Rama, I am pleased and proud of the good you have done to this earth by slaying Tataka. Fulfilled and happy, I bequeath the wealth of weapons to you with love. With these you will be victorious not only against devas and rakshasas, but also against the gandharvas, nagas, uragas and all others, of whom you will be the master." Starting with the celestial Danda, Dharma, Kala and, Visnu chakras the Vajra astras, the prestigious spear of Siva, Brahmashivaastra, the Aishikaastra and the mightiest of all, the Brahmastra; the two brilliant maces, Modaki and Shikari along with Dharmapasa and Kalapasa shall be yours. The sage gave away these and many mightier and more exalted astras. Visvamitra having purified himself stood facing east, while he conferred the astras on Rama. He taught Rama the complete acquisition and the incantations to evoke those weapons, difficult to attain even by the celestials. Evoked by Visvamitra, the presiding deities of the weapons manifested themselves into Rama's presence saying, "We are your servants ". Receiving the astras, Rama touched the astra devatas with his hand, as a token of acceptance and wished them to come, whenever he invoked them. Pleased and fulfilled he paid respectful homage to the noble sage Visvamitra.
This concludes the chapters 23,24,25,26 and 27 of Balakanda. Here, we learnt about the famous verse which finds itself in Suprabhatam, Kamasrama, Story of Tataka, Rama slaying Tataka and an army of weapons given to Rama. We had seen for the first time how a young Rama slayed an evil woman and purified the place. This becomes the starting point for his many a future slayings with the aid of ascetic powers conferred upon him and the weapons in his possession gifted by many seers. Let us see the further tales under the custody of Sage Visvamitra in the future posts.
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