Tales in the Custody of Viswamitra - Part 4, River Ganga

 In the last post, we learnt about the ancestry and family of Viswamitra. This post will continue on the tales narrated by him enroute to Mithila, the kingdom of Janaka. From the banks of River Sona, the ascetics travelled further and reached the sacred river Ganga. Let us learn what the epic has to offer about this place from the words of Viswamitra.

They walked on and on, feasting their eyes on beautiful woods and forests through which they traversed. Many miles later, they came upon that great river Ganga, revered, and loved by the sages. The beauty of breathtaking bubbling flow was breath- taking, and enhanced by majestic swans and soaring cranes. The august assembly halted on the banks surveying the sylvan splendor with great delight. Bathing in the holy waters they lighted their sacrificial fires, offered oblations to the gods and the ancestors and later partook in the remains of the offerings.

At Rama's request Viswamitra told them as to how the river Ganga flows through the three worlds before merging with the ocean. " The lord of the Himalayas, a treasure trove of all precious metals, was blessed with two daughters of unsurpassed loveliness, named Ganga and Uma. Their mother Manorama was the daughter of mount Meru. For achieving the divine, the devas once wanted Ganga to accompany them with the consent of Himavat. The lord of the mountains yielded to the request for the benefit and welfare of the worlds. He knew that his daughter would travel only on the right path and purify the world. The devatas ever in the service of the world returned to their abode with Ganga following them. The other daughter of Himavat, a great ascetic, named Uma revered and worshiped by the worlds was given in marriage to Mahadeva, lord of Kailas.

Having heard the brief glorious history of Ganga, through Viswamitra, Rama and Lakshmana wished to know as to what had taken place in her hoary past, both in heaven as well as on the earth. Purifier of the world that she was, they wondered as to what made her flow in three different ways and by what merits she came to be known as Mother Ganga. "Many years ago," said Viswamitra, "the greatest of ascetics, Siva married Parvathi and they spent one hundred years blissfully reveling in each other. At the end of that period, Parvathi was yet to conceive a child. In the meanwhile Brahma and the gods were perplexed and worried as to who could bear the child born of this divine union. They then invoked lord Siva and pleaded with him to retain his energies of creation within his most magnificent self. Siva declared that he could have done so, but since the energy was already dislodged, he asked them "who would be capable of bearing it", and the devatas said that the earth would.

Thus counseled, Siva let his energies flow to the earth, which spread over forests and mountains, making them light up brilliantly. Fearing this great brilliance, the devatas implored the lord of fire, Agni along with Vayu, God of wind to pervade into the divine energy. The two gods heeding their pleas did so, turning the divine vital energy into the Sveta Mountain. On this grew a forest of white reeds, whose fiery brilliance was like that of the Sun. From this radiance was born the most glorious Karthikeya, whom the devas worshiped with great reverence, as they did also, lord Shiva and his consort Uma.

The daughter of the mountain king, Uma was furious at these happenings. Eyes red with anger she cursed them all, for preventing her from begetting a son. "Just as I am deprived, may you also be unable to father children. From now on your wives shall remain childless". She thundered. Nor did she spare, the earth, which she bitterly blamed and cursed "Evil one, my anger shall defile you. May you be manifold in form and wife to many masters. May you never experience a mother's love for her son". Beholding the shamed devatas, Siva started traveling towards the Himalayas. Reaching the northern slope and reaching a peak on that slope, he entered into a great penance along with Parvathi". Viswamitra concluding his narration asked Rama and Lakshmana to now listen to the origin of Ganga.

While lord Siva was immersed in his rigorous penance, the devatas led by Indra and Agni approached Brahma. Paying homage to the great one they said "At the beginning of creation you granted us the chief of armies, who is now engaged otherwise in deep penance along with Uma his consort". Brahma putting their fears to rest said, "The curse of Uma that you will not father any children is an inviolable truth, let there be no doubt about it. But there is Ganga flowing in the celestial regions. She will beget a son, fathered by the god of fire, Agni, and that son will lead your armies and destroy enemies. He will also become very dear to Uma". Relieved and grateful, the devatas bidding a reverential farewell to Brahma went on to mount Kailas to request Agni to grant a son to Ganga fathered by him. Agni met Ganga, who transformed herself into a divine human form. Where upon Agni pervaded her, releasing in her the creative energy. Ganga then spoke, saying that this great vitality in her was burning her, that it was unbearable and that she could no longer hold it. Agni told her to deposit it on the slopes of the Himalayas and Ganga expelled the tremendously radiant embryo from her body.

