SHRAVAN AYODHYA

On the banks of the Saryu river was the city of Ajodhya, the capital of the kingdom of Kosala. The Sanskrit word Ajodhya means 'not to be warned against'.

The beautiful and joyous city of Ajodhya was personally built by Manu, the foremost ruler of mankind. The houses were neatly built and the roads were very clean. The well-devised highways of the city were always wetted with water rand strewed with flowers.

Dashratha was the king of Ayodhya. He was an able and efficient king who looked after his kingdom very well. There was peace and joy in his kingdom because he was brave and generous. He saw to it that no one troubled his people. All the people of Kosala loved King Dashratha and his family.

King Dashratha's family lived in a beautiful palace of Ayodhya. The king had three queens - Kaushalya, Sumitra and Kekai. But they had no children.

Dashratha often told his wives, "God has given us everything. If only we had children, we would be very happy."

Shravan kumar

Once king Dashratha went to a forest for hunting. As he neared a river, he heard a sound. Mistaking it for an animal drinking water, he shot an arrow in that direction. but he was utterly shocked when he heard a boy's painful scream.

Dashratha ran to t banks and saw that his arrow had hurt a young boy.

The young boy said, "I am Shravan Kumar. I was taking my blind parents on a pilgrimage. There is no one to look after them. Please look after my old parents after my death."

Saying this, Shravan died. Dashratha was extremely pained that he had killed the only son of an old couple.

When he informed Shravan's old parents of what had happened, they wept bitterly. Their only son whom they loved so much was dead, and now there was no one to look after them. They cursed Dashratha that he too would die, weeping for his dear son.

Dashratha said, "But I have no son."

Shravan's father said, "Then you will have a son, for you too must suffer the pain and agony that you have given us."

Saying this, Shravan's parents also died. After performing the last rites of Shravan and his parents, Dashratha went back to his palace with a heavy heart.