Appearance of Lord Rama [From iskcondc.org]

Jahnava Nitai Das · 05-26-2001, 09:35 AM

Setting the scene
*****************
Attracted by the intense austerities of the rakshasa Ravana, Lord Brahma
offers him a boon. Ravana asks for the benediction that he cannot be
killed by any god, yaksha, naga, rakshasa or any other celestial being.
Arrogantly confident of his own powers Ravana does not include the puny
humans or animals while asking for the boon. Bound by the power of his
austerities, Lord Brahma grants him the boon.

Ravana is now practically invincible. He fights and defeats Kubera, king
of the powerful Yakshas and takes from him the mystical chariot called
Pushpaka. The chariot, controlled by the mind of its driver, is
indestructible and can travel in all directions. Surrounded by hordes of
fearsome rakshasa, resplendent in his chariot, Ravana travels likes
lightening in dark clouds, eager to establish his supremacy in the three
worlds. He enters the heavenly kingdoms but the gods aware of the boon he
has received do not dare face him. Disappointed he comes down to Earth and
spots the city of Ayodhya, the capital city of the emperor, King Anaranya.
Ravana descends on the city and issues a challenge.

In the fierce battle that ensues, the valiant army of King Anaranya is
completely annihilated. Ravana personally attacks the king and mortally
wounds him. The pious king, a descendant of the Solar dynasty emanating
from Iksvaku, the Sun god, in his last breath curses Ravana. 'In the very
line you deride O vile Ravana there will be born a king who will destroy
you and your entire race.' The scornful Ravana having established his
supremacy returns to his kingdom of Lanka.

King Dasaratha
**************
Several years have now passed and Earth is once again peaceful under the
rule of King Dasaratha, a descendant of King Anaranya. The king is pious
and loved by his subjects. There is an abundance of rain and every one is
prosperous and happy. However Dasaratha is a worried man. Coming in the
lineage of the Sun god (Surya-vamsha) and great kings like Raghu, Sibi and
Harishcandra, he is worried that the dynasty may end with him, for he has
no sons. Hoping to please the gods, he resolves to perform the Ashvamedha
yajna (sacrifice), one of the most difficult and potent sacrifices.

When Sumantra, a closed confidant of the king hears about this he shares
with him an ancient prophecy spoken by the great sage Sanat Kumar, one of
the first four sons of Lord Brahma. In this prophecy Sanat Kumar had
revealed that the sacrifice performed by King Dasaratha would be
successful if conducted by Sage Rishyasringa, and the king would be
blessed by four sons equal to Lord Vishnu. Sumantra then proceeds to
relate the tale of the great Sage Rishyasringa.

Sage Rishyasringa
*****************
Vibandaka, the son of Kasyapa Muni, lived exclusively in the deep forests
with his son Rishyasringa. Completely cut off from any contact with human
civilization, the father and son spent all their time studying the Vedas
and performing intense austerities. So secluded was the life of
Rishyasringa that he had never seen anyone but his father. With his mind,
undisturbed by any distractions, his activities guided by his learned
father, Rishyasringa grows up to be a powerful and pure sage of immense
mystic powers and vastly learned in science of the Vedas.

Nearby was the kingdom of Anga ruled by Maharaja Romapada, a pious king
and a close friend of King Dasaratha. The kingdom was distressed by a long
drought and the king invited the learned brahamins to recommend some cure.
The brahamins proposed that the presence of some one with a spotless
character will bring all auspiciousness to the kingdom, some one like
Rishyasringa.

Using various lures, King Romapada got Rishyasringa to leave the forest
and come to his kingdom and marry his daughter Shanta. As promised by the
brahmins, with the presence of Rishyasringa came the rains and all
auspiciousness. The great sage Rishyasringa resided peacefully in the
kingdom of Anga with his chaste and beautiful wife, Shanta.

The great sacrifice
*******************
Greatly encouraged by the predictions of Sanat Kumar as related by
Sumantra, King Dasaratha proceeds to the kingdom of Anga where he is
joyfully greeted by his old friend King Romapada. After spending a few
days enjoying the hospitality of the King, Dasaratha expresses his desire
to invite Rishyasringa for performing the Ashvamedha sacrifice. Both
Romapada and Rishyasringa accept his proposal and Dasaratha happily
returns to Ayodhya with Rishyasringa and Shanta.

