The Birth

 

The Birth

King Dasarath did the Ashvamedha yagna -a yagna is a yagna done by a king to establish himself as a ruler of many kingdoms. Sage Rishyashringa was called to officiate as the chief priest of the Ashvamedha. This was a complex yagna and Rishyashringa completed it perfectly.

Pleased with this, Dasarath asked Sage Rishyashringa who officiated for the Ashvamedha yagna to do a Putrakameshti yagna for him to have sons. The Sage agreed and the Putrakameshti yagna was performed. From the yagna fire came a Yagna purusha with a huge golden vessel covered with a silver lid. The yagna purusha then directed Dasarath to give the blessed payasam (sweet dish) in the vessel to his chosen wives and disappeared.

King Dasarath was very pleased. As directed by the divine messenger, he gave Queen Kausalya half the portion of the payasam. Then he gave half of the remaining half (1/4^th) to Queen Sumitra. Of the balance 1/4^th left, he divided it between his other wife Kekayi and again to Sumitra. Sumitra actually got two portions of the dessert. The Queens who were praying for children were very pleased with this divine blessing. And in due course they became pregnant. The palace and the kingdom were rejoicing at this happy occurrence and awaited the day when their Queens will go into labour.

In the meantime, Brahma was busy. He created a whole set of people who were to support Lord Vishnu’s divine avatar. Brahma created monkey-shaped progeny equalling Vishnu's valour from the attributes of prominent Devas, apsaras, gandharvas, yakshas, kinnaras and vidyaadharaas. Brahma blessed these entire species with valour, speed, knowledge and strong physique. Brahma also instructed the celestial bear Jambavan (who was born out of Brahma’s yawn in an earlier age) to be ready for service to Lord Rama.

Some of the prominent monkeys born included Vali (with Indra’s attributes), Sugreeva (with Lord Surya’s traits), Hanuman (with Vayu’s traits), Nala (with Vishwakarma’s attributes) and Neela (with Agni’s traits). Millions more such mighty vanaras were created from the powers of the celestial beings. These monkeys were blessed with powers to change shape, move mountains, fly and do other feats. The entire vanara clan waited at Mount Rikshavat for the arrival of the divine avatar. (Perhaps this is called Divine Planning).

It was an auspicious day with good omens. The sun seemed to rise earlier and brighter. The birds chirped louder and joyfully. The cow udders were overflowing with milk. Citizens were going about their tasks with more energy. In King Dasarath’s palace, the eldest Queen Kausalya was in labour. The sages, the king and the ministers were anxiously waiting outside to hear from the mid wife. And then it happened.

कौसल्याजनयद्रामं सर्वलक्षणसंयुतम् || १-१८-१०
विष्णोरर्धं महाभागं पुत्रमैक्ष्वाकुनंदनम् |
लोहिताक्षं महाबाहुं रक्तौष्ठं दुंदुभिस्वनम् || १-१८-११

On the ninth day of Chaitra month under the star of Punarvasu on an auspicious day when five planets were in ascension, Kausalya gave birth to a son with divine attributes. The child had lotuslike eyes, budding lips, long arms and voice like a drumbeat. The child was not only the pride of the Ikshvaku dynasty of King Dasarath but was the pride of the whole universe.

भरतो नाम कैकेय्यां जज्ञे सत्यपराक्रमः |
साक्षाद्विष्णोश्चतुर्भागः सर्वैः समुदितो गुणैः 

अथ लक्ष्मणशत्रुघ्नौ सुमित्राजनयत् सुतौ |
वीरौ सर्वास्त्रकुशलौ विष्णोरर्धसमन्वितौ |

Next day, Queen Kaikeyi gave birth to a son, who was an embodiment of all merits. Queen Sumitra gave birth to two beautiful sons with divine traits.

The birth of four princes was greeted by the Ayodhyans with joy and relief. Celebrations erupted and every house was decorated. Strangers greeted each other and families celebrated together. After the mandatory eleven days of rest for the Queens, Sage Vasishta was requested by King Dasarath to name the young princes. (Perhaps they did not have baby name books in those days). Vasishta named the eldest of the children as Rama, Kekayi’s son as Bharata and the sons of Sumitra as Lakshmana and Shatrugna.

The city of Ayodhya had four princes from a situation where there were none. An overjoyed Dasarath fed the poor and gave alms to the brahmins. While all the princes were well loved, both King Dasarath and the people of Ayodhya had a special affection for the eldest, Prince Rama. Rama and Lakshmana were inseparable. They ate, played, studied and slept together. Similarly, Bharata and Shatrugna were inseparable. King Dasaratha and his Queens were content and happy.

JaiShriram!!