How Lord Vishnu became Baby Ram!
Dashrath – a successful ruler of Ayodhya
Dashratha, from the Suryavanshi lineage of Dilip, Raghu and Aj, was now ruling on the throne of Ayodhya. The Raghukul pataaka (flag) was fluttering on the palace under the rein of Dhashrath. Great Prosperity prevailed in the Kingdom. The Ayodhya Vasis felt blessed to be under such a righteous king who was facilitating to them the opportunity to perfect their human life.
Ram Navami 2024 will be celebrated in the divine presence of Swami Mukundananda at the JKYog US Head Quarters - Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas. We highly encourage you to attend with friends and family. See program details here.
The King has no heir
Dashrath had three queens, Kaikeyi, Kaushalya and Sumitra, but they did not have a child.
He felt no need to have a child either.
The Kulguru of Raghukul was Vasishtha. The Guruma Arundhati once asked Vasishtha, “what have you thought, who is going to take over as king after Dhashrath? He doesn't have any child.”
“I have pondered about it myself.” Said Vasishth.
Arundathi asked, “Can you not help him have a child through Vedic sacrifices.”
“I can, but the problem is that Dashrath doesn't want a child.”
Arundhati said, “What if I create in him the desire for a child.” Vasishtha decided to go along with Arundhati’s plan.
Guruma’s plot to motivates Dashrath to have a child and continue his lineage.
Arundhati went to the Palace into the Queens’ Chambers with her grandchild. The queens sat around Guruma with reverence. When Dashrath returned from his courtroom, he saw that guruma was there. He too bowed down to offer respect.
In the meantime, Arundhati pinched her grandchild and that child started crying.
Dashrath took his head up and asked, “why is Guru Putra crying.”
Arundhati very intelligently said, “He is crying that Vasishtha is Guru of Dashrath. Whom will I be the Guru of? Dashrath doesn't have any children.”
Now Dashrath realized the deficiency in his kingdom. So, he then went to Guru Vasishtha and inquired, “Gurudev, how can you help me have a child?”
Vasishtha said, “You know, I did not want to be in this Kulguru (Royal Priest) profession. However, Bhagavan (God) had promised me. He said I am going to come to this Raghukul. You will be most blessed to be the KulGuru of this dynasty.”
Putrakameshti Yagya is performed for the birth of Ram.
Vasishtha declared that a Putrakameshthi yagya will be performed. There was one Brahman in the whole bhumandal (planet) Shringi Rishi who could perform this type of Yagya. He was called and Shringi Rishi performed the yagya.
At the end, when the Yagya was complete, the sounds of bells resonated, indicating that everything had been done perfectly.
Agnidev (fire god) himself manifested from the Yagya Kund (fire pit). He had come with the Yagya Prasad as the reward of Yagya. Agnidev handed the Yagya Prasad to Dashrath and asked him to distribute it to all the three Queens.
Yagya Prasad is divided amongst the three queens.
Dashrath took half of the Yagya Prasad and gave it to Kaushalya.
From what remained he took half and gave it to Kaikeyi. Dashrath took the remaining and he divided it again between Kaushalya and Kaikeyi and asked both to offer it to Sumitra. Sumitra felt immensely gratified for receiving two portions, “I am indebted to both of you. If I have children, I give my word that they will serve your children.”
Ayodhyavasis are awaiting arrival of baby Ram.
The time started flying by. The Ayodhyavasis were already eager to see the forthcoming children of Dashrath. The excitement started building up until the Chaitra Maas, the blessed month arrived. The news had spread far and wide by now and the mahatmas came to know too that God is going to take avatar in the Raghukul. They returned from their hermitages and started residing by the banks of the river Saryu that flowed by Ayodhya. Since there was a swelling of mahatmas there, the river Saryu also started overflowing, which was unusual happening in the Chaitra Maas. When somebody asked river Saryu, “What is wrong how come you are flooding in Chaitra Maas?”
Saryu said, “I am not flooding, I am so happy, I am 'aahladit(very happy)' . It is my Bliss which is resulting in the increase of volume.”
Celestial Gods also arrive to welcome baby Ram.
One by one the days started going by until the Navmi Tithi (ninth day) arrived. Surya rose in the morning as usual and started moving upwards in the sky. The celestial Gods had also come to witness that spectacle, but Brahma ji sent them away, “No, it should not be announced that God has come. God hides himself, only the eligible souls come to know. So you need to go.” The devatas departed from there on Brahma Ji’s instruction with a heavy heart.
However, Surya continues to move ahead. He is extremely delighted Bhagavan is going to take avatar in his dynasty.
Baby Ram comes to Ayodhya.
As the Madhyaan (mid-day) was approaching, a cool breeze started blowing. Suddenly, the Agni Kunds (fire piits_ became prajwalit (ablaze). The brahmans, who do the sandhya vandan in that Madhyaan (midday) time, they had half submerged themselves in the river and were holding their sacred thread. They had started saying the Gayatri mantra and at the moment when the Surya reached the Madhyaan, the good news came!
