MAREECH AND SUAAHU

The leaders of the demons were Mareech and subaahu, They came along with their army of demons and poured down spates of blood.

Nama hit a benign and radiant arrow, called Maanava at Mareech. Hit By this great distance and flung down into an ocean but did not die.

Nam hit a powerful fire arrow called Aagneya astra at Subaahu and killed him.

Both Rama and Lakshmana Fought very bravely and killed the remaining demons.

In this way, Vishwamitra was successfully able to complete his Vedic ritual.

Vishwamitra blessed Rama and Lakshmana and applauded their victory against the demons.

                                                AHALYA

The three then went towards Mithila. On the precincts of Mithila, they came across a beautiful but empty hermitage. When the princess asked Vidhwamitra why it was empty, he narrated the legend of Ahalya.

He said," "This is the hermitage where once Sage Gautama lived. Gautama's wife Ahalya complained to Indra's desire to have a union with her. When Gautama caught them, he cursed that he regretted it. He then told the stone turned Ahalya that when the eldest son of Dashratha would pass this way and touch his feet on the stone, she would become a woman again. Gautama himself went to the Himalayas to perform severe penance."

The three then saw the stone turned Ahalya. When Rama touched his feet on the stone, Ahalya was freed from the curse and she regained her old form.

Ahalya touched Rama's feet, and with folded hands, she thanked him for freeing her from the curse after thousands of years.

After that, Vishwamitra told Rama and Lakshaman to come along with him to t country of Videha. They then started on their journey to Videha