As the embryo was falling to earth, its luster was that of molten gold, from which derived gold and silver, along with metals like, copper, iron, tin and steel. The embryo placed on the mountain slopes emitted a wonderful light, engulfing the surroundings in a golden glow and in that brilliance materialized Kumara. The devatas led by Indra brought six nymphs to nurse the divine baby. As these Krittikas mothered and nursed the baby the gods declared the divine effulgence as Karthikeya who became famous in all the three worlds.

The Krittikas produced milk copiously to feed the child who was a manifestation of unsurpassed power and energy. He grew six heads and suckled milk with all his six mouths at once. A day's nourishment produced in him such indomitable power and energy, that he was able to vanquish hordes of demons. Though his body was still tender like that of a child, his vast in-born talents were awe-inspiring and the devatas appointed Karthikeya as chief of their armies.

This story of Ganga is auspicious and brings merit to those who worship Karthikeya. They will also enjoy a long life, blessed with sons and grandsons, and will live in the same world as that of Skanda in the life hereafter.

Viswamitra continued, saying, "Rama I will now narrate the story of an Ikshvaku ancestor. In the times past lived a virtuous king by name Sagara who was childless and whose yearning for them was intense. Kesini, the princess of Vidarbha known for righteousness was his first wife. Sagara's second wife was Arishtanemi's daughter Sumathi, whose beauty had no rival upon this earth.

One day Sagara accompanied by his two wives reached the Himalayan slopes and entered into a great penance. A hundred years passed thus. Bhrugu, pleased, came to Sagara and said, "my son, one of your wives shall give birth to one son, who will carry on your dynasty. The other will have sixty thousand sons of great valour and perseverance". Kesini and Sumati reverently asked the sage, "Brahmin which one will have the one son, and which one will give birth to many?" To that question, Bhrugu's answer was that they had the freedom to choose. Kesini then chose to have the one son, who would be the heir. Sumathi, sister of Garuda, chose to be mother to the sixty thousand sons of valor and fame. Content and joyous the king along with his wives paid grateful obeisance to the noble sage and went back to Ayodhya.

Seasons passed and the time came when Kesini gave birth to a son, who was named Asamanjasa. Sumathi gave birth to a gourd like fetus, which then split and out of it emerged the sixty thousand sons. The nurses kept them in jars of clarified butter who in the course of time grew into young adolescence and then reached resplendent, handsome manhood. Asamanjasa also grew but brought little joy to Sagara for the son of Kesini took to torturing children. He would seize them and hurl them into the waters of the Sarayu and watch gleefully as they struggled and drowned. Sagara banished him from Ayodhya. Asamanjasa's son Anshuman was valiant, courteous and loved by all. One day Sagara resolved to perform a yagna and gathering his priests and preceptors together, embarked on the rituals.

Rama was pleased with the story of his ancestor narrated by Viswamitra. The latter elaborated upon it, saying that the sacrifice took place between the two mighty mountain ranges of the Himalayas and the Vindyas, almost facing each other. This region was known to be the most sacred and appropriate for such religious rites. Anshuman mounted on a magnificent chariot, stood guard over the sacrificial horse with bow in hand. Even as Sagara the patron of the yaga was conducting the rituals, Indra in the form of a rakshasa swooped down and stole the horse. Alarmed, the preceptors pronounced that such an act would be a taint on the sacrifice. They urged Sagara to kill the thief and retrieve the horse, or it would bring disaster to all. Calling his sixty thousand sons together Sagara spoke to them. "I cannot see how the horse could be stolen from our midst. The yagna is being performed by the most venerable of priests, so I must remain here along with Anshuman. Do go, my sons and search league by league, the land girt by the oceans. Dig up the very earth, if need be, until such a time the horse is found". The army of Sagara's sons roamed the earth in earnest enthusiasm. They tore at the crust of the earth with nails, sharp and hard as jagged diamonds. They dug with fearsome spears, which went in and out like bolts of lightning, and they plowed deep inside, on every side, until the earth cried out in anguish.

