Unheard Legends of Ramayana
Following the Supreme Court’s verdict on Rama Janmabhoomi; Ayodhya saw grand celebrations on the occasion of bhumi pujan on 5th of August this year. Our honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji laid the foundation stone, officially inaugurating the construction of the mandir.
On this cheerful opportunity, let us reminisce about the life Lord Rama who is to this date considered one of the most ideal kings to have walked on this planet.
Lord Rama was born in Treta Yuga to King Dasharatha and Queen Kaushalya in the holy land of Ayodhya. He belonged to a clan called Suryavanshis- descendants of the sun god. Being the eldest of the siblings, he was destined to rule the throne of Ayodhya, and he set ideal principles for not just a king but also for mankind.
His life and journey are narrated by Sage Valmiki in Hinduism’s most revered epic- Ramayana.
We bring to you some unheard legends from the scripture.
The ten heads of Ravana
Despite his inhuman abduction of Devi Sita, King Ravana was not all bad. He was in fact a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva, a great scholar, and an able ruler. He underwent extreme penance to please the Lord- to an extent that he cut his head off with an axe. Every time he did that, the head would regrow. This continued for ten times until Lord Shiva, pleased with his dedication, granted him ten heads- a representation of the six shastras and four vedas that he mastered.
The incarnation of Lord Rama’s brothers
It is known that Lord Rama was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. However, did you know that his Sudharshan Chakra, Conch shell, and Shesh Naag also took birth along with him to accompany him in his purposeful journey?
They incarnated in the form of his brothers- Bharath (Sudharshan Chakra), Shatrughan (Conch-shell) and Lakshman (Shesh Naag).
Being the incarnation of the serpent is what gives Lakshmana his characteristic anger. He also took birth as Lord Krishna’s elder brother Balaram in Dwapara Yuga.
Abduction of Devi Sita
While Valmiki’s Ramayana narrates that Devi Sita was abducted by Ravana who carefully planned and executed it with the help of Mirich, it is however not very widely known that it was not the devi herself who was abducted but her shadow instead. Lord Rama had asked Agni Dev to look after her so he could ensue a battle with Ravana and kill him along with all his demons. This was also the reason why Lord Rama ordered for an Agni pariksha of the Devi. This was her way to come out of the fire and reunite with her shadow.
There are as many versions and legends to this great epic as one can dig.