Kaushalya’s womb became empty. However, Bhagavan did not manifest as a little child. He manifested in his Chaturbhuj Swaroop (four arm form).
Excerpt from Stuti (praise) commemorating birth of Lord Ram, composed by Saint Tulasidas:
Bhaye prakat Kripala, deen dayala, Kaushalya hiitkaari
Harhshit mahatari, muni manhari, Adbhut roop vichari.
Lochan abhirama, tanu ghanshyama, nij ayud bhuj chaari
Bhushan vanmaala, nayan vshala, Shobha Sindhu Kharari
Meaning: The merciful Lord appeared before mother Kaushalya. She was filled with joy upon seeing him. who stole the heart of sages and thought about his great form, As he had ever pretty eyes, was having a dark black body and held weapons in four hands, And also that killer of Khara, Wore a forest garland , had broad eyes, was an ocean of beauty .
So, Bhagavan first appeared in the form of Maha-Vishnu in front of the Queen Kaushalya.
Kaushalya had the darshan and she pleaded, “What is this Maharaj, you have come in your four arm form?”
Bhagavan said, “I had blessed you in the last life that I will come as your child.”
“But Maharaj, you have come as my father. “How will I think of you as my child? Please hide this Chaturbhuj form!”
Before taking on the Bal Ram form, Bhagavan told Kaushalya, “I wanted you to know who I am, so that there is no confusion.” And saying this, Bhagavan became a little child and started crying like a new born baby!
Excerpt from Stuti (praise) commemorating birth of Lord Ram, composed by Saint Tulasidas:
Maata puni boli, so mati doli,
Tajahoo taat yeah roopa
Keejai shishu leela, ati priyasheela,
Yeh sukh param anoopa
Suni bachana sujaana
Rodan thaana
Hoyi baalak sura bhoopa
Meaning - Mother Kaushalya speaks again and asks Lord Vishnu to give up the father like form and take on a baby form. She requests the lord to perform enchanting pastimes as her child that will give her great happiness. So to fulfill Kaushalya's wish, Bhagavan took the form of a baby and started crying like a new born baby.
Upon this request of Kaushalya, to serve God as her child, the four armed Bhagavan transformed into a little child and Ram Janma took place.
An oceanic wave of joy grips Ayodhya.
The news was conveyed to Dashrath. His joy had no bounds. He came running to Kaushalya, begging for the darshan of Baby Ram.
At this point now Kaushalya revealed the little Bal Ram and Dashrath was thrilled.
This news went to the Ayodhya vasis and all of Ayodhya started celebrating.
Surya (Sun) and Chandrama (Moon) negotiate for the darshan (sight) of Baby Ram.
Surya, who had gone up to the highest meridian was not moving from there. He was just wanting to keep getting darshan of Baby Ram, who had taken birth in Suryavansh.
Seeing that Surya (Sun) was staying still at one point for so long, Chandrama (moon) became worried. He shouted, “If you stay still there, then how will I have darshan. I also want to see him.”
Surya still did not budge and asked him to wait.
Chandrama got annoyed, “enough is enough, now it's time for you to set so that I can have darshan of the Lord.”
Surya tried to negotiate to get more darshan time, “How about as a compensation for this delay, when next time the Lord descends, He can come in your Chandravansha (Moon Dynasty).”
Chandrama was not satisfied with that offer, “I can’t wait for such long time, this is the Treta yuga and the next avatar of Bhagavan will happen in Dwapar.”
So, Surya made a better offer, “All right, Lord Ram will add your name to his name.”
This made Chandrama happy and so Lord Ram is called Ram Chandra.
As the celebrations proceeded, the news came that Kaikeyi also had a child, the joy of the people increased manifold. And then the News arrived that Sumitra has had two children. Ayodhyavasis were literally bursting with bliss.
In Conclusion: This blog chronicles the birth of Lord Ram, sourced from the Valmiki Ramayan. Lord Ram is said to be born in the early years of Treta Yuga ( which is the second Yuga of the 4 described in ancient Vedic scriptures).
We have been in Kali-yuga for 5000 years. Before this was Dvapara-yuga which lasts 864,000 years. Before that was Treta-yuga, which lasts over 432, 000 years. Thus, according to this, the existence of Lord Rama had to have been many thousands of years ago.
We had the privilege of witnessing the birth of the Lord Ram, who, in contemporary language, can be referred to as the Father of Hindu Civilization as we currently recognize it.
Ram Janm is being celebrated since the Treta Yuga with ever increasing fervor and enthusiasm! How Hindus celebrate Ram Navami these days? Read Ram Navami 2024 - Dates | Meaning | Importance | How to Celebrate