There arose terrible cries from creatures tormented. The outcry of the nagas, asuras and rakshasa being killed was sheer agony. The sixty thousand separate individuals of tremendous valor and energy dug into the very core of the earth, excavating sixty thousand yojanas into the underworld of Rasatala. With the sound of spears, plows and the wailing of living beings tortured, the noise reached a crescendo. They even scooped out parts of Jambu Island filled with majestic mountains. Petrified and crestfallen, the devatas along with the uragas, asuras and gandharvas, invoked Brahma. They implored him to save them from the wrath of the sons of Sagara, saying that even great sages living in the lower world were being killed.

To those agitated and frightened devatas, Brahma said, "The entire earth belongs to Vasudeva who bears the earth in the form of a great sage by name Kapila. The sons of Sagara will burn in the fire of his anger. It is destined that the earth will be dug up and it is also destined that the sixty thousand sons of Sagara will perish". Their fears abated, the celestials reached their abodes, relieved and happy. Meanwhile as if boding ill a thunderous sound emanated from the earth which being systematically slit open by the princes. Having searched in vain, they approached Sagara saying that they had found neither the horse nor the horse thief. But outraged at their failure Sagara ordered them to resume the search and not come back until the horse was found.

Making haste the princes rushed back. Reaching Rasatala they bore deeper into the earth, where they came upon the Diggajas - Virupaksha, Bhadra, Mahapada and Saumanasa, the four elephants bearing the earth. Worshipping each one of them, they burrowed further down into the nether region, where they saw the eternal Vasudeva in the form of Kapila and not far away grazed the horse. Happy at having found the horse and angry with Vasudeva for having stolen it, they called him a thief. Kapila hearing them flew into a towering rage and emitted the single sound'Hmm'; and the sixty thousand mighty sons of Sagara were reduced to ashes. Such was the power of Kapila, beyond conception and comprehension.

This concludes the chapters 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40 where we learn about the river Ganga, tales around it, king Sagara of Ikshvaku dynasty who is going to be related to the Ganga reaching Earth. It has to be noted that Viswamitra started narrated about origin of Ganga, tales around it once they reached the river and performed holy rituals in sacred river along with Rama. The narration about the holy river will continue in next post where we learn how the river was brought to Earth by Ikshvaku king Bhageeratha to purify the land, people it touches and bring them to heaven.

Tales in the Custody of Viswamitra - Part 3, Dynasty of Viswamitra

 In the last post, we learned the story behind Siddhashrama, Viswamitra performing his yagna in Siddhashrama, Rama and Lakshmana protecting the yagna and slaying Mareecha, Subahu and onset of the journey to Mithila. By now, the main reason for Rama accompanying Viswamitra has been met by standing to protect his yagna. Viswamitra takes an important role in the journey of Rama by giving out mantras, astras and narrating historic tales behind persons, places. In addition, he is also the originator in accompanying Rama to Mithila and marrying Sita, which we will see subsequently. As of now, they are enroute to that place and let us delve into what holds in between.

Visvamitra embarked on this journey followed by a hundred carts filled with vedic masters. Even birds and beasts of the sanctuary followed the sage until after a while they were asked to return. With the setting of the Sun the travelers camped on the banks of the river Sona. Once the Sun had set, they bathed in the river and made offerings into the fire. Rama and Lakshmana paying their obeisance to the sages, sat in front of Visvamithra and Rama eagerly asked "what region is this, so graced with lush groves?" and the noblest ascetic related the history of the land.

