Om Sri Gurubhyoe Namaha
Hari Om
Bala Kandam
Bala Kandam is about the birth of King Dasaratha’s sons, Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna, and about their childhood.
Sri Rama was the best man in the whole world, and he lived a life of truth, justice, and fairness. Sri Rama was an avatar of Maha Vishnu.
The Gods were being troubled by a powerful and dangerous Rakshasa called Ravana, so they asked Lord Vishnu for help.
Sri Maha Vishnu agreed to help, but he said, “There is one thing I need to tell you. Shiva has made a promise to Ravana that he cannot be killed by any God. I will take birth as a human to help you.”
Dasaratha was the king of Ayodhya, a beautiful kingdom where everyone was very happy. But Dasaratha was very sad because he didn’t have any children.
Dasaratha decided to do a special puja called Putra Kameshti. While he was doing the puja, a God came out of the fire in the homam and gave Dasaratha special teertham as a blessing to have children.
Dasaratha gave the teertham to his wives, Kausalya, Kaikeyi, and Sumitra.
Soon after that Dasaratha had four sons named Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana, and Shatrughna. Rama’s mother was Kausalya, Bharata’s mother was Kaikeyi, and Lakshmana and Shatrughna were the sons of Sumitra.
As they grew up the four brothers learned everything they needed to know, and especially how to use a bow and arrow.
In another kingdom called Mithila, Janaka was the king. One day he was ploughing a field when a child was found in the earth.
It was a baby girl and they called her Sita. When she grew up, Sita’s father realised that Sita wasn’t an ordinary girl, so whoever she married should be an extraordinary boy.
King Janaka decided to have a competition to see who would marry Sita. The person who was able to lift and string up Shiva’s bow would be the winner.
Back in Ayodhya, one day the famous Rishi Vishwamitra came to visit King Dasaratha. Vishwamitra wanted to ask Dasaratha for something. Dasaratha said, “I will give you whatever you want.”
Vishwamitra asked, “I want Rama to come with me to fight against two Rakshasas, Maricha and Subahu. They have been destroying our homam.”
“Don’t take my Rama. He is my beloved child. Don’t take him to fight against Rakshasas,” said Dasaratha in a frightened voice. “I will come with my army and fight against those Rakshasas.”
Vishwamitra got angry and said, “You, the great king Dasaratha, promised you would do anything! You must keep your promise. I want Rama to come with me.”
Dasaratha’s guru, Vasishtha said, “Dasaratha, if Vishwamitra wants Rama, there must be a good reason. Please let Rama go with him.”
Dasaratha listened to his guru, and asked Rama to go with Vishwamitra. Lakshmana also went with Rama and Vishwamitra. They left Ayodhya and started to walk towards Vishwamitra’s ashram in the forest.
While they were walking in the forest a Rakshasi called Tataka tried to attack Rama, but Rama killed her with his bow and arrow. Finally Rama, Lakshmana, and Vishwamitra reached the ashram in the forest. Vishwamitra and the other holy men of the ashram started a homam, with Rama and Lakshmana standing guard.
The Rakshasas Subahu and Maricha and their friends came to make trouble and destroy the homam, but Rama was ready for them.
With one arrow, he shot Maricha into the sea. With another arrow, he killed Subahu. All the other rakshasas who had helped Maricha and Subahu were destroyed by Lakshmana.
Vishwamitra was very happy, and the holy men were able to finish their homam. Afterwards, Vishwamitra decided to take Rama and Lakshmana to Mithila to see King Janaka and Shiva’s bow.
On the way to Mithila, Rama stepped on a rock. The rock turned into a beautiful woman and her name was Ahalya. Ahalya had been cursed by her husband Gautama to be a rock, because she had let a strange man into the house thinking it was Gautama. The curse could only be broken by the touch of Rama. Ahalya thanked Rama and went back to her husband Gautama.
Rama, Lakshmana, and Vishwamitra reached Mithila and were welcomed by King Janaka. When Vishwamitra told Janaka about Rama and the fight against the Rakshasas, Janaka asked Rama to string Shiva’s bow.
Five thousand strong men carried the bow to Rama. Rama picked up the bow easily in one hand and strung the bow. When he pulled the string, the bow broke in half, making a tremendous noise in the universe.
Everyone in King Janaka’s palace was shocked and amazed.
King Janaka was very happy and decided that Sita should marry Rama. King Janaka sent a letter to King Dasaratha to ask that Sita should marry Rama. Dasaratha came to Mithila with his family and friends to meet King Janaka.
Everyone celebrated when Rama married Sita. At the same time, Lakshmana married Urmila, Sita’s sister. Janaka’s brother’s daughters Srutikirti and Mandavi were also given in marriage: Bharata married Srutikirti and Shatrughna married Mandavi.
On the way back to Ayodhya, Dasaratha and his family were stopped by the great warrior Parasurama. Parasurama challenged Rama to a fight against him. He said, “If Rama doesn’t fight, I will kill all of you.”
Rama got angry and grabbed Parasurama’s bow and arrow. Rama said, “Where should I shoot this arrow, Parasurama?”
Parasurama then realised that Rama was really Vishnu and said, “I am sorry, my Lord, I really don’t want to fight you,” and so Dasaratha and his family went back to Ayodhya happily.
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