SAGEVASISTHA-Part 3 Dearfriends,
This posting about sage VASISTHA is compiled from Google search by asking manyquestions curious to me and posted in my style which is desired by a fewmembers than asQA posting. Informationrelevant from Wikipedia is also included. Thisposting is least intended to all knowing and criticizing and fault findingmembers. Hope the postings will be interesting and informative to manyof my friends. Since the information is more it is posted in parts. This is third part of the posting about Sage Vasistha. Gopalakrishnan 19-02-2026 Part of sage Vasisthawhile SriRama was sent with sage Viswamithra to fight demons disturbing sage’spenance While Dasaratha was initiallyhesitant, panicked, and refused Sage Viswamitra's request to send Rama to fight demons, it was Sage Vasistha who intervened topacify the situation and advised Dasaratha to send Rama. Here are the key detailssurrounding this event: Initial Refusal: When Viswamitra asked for young Rama(who was less than 16) to protect his yajna, Dasaratha was terrified, citingthe danger posed by demons like Maricha and Subahu. He even offered to come himself, whichmade Viswamitra furious. Vasistha’s Intervention: To avoid a conflict with the powerful sage andto uphold the reputation of the Raghu dynasty (which was known for keeping itsword), Vasistha intervened. The Advice: Vasistha advised Dasaratha thatRama was protected by his virtue and the blessing of the sage, and that this trip would be a greatopportunity for Rama to gain knowledge and celestial weapons. The Conclusion: Following the counsel of his familypriest, Vasistha, Dasaratha agreed to send both Rama and Lakshmana withViswamitra. In some versions or interpretations, Vasistha'srole is seen as reassuring the king that Vishwamitra's request was not just adangerous mission, but a crucial step in fulfilling the divine purposeof the Rama avatar Based on the narratives of the Ramayana and theRamcharitmanas, the circumstances surrounding Sita’s swayamvara (groomselection ceremony) involved specific conditions that led to the event’s rapidpace and the initial absence of King Dasaratha. During Swayamvara whyKing Dasaratha was not initially present?: It Was Not a Formal Invitation Scenario: According to manyversions, King Janaka did not send an open, widespread invitation to all kingsfor a traditional, long-drawn-out swayamvara. Instead, it was a specialized, strictcompetition for a "valorous husband" who could lift the immense,divine bow of Lord Shiva (Pinaka). Rama Was There with a Sage: Rama and Lakshmana were brought to Mithila by SageVishwamitra to protect his yagna and, subsequently, to see the divine bow. Theywere not there as part of a royal, invited, or prepared weddingdelegation from Ayodhya initially. Post-Breaking Invitation: Once Rama successfully lifted,strung, and broke the bow, King Janaka was overjoyed and sent his messengers(messengers) to Ayodhya to invite King Dasaratha for the wedding. Therefore, Dasaratha and wives arrived in time for the marriage ceremony, butnot for the initial competition itself. Why the event wasconducted in a hurry: The Impossible Condition: Many mighty kings and princes hadalready tried and failed to even move the bow, leading to frustration, withsome even insulting Janaka or blaming him for keeping the bow. Janaka's Despair: After many failures, King Janakabecame desperate and upset, famously stating that the world seemed void ofbrave warriors (Kshatriyas) and feared his daughter might remain unmarried. Vishwamitra’s Intervention: Seeing the tension, Sage Vishwamitra commanded Rama to stepforward and lift the bow. The Power of the Bow: The bow was not just a symbol; itwas exceptionally heavy and divine. Its breaking was a sign that the awaited,worthy, divine, and powerful groom (Lord Vishnu's avatar, Rama) had arrived,making the culmination swift after the long, failed attempts of others. In summary, the swayamvara was a high-stakes,"sudden-death" competition, and the quickconclusion was a result of King Janaka's frustration and the sudden, efficientsuccess of Prince Rama. Was it actually atrick by sage Viswamithra? Many scholars, readers, and interpretations agree with that it was a "divine trick" or leela(divine play) by Sage Vishwamitra. However, it was not a malicious trick, but rather a deliberateorchestration by a sage who knew exactly who Rama was. Here is why it is interpreted that way, based on the ValmikiRamayana and subsequent accounts: 1. Vishwamitra Knew Rama’sDivinity As a Brahmarishi, Vishwamitra possessed immense foresight. Hedid not ask Dasharatha for his young sons because he couldn't kill the demonshimself (he had the power to do so), but because he wanted to give Rama, theAvatar of Vishnu, the opportunity to begin his mission on earth—Rakshasa-vadh(killing of demons) and protecting the Yagna (rituals). 