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.
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