The preparation of the Ashvamedha sacrifice are elaborate and extensive. A
pure bred white horse is allowed to roam freely all over the Earth,
accompanied by the army of King Dasaratha. Any king who challenges the
sovereignity of King Dasaratha could stop the horse and then would have to
fight the armies of the king. However, since every one is happy with
Dasaratha, this does not happen and after one year the horse returns
accompanied by the triumphant army. In the meantime the elaborate
preparations for the sacrifice have also been completed. All the great
kings, the learned brahamins, the austere sannyasis and the pious citizens
have been invited to the sacrifice and given generously in charity. Thus
under the guidance of Rishyasringa the great Ashvamedha sacrifice is
perfectly executed and completed.

The demigods meet
*****************
Rishyasringa then commences the second sacrifice for a son, called the
Putra-kamesti sacrifice, that can only be performed by the most pious and
learned. As the sacrifice begins, the demigods approach Lord Brahma.
Greatly distressed by the boons of invincibility that Lord Brahma has
conferred to Ravana, the demigods implore Brahma to approach Lord Vishnu
to descend in a human form, as the son of Dasaratha, for the destruction
of the evil Ravana.

Attracted by the prayers of Lord Brahma and the demigods, the omnipotent
Lord Vishnu arrives, mounted on His bird carrier, Garuda. Observing the
distress of the demigods, the compassionate Lord Vishnu agrees to descend
as the son of Dasaratha, accompanied by His expansions as His three
brothers. In this incarnation, Lord Vishnu promises, He would annihilate
the evil kingdom of Ravana, rule the planet for ten thousand and ten
hundred years and for posterity set forth the standards of a person ideal
in all respects. Lord Vishnu also instructs the demigods to prepare for
His arrival by expanding themselves on Earth. Since the greatly arrogant
Ravana had not asked for protection from animals, the demigods are
instructed to expand in the form of monkeys and bears.

Thus instructed, the demigods create a race of celestial monkeys and
bears, immensely powerful and mystical. The race is headed by Vali (son of
Indra) and his younger brother Sugriva (son of Surya). The celestial
architect Vishvakarma begets Nala and the Ashwini twins beget Mainda and
Dvivida. At this time also appears the famous Hanuman (son of Vayu the
wind god). From Jambavana, the son of Brahma appear a race of powerful
bears. Thus this divine race of monkeys and bears, their strength and
numbers increasing to the thousands, roam the Earth and await the descent
of Lord Vishnu.

The sacrifice concludes
***********************
As the sacrifice draws to an end, an effulgent figure appears in the fire
of the sacrifice and offers a pot of the sacred payasam (sweet rice) to
King Dasaratha. In a grave voice like rolling thunder, the mystical being
instructs King Dasaratha to share this with his wives in order to receive
the blessings of a child.

The great Dasaratha then pleases all the assembled priests and guests with
expensive gifts and charming words of true humility. Having received their
blessings he proceeds to the inner chambers of his palace where his three
wives are expectantly waiting. He first offers the pot to his eldest wife,
Kaushalya, who partakes of half the offering and gives the bowl to Sumitra
who takes half of the remaining payasam. Kakeyi then takes half of the
remaining payasam. Dasaratha then offers the pot again to Sumitra who
finishes the remnants.

Birth of Lord Rama
******************
In this way imbued by the potency of the offering, the three queens soon
begin to show signs of expectant mothers. First born is the son to Queen
Kaushilya, Lord Ramacandra, an incarnation of the Lord Vishnu. Next
Kaikeya gives birth to Bharata and finally Sumitra, having partaken of the
payasam twice, gives birth to the twins, Lakshmana and Shatrugahana.

The Ramayana
************
Thus was set the stage for the annihilation of Ravana who would be
eventually killed by a 'mere mortal' Lord Rama assisted by an army of
monkeys and bears headed by Sugriva and Jambavana and His greatest
servitor Hanumana. The epic Ramayana recited by the great sage Valmiki
under the instructions of Lord Brahma records the pastimes of Lord
Ramacandra. The recitation or hearing of the Ramayana is considered most
auspicious for spiritual advancement, more so on the appearance day of its
hero, Lord Ramacandra.

All glories to Lord Rama!
All glories to Ramayana!!

Reference: Valmiki Ramayana, Bala Kanda, Sarga 8-12