Visvamitra said "Kusa, born to Brahma was a great ascetic. Righteous and reverent towards men of virtue, bound by the rules of the Kshatriya race, this eminent person was married to the princess of Vidarbha, a noble and beautiful lady of whom were born four sons. They were Kusumba, Kusanabha, Adhurtrajasa and Vasu. Kusa was proud of his sons who were truthful, righteous and dynamic. They were men of honor, eager to rule in accordance with the Kshatriya dharma. One day Kusa told them, "you too must rule kingdoms as that is the only way to discharge and fulfill your dharmic duties" and so it came to pass that the three princes esteemed and venerated by the people of the land brought into being three capital cities. Kusumba founded the city of Kausambi, Kusanabha the city of Mahodaya, King Adhurtarajasa created Dharmaranya and Vasu built the city of Girivraja. Rama, this land belongs to that great king Vasu and is known as Vasumathi. Five majestic mountains surround in which flows the river Sona born in Maghada. This beautiful river meanders in the mountains like a garland. It flows east to west through rich farmland turning the land into golden rows of green fields.

To Kusanabha, the royal seer and his queen Ghritachi, were born, one hundred worthy daughters who were like streaks of lightening in a thunderstorm and like stars among the clouds. They sparkled, danced and sang with great joy and greater abandon. One day Vayu, the wind god chanced upon them. Charmed by their beauty he said "I desire all of you to be my wives. Forget the world of mortals and attain immortality. Youth is momentary and more so is humans, marry me and be ever youthful and become devatas".

In tones of disdain the young girls answered "O! Vayu, supreme among gods, you pervade all life and we are aware of your powers. Why do you disgrace us, so? We are the daughters of Kusanabha and he is our master. A god you may be, but we can topple you from your lofty heights. Do not dishonor our father, he may prove to be your death. It is our duty and dharma to marry those chosen by him". Vayu's rage knew no bounds upon hearing these words. He pervaded into their bodies twisting, disfiguring their limbs, and turning them into ugly hunchbacks. Eyes streaming with tears, and shamed, the damsels in distress, reached the palace, where weeping they fell to the ground. Kusanabha, heartbroken at the sight of his wailing daughters cried out, "Who did this to you? It is a blemish on the very dharma".

Continuing with the narration Visvamitra said "The one hundred maidens paid homage to their father, by touching his feet with their heads and said, "The one that travels the world over, Vayu, god of wind, unmindful of dharma, resorting to evil and sinful ways, tried to threaten us. We said that duty bound to you, we were not free to honor his wish of marrying us and that he should ask, for your consent. Heedless of our words, he subjected us to this appalling persecution".

Kusanabha having listened to his daughters said, "My daughters! The restraint shown by people of tremendous patience is of great importance. It makes me proud that you displayed such virtue. Your unanimous opinion and decision have saved the honor of our dynasty. Forbearance whether in man or woman is a jewel and an adornment. Possessing the quality of forgiveness is in itself a rarity, but trying to bestow it on the devatas, with their immense wealth, beauty and prosperity is not an easy task. Your tolerance, in the face of such an intimidating situation is truly laudable. Patience is charity, patience is virtue, patience is truth, patience is fame, and patience is dharma. The world is founded on patience."

Consoling his daughters thus, king Kusanabha sought the advice of his ministers about the marriage of his daughters. They told him of a Maharshi by name Chuli who was at one time immersed in great penance. Serving and looking after his needs was a gandharva lady, by name Somada, daughter of Urmila. Pleased with her ministrations, he said, "Bless you! What wish of yours, may I grant?" speaking with utmost grace, in a melodiously soft voice, she said, "You are endowed with the splendor of Brahma and are capable of great penance. I want to beget a son by you who will be, full of ascetic power and glory". Invoking the power of his penance, through the will of his mind, Chuli, gifted Somada, a son known as Brahmadatta who now lives in the city of Kampilya.

King Kusanabha made up his mind to give his daughters in marriage to Brahmadatta. During the wedding rituals Brahmadatta ceremoniously received each one of the princesses, by taking their hand. The very touch of his hand transformed the maidens; their disfigurement and anguish vanished as they regained their radiance and beauty once again. Delighted Kusanabha, with all due honors sent Brahmadatta on his journey back to his kingdom with his wives. Somada proud of her son and his beautiful wives commended her son on his choice.

