Lord Vishnu took birth on earth in the Treta Yuga as a prince in the royal household of King Dashrath in Ayodhya (now, also referred to as Ram Janmabhoomi) to his first queen, Kaushalya. His eighth avatar was nothing short of a challenge as he endured all the hardships, despite being a man of great principles. Centuries have passed, but his life continues to inspire millions of people across the globe. And the man, blessed with divine powers was none other than Shri Rama, the one who is hailed as Maryada Purushottam. The story of Shri Rama’s birth is a fascinating one. Read on to know how the divine powers planned Lord Rama’s arrival on earth.
King Dashrath of the Suryavanshi Ikshavaku dynasty was a brave warrior. He was one of the most powerful and popular rulers of his time. He had three queens – Kaushalya, Sumitra, and Kaikeyi – but no child. Pained by the absence of an heir, King Dashrath invited his family guru, Sage Vashishth, to express his sorrow and share his concerns. After learning about the reason for his agony, Sage Vashishth asked the King to perform the Putrakameshti Yagya under the guidance of Sage Shringa Muni.
The king who hoped that his devotion and prayers would get answered organised the Yagya and invited Sage Shringa Muni to supervise the ritual. Upon the successful completion, the Fire God (Agni Dev) emerged from the sacred fire pit holding a bowl containing a divine sweet preparation in his hands. Pleased by Dashrath’s devotion, the Fire God then handed over the bowl to him and asked him to distribute it among his wives.
Soon after receiving the blessings, the king asked his first wife, Kaushalya, to consume her share, followed by Kaikeyi and Sumitra. Subsequently, on the Navami Tithi, Shukla Paksha in Chaitra month, Kaushalya gave birth to Shri Rama, Kaikeyi gave birth to Bharat, while Sumitra gave birth to twin sons – Lakshman and Shatrughan. Sumitra was left with twice the quantity of her share, and therefore she was blessed with two sons.
After attaining fatherhood, King Dashrath’s joy knew no bounds. Thus, Lord Ram, the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, arrived on earth to leave behind a legacy that none can match.
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