Birth of Rama
One of the two chief dynasties of the Kshatriyas was the Solar Dynasty. The Solar Dynasty (Surya Vansha) worshipped the Sun-god tracing their ancestry to the son of the Sun-god, Shraddhadev (Vaivasvata Manu). Many great kings belonged to this dynasty, like Harishchandra, Sagar, Bhagirath, Dileep, Raghu, and the suchlike. King Raghu was an illustrious ruler. He expanded his empire during his reign.
He gave away all his possessions in the second sacrifice, called Vishwajit, to the Brahmins. The Raghu Dynasty was named after king Raghu. King Aja was eleven generations down king Raghu. The solar kings made Ayodhya their capital. The word ‘Ayodhya’ means-the one which can’t be subdued. King Dasharatha, son of king Aja, was seated on the throne of Ayodhya at that time. He was an excellent ruler. He had three wives: Kaushalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi. He often felt desolate without an issue. With the permission of Sage Vasishtha, king Dasharatha requested Sage Rishyashringa to perform the Putrakameshthi sacrifice for him.
Sage Rishyashringa performed the Putrakameshthi yajna for the king. Agni, the god of fire, appeared out of the flames and giving king Dasharatha a bowl of kheer said, “Give this kheer to your wives. Your prayer shall be granted.”
At that time, the terror unleashed by the demon-king Ravana was at its peak. Lord Brahma’s boon to Ravana had made him so powerful that he could not be defeated by the gods, the demons, the gandharvas and all other creatures. Ravana had always treated humans as lowly creatures, so he never asked that he should not be killed by a human being. Having been tormented by Ravana, all the gods appeared before Brahma who asked them to seek Lord Vishnu’s help.
All the gods urged Lord Vishnu to do away with their crisis. Lord Vishnu told them that he himself would descend to the earth as Rama, eldest son of king Dasharatha of Ayodhya, and destroy Ravana. The gods returned to their respective abodes happily. Then, the gods started waiting for the destined hour when the son of king Dasharatha would free them from the torture and tyranny perpetrated by the demon-king Ravana.
King Dasharatha gave half of the kheer to Kaushalya and handed over the rest to Sumitra and Kaikeyi equally. All the three queens of king Dasharatha loved one another very much. Out of affection queen Kaushalya gave some of her kheer to both queens Kaikeyi and Sumitra.
At an opportune time the three queens gave birth to four princes. Queens Kaushalya and Kaikeyi gave birth to one prince each. While, Sumitra gave birth to two princes. There was great jubilation everywhere.
The eldest son was named Rama because he brought peace and joy everywhere; the second son was named Bharata because he sustained and gave care to one and all; the third son was named Lakshmana as he possessed great virtues. The fourth prince was named Shatrughna, slayer of foes. Time passed and the princes started speaking. All the people of the kingdom would be held spellbound having heard the prattles of the four princes. The princes were loved and adored by one and all in the palace. When they began to walk, the sound of anklets tied to their feet enthralled one and all.
Thus the four princes grew amidst the environment of adoration. King Dasharatha was thankful to the Almighty God for the four princes. He would spend happy time in the company of his queens and princes. With the passage of time the princes grew.