Visvamitra said that after Brahmadatta returned to his kingdom Kusanabha performed Putreshti to beget a son. While doing so, Kusa the son of Brahma told him that he would beget a son named Gadhi through whom you would gain everlasting fame on earth". Time passed on and a few seasons later, as predicted by Kusa, the birth of Gadhi took place. "That most righteous of persons Gadhi, was my father and born of the Kusa dynasty I am also known as Kausika" said Visvamithra. Satyavati, my sister true to her name, was an upholder of dharma and ever diligent in performing austerities was given in marriage to Ruchika. A devout wife who constantly and reverently served her husband, she reached heaven along with Ruchika, with her mortal body. For the benefit of mankind, for their pleasure and prosperity, making the Himalayas her abode, she descends as the divine and beautiful river Kausiki".

Visvamitra further told Rama that he lived in the vicinity of those mighty mountain ranges for the love of his sister alone and if it were not for the yagna he would not have parted with her to go to Siddhashrama, where with Rama's indomitable courage and power he had fulfilled his desire. The sage ending his narration urged everyone to rest, so that the journey ahead should not be hindered for lack of sleep.

The sages heard Visvamitra and lauded the Kausika dynasty. Commending all those born of that race as men of great honor they said that the most glorious of them all was Visvamitra, whom they compared to Brahma, the god of creation. There after Visvamitra retired for the night as did Rama, Lakshmana and the others.

As the night gave way to a bright dawn, Visvamitra who had spent the night, on the banks of the river Sona, said, "Rama! Arise, the day has dawned, perform the morning rituals and we shall set out". The entourage of sages and princes led by Visvamitra forded the river path. They walked on and on, feasting their eyes on beautiful woods and forests through which they traversed.

This concludes the chapters 32, 33, 34 and a part of 35 where we learned about the ancestry, sister of Viswamitra. The journey continues further and reaches the sacred river Ganga, the tales on which we will learn in next post.

Tales in Custody of Viswamitra - Part 2, Siddhasrama, Slaying of Maricha & Subahu

 This historic epic is full of details, developments, and surrounding stories. While I am covering quite a few chapters in a single post, even this will be a lengthy exercise to complete the epic in true sense. To continue the flow in short regular intervals, it would be good to post every week and hopefully I can replicate the entire epic from existing sources that way. The good work which has been started, needs to be progressed and completed. I hope this exercise will also be progressed without impediments and continues to shed light on the delightful story of the journey of Rama.

While the initial intention was to pick the important gist and educate one and all, it has taken the turn of writing summaries of each chapter. There are around 500 chapters and it would take at least 200 posts from me to summarize it all. This is my 10th post and I would like to increase the frequency to give a fair chance of succeeding in this attempt. Even a weekly post will take more than 3 years. Let us reduce from bi-weekly to weekly and see if it further needs to be posted more frequently. This is my humble projection of this divine exercise and hopefully, the historic epic is conveyed in its entirety.

As I said, everyone knows the simple story of Rama, but this detailed presentation of mere summary is a learning experience for me. I would read, learn, and present it here which is an enlightening, enriching and enchanting experience in itself. Rama is a noble and ideal among men whose personality is a delight to think about, read about and learn about. This weekly remembrance will bring along the mesmerizing tales around his journey. With that, let us get along from where it is left in last post.

The tales under the guardianship of Viswamitra continues for a while and let us look at them. Sage Viswamitra had given Sri Rama all the weapons or ‘astras’ he had acquired through his penance. He had taught him how to use them, control and recall them. Sri Rama in turn taught them to Lakshmana.

Continuing their journey, Rama saw a big hill with a huge forest in the valley where there were many animals and birds that made the place a visual sight. Inspired by the sight, Rama asked Viswamitra, “Is this, the place, where you do your ‘Yagas’? And where are the demons that I have to deal with to protect your sacred ventures?”

Viswamitra began to describe the place. “Yes, Rama, this is the place where I stay for doing my ‘Yagas’; this holy place is called ‘Siddhasrama’.

“Why is it so called?” asked Rama.

Viswamitra narrates the underlying stories of places and people to Rama, Lakshmana along the time. In this turn, the tale behind the Siddhasrama is put forth by kausika. In this place the great Lord Vishnu performed ‘tapas’ for hundreds of many revolutions of the four ‘yugas’. The Lord was born here as ‘Vamana’, the divine dwarf. This holy place fulfilled the purpose of the ‘Devas’ to regain their lost glory and the heaven. The story happened in the ‘Treta’ Yuga, and is referred to in the ‘Rik-Veda’ as “the three steps of Lord Vishnu, the un-conquerable preserver, who strode over this Universe, and in three places planted his steps”.

