THE BIRTH OF RAMA

Following the advice of his priest. Dasharatha decided to perform the Putramameshti Yagna, a sacrifice for progeny.

After the completion of the yagna, a divine being came out of the sacrificial fire. This divine being gave a bowl of Kheer (a pudding made of milk, rice and sugar) to Dashratha.

Dashratha gave hald of the pudding to Kaushalya and the other half to Kekai. Then Kaushalya and Kekai gave half of their share to Sumitra. All the three queens became pregnant and gave birth in due course.

Kaushalya, the eldest queen, gave birth to Rama. Sumitra gave birth to twins. Lakshmana and Shatrughana. The youngest queen, Kekai, gave birth to Bharat.

When the sons were born, king Dashratha distributed food, clothes and money to the poor. All the people of the city were full of joy. The whole city was decorated beautifully, and processions were carried out to celebrate the birth of the four princes.

All the three queens were caring and loving mothers. They loved and cared for all the four sons equally. There was no jealousy or bite-mess among the queens. They lived together like sisters.

Although king Dashratha loved all the four princes, he loved Rama the most. Even as a child, Rama was very kind and noble. All the four brothers dearly loved each other.

There was happiness and joy in the palace because of the children.