2. The Sequence of the"Plan" Stage 1: Protection: He takes them to destroy Tataka andSubahu/Maricha. This allowed Rama to test his strength and forVishwamitra to teach him celestial weapons (Astras). Stage 2: Validation: He takes them to King Janaka'spalace, specifically mentioning in some versions that they wanted to "see the bow." Stage 3: The "Accident": When in the court,Vishwamitra urges Rama to lift the bow of Shiva (Pinaka). The text says Rama lifts it, stringsit, and as he tries to pull it taut, the bow breaks. 3. Why a"Trick"? Removing Obstacles: Many kings had failed to even move thebow, and some had even besieged Mithila in anger . The bow was a source of tension. A "Destined" Match: Vishwamitra knew Sita was areincarnation of Lakshmi, and only Vishnu (Rama) could be her husband. Breaking the Ego: The breaking of the bow shattered the prideof the worldly kings who thought they were strong enough to win Sita. Summary It was a skillful maneuver by a sage who was preparing thedivine hero for his role. It was a "trick" only in the sense thatVishwamitra kept his full plan hidden from everyone else, but in the end, itwas considered a necessary event for the welfare of the world (Dharma). Note: In the Valmiki Ramayana, Vishwamitra says he wants toshow the bow, and the breaking happens almost as an unforeseen result of Rama'stremendous strength, but Vishwamitra clearly anticipated that Rama would fulfilthe goal. Lakshmana and otherbrother’s marriage Lakshmana married Urmila, Sita's younger sister, immediatelyafter Rama's marriage to Sita in Mithila. The weddings were part of a quadruplealliance arranged by King Dasharatha, where all four sons of Dasharatha marriedfour daughters/nieces of King Janaka on the same day under the guidance ofShatananda. Key Details of theWedding: The Marriage Arrangement: After Rama won the swayamvara bybreaking Shiva's bow, it was decided that for the marriages, a specific orderwould be followed, but ultimately all four brothers married the daughters ofJanaka's family. The Four Couples: Rama marriedSita, Lakshmana married Urmila, Bharata married Mandavi, and Shatrughna marriedShrutakirti. Part of sage Vasisthain the marriages of Rama and brothers Sage Vasistha accompanied King Dasaratha, the queens(Kaushalya, Kaikeyi, and Sumitra), and other family members/ministers toMithila for the marriage of Lord Rama and his brothers to Sita and her sisters. As the Kula Guru (familypreceptor) of the Ikshvaku dynasty, Vasistha played a central role in thewedding proceedings: The Journey: He travelled with the royal contingent, which included the army, afterDasaratha decided to accept Janaka’s invitation. Officiating the Wedding: Upon reaching Mithila, Sage Vasistha, along withVishwamitra and Shatananda, prepared the wedding altar (vedi) andconducted the marriage rituals according to Vedic traditions. Conducting Negotiations: Vasistha was instrumental in thediscussions between the two families and ensured the wedding ceremonies wereperformed according to customs. Sri Rama and brother’sfamily life. According to the Valmiki Ramayana (specifically in the Aranya Kanda, where Sitanarrates their story to Ravana), Lord Rama was married at age 25 andsent into forest exile (Vanvas) in his 38th year. They lived together in Ayodhya for 12years after their marriage before the 14-year exile began. Here is the breakdown based on the Valmiki Ramayana: Age at Marriage: Rama was 25 years old (and Sita was 18). Time in Ayodhya: They lived in Ayodhya for 12 years aftertheir marriage. Age at Exile: Rama was roughly 38 years old (with 12-13 yearspassing since marriage) when he was sent to the forest. Duration of Exile: 14 years. Note on Age Calculation: While some interpretations suggest ayounger age (child marriage), the widely cited scriptural evidence in theAranya Kanda (Sarga 47) clarifies they spent 12 years in the palace before theexile in the 13th year. The 14-year period was chosen because it was believed in theTreta Yuga that if a prince remained out of his kingdom for 14 years, he wouldlose his right to the throne. I will continue innext part -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. 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