Mahabali, an Asura ruler, son of Virochana and grandson of Prahlada, by his good deeds defeated Indra and the Devas and ruled over the three worlds. The Devas appealed to Lord Vishnu, who was doing ‘Tapas’ in this Asrama, to recover their ‘Paradise lost’ along with their original glory. The Gods headed by Agni Deva spoke to Vishnu: “Bali, the son of Virochana has commenced a great sacrifice. Let our objective to recover our lost worlds, be fully accomplished, while he has not yet concluded his sacred observances. You can take the form of a dwarf, ‘Vamana’ and achieve the purpose of the Gods.”

Lord Vishnu incarnated as ‘Vamana’, a dwarf, as the son of Sage Kasyapa and Aditi on the twelfth day of ‘Suklapaksha’ of the month of Bhadrapada, with star ‘Sravana’ in the auspicious ‘Abhijit muhoorta’ at the place of Siddhasrama.

After the due performance of the ‘Upanayanam’ ceremony of the Brahmachari, consecrated by Kasyapa and others, and wearing ‘meghala’ (girdle of Kusa grass), holding a ‘danda’ (staff), an umbrella made of Palmyra leaves, Kamandalu and a rosary, the Lord as Vamana walked to the northern bank of River Narmada, where Emperor Mahabali was performing an Aswamedha sacrifice. The brilliance of Vamana attracted the respect and admiration of Sukracharya and the priests who gave him a grand welcome. Mahabali was overwhelmed with great devotion and the ‘tejas’ (luster) of the Brahmin boy and washed his feet with horripilations (a bristling of the hair on the skin due to ecstasy/ goose-bumps/goose-flesh) all over his body. He sprinkled that water that washed the Lord’s feet on his head and felt fulfilled.

Mahabali was determined to make this Brahmin boy happy and asked him, “What can I do for you? O the Holy One! Kindly mention any thing you like –wealth, food, house or earth –whatever you ask for, I promise you.”

Vamana after praising Mahabali, his dynasty and his generosity, demanded “three paces of earth as measured by his foot.” Mahabali laughed loudly and said, “You talk like a silly boy. I am the Lord of all the three worlds, and can give you anything. Ask something big that will match with my power and glory.” The humble Vamana replied, “If one is not satisfied with three feet of earth, he will never be satisfied even with the three worlds.”

The boastful King was humbled and agreed to give what he begged for. At this stage Sukracharya, the Asura-Guru got suspicious and intervened.

Sukracharya, the Preceptor of the Asuras, got suspicious of the demand of Vamana. He told Mahabali in private: “This Vamana is Lord Vishnu himself in disguise. Don’t get cheated by him”

Mahabali thought about it. “If Lord Vishnu Himself has come to me begging, I consider myself fortunate. There is a greater sense of fulfillment in my generosity. I will certainly fulfill my promise and his wishes.” Hearing this reply, Sukracharya became angry and cursed Mahabali for not heeding his advice. But Mahabali was firm in his resolve and gave the promise of three paces of earth as paced by him.

After the formal grant of the promise, Vamana slowly grew up in size and stature, as everyone was watching in amazement. He grew up to the size that touched the Brahmaloka. The Lord measured the Earth and the Heavens with two strides.

Mahabali could not fulfill his promise. Vamana had measured only two paces by his two strides. “Where is the place for me for my third pace, you had promised? Mahabali, however, without any fear, agitation or hesitation, bent down his head and said, “Place your foot on my head for the third pace I had promised.” The Lord placed his foot on the head of Mahabali, and said: “Whatever I have done is only to remove your ego, ‘Ahankara’, even in the matter of your generosity.” Vishnu then returned all the three worlds into Indra's care.

Concluding the unique story about ‘Siddhasrama’, Sage Viswamitra told Sri Rama: In this hermitage which removes the fatigue of worldly life which had once belonged to Vamana I now reside by virtue of my immense devotion and reverence to him. The wicked demons are even now advancing towards the hermitage to hinder and obstruct my yagna. You have to slay these mean rakshasas right here and now, let us go now to that sacred hermitage, which is as much yours, as it is mine.

Upon entering the hermitage, they were greeted by those dwelling in the hermitage. Rushing out to worship Visvamitra, Rama and Lakshmana, they said- with reverence "May glory be yours, Kausika. Begin your austerities this very day. May this Siddhashrama, prosper by the powers of your yagna and gain great fame".

Assured by Rama and Lakshmana, sage Visvamitra commenced preparations for the yagna, with a serene mind.

The valiant princes Rama and Lakshmana now stood ready to avert the marauding demons from disrupting the sacrifice. Pleased at their eagerness to repel the rakshasas, the sages commended the royal brothers and told them that Visvamitra would remain in silence until the conclusion of the yagna and that they were to stand guard for six nights.

Bowing to the ascetics, the famed Ikshvaku princes watched over the hermitage for six days and nights forgoing sleep to protect Visvamitra. On the sixth day Rama warned Lakshmana to be on guard and doubly vigilant and waited impatiently to combat the demons. Just then the sacrificial fires tended by Visvamitra and other sages suddenly leaped into a great blaze enhancing the radiance of the altar adorned by the greatest of sages Kausika. Ritual articles like the Kusa grass, ladles, vessels and flowers, showed up starkly in the brightness of those flames. Suddenly a loud noise, frightening and thunderous was heard. And out of the blue sky, came Maricha and Subahu. Threatening as rain clouds they came with their dreaded followers who poured down torrents of blood. Furious at the desecration of the holy altar, Rama rushed forward and seeing the demons hurling towards him called out to Lakshmana, "Watch, as I scatter these evil, flesh eating rakshasas, like windblown clouds, with the weapon, Manava". That weapon hurled Maricha into the ocean flood, a hundred yojanas away where he lay crushed and unconscious. Rama then told Lakshmana, that though stunned Maricha was not dead but he would kill all the other blood-thirsty rakshasas who destroyed holy yagnas."

Rama took up the immensely powerful Agneya astra and shot at Subahu who pierced to the heart fell to earth, dead. The remaining demons fell prey to the power of Vayavya astra. Having slain those evil doers thwarting yagnas and yagas, Rama received worshipful tribute from the seers, like Indra on the occasion of his victory over rakshasas. Visvamitra lauded Rama beholding the four directions cleared and cleansed of all evil. He said "I have achieved my purpose and you have honored your father's word. With victory over the rakshasas the name of this sanctuary, as Siddhashrama has been justified". This place once was cleansed of Bali by Vamana and now by Rama.

Having achieved Visvamitra's mission, Rama and Lakshmana were happy and content. At dawn the next day they made their way into the august presence of the sage, bowed to him saying that they were at his command. Visvamitra said "Rama. The lord of Mithila, Janaka, is about to perform a noble yagna, the highest expression of dharma. We are leaving for Mithila and want you to accompany us. There you will see that wonderful bow of Siva whose brilliance is dazzling and whose power is immeasurable. The gods, gandharvas, asuras and rakshasas have failed to string it as have great kings and mighty warriors born in the Kshatriya race.As the fruit of the yagna performed by him Devaratha an ancestor of Janaka had received it from the Devatas. In the palace of Janaka, during the worship of the weapons, this bow festooned with flowers and smeared with the fragrant pastes of sandal and Agaru takes precedence". Consenting to their wish Visvamitra said that he too would journey with them. "Fulfilled and enlightened, I am journeying north from Siddhashrama towards the Himalayas which stand on the northern banks of the river Ganga". Bidding farewell and went round the hermitage reverently, Visvamitra embarked on this journey followed by a hundred carts filled with vedic masters. Even birds and beasts of the sanctuary followed the sage until after a while they were asked to return.With the setting of the Sun the travelers camped on the banks of the river Sona.

This concludes the chapters 28, 29, 30 and 31 of Balakanda. Here we learned the story behind Siddhashrama – the place where Viswamitra performed his yagna, the protection of it by Rama, Lakshmana and slaying of Maricha and Subahu, onset of journey to the land Mithila. The mission behind Viswamitra bringing along Rama, Lakshmana is accomplished, and another larger event is about to commence. There are many tales in between and let us learn of them in successive posts.