To the north of the Ganga was the great

kingdom Kosala, made fertile by the river

Sarayu. Its capital was Ayodhya, built by

Manu, the famous ruler of the Solar

dynasty. From Valmiki's description of

the capital Kosala, it is clear that ancient

Ayodhya was not inferior to our modern

cities. Even in ancient India city

civilisation had reached a high level.

King Dasaratha ruled the kingdom

from the capital city of Ayodhya. He had

fought on the side of the Devas, and his

fame spread in the three worlds. He was

the equal of Indra and Kubera. The people

of Kosala were happy, contented and

virtuous. The land was protected by a

mighty army, and no enemy could come

anywhere near

It contained forts with moats around

them as well as many defensive

intallations, and true to its name, Ayodhya

defied all enemies. (Ayodhya means that

which cannot be subdued by war).

Dasaratha had eight wise ministers, ever

ready to advise him and execute his

orders. Great sages like Vasishtha and

Vamadeva and other Brahmanas taught

the dharma and performed rituals and

sacrifices.

Taxes were light and punishment of

crime was just and inflicted according to

the capacity of the wrong-doer.

Surrounded by the best counsellors and

statesmen, the king's splendor shone as the

rising sun. Many years rolled smoothly

by. In the midst of all this prosperity

Dasaratha had one regret; he had no son.

One day in early summer he thought of

performing a horse sacrifice for progeny.

He consulted his religious masters and on

their advice, got sage Rishyasringa to

perform the Yaga. The Yaga was a grand

affair and the invitees included many of

the kings of the day. It was no easy thing

to perform yagas. The location and

erection of the sacrificial platform had to

be attended to in detail strictly according

to prescribed rules. There were experts

whose guidance was sought in arranging

things.

It meant the building of a new camp-

city, capable of accommodating tens of

thousands and providing hospitality and

entertainment for the invitees who

included the princes and sages of the land.

In short, yagas in those days were

something like our present-day State-

sponsored big scale conferences and

exhibitions.

When all arrangements were complete

the ceremonies were set in motion strictly

as enjoined by the Shastras.

Contemporaneously with the yaga in

Ayodhya, there was a conference of the

Devas in heaven. The Devas complained

to Lord Brahma that Ravana, king of the

demons, drunk with the power acquired

by the boon granted to him by Brahma,

was causing them untold misery and

hardship. They represented to Brahma: "It

is beyond our capacity to subdue, conquer

or kill Ravana. In the security of your

boon, he has grown wicked and insolent

and ill-treats all, even women. His desire

is to dethrone Indra. You are our onlyrefuge and it is for you to devise a method

by which Ravana can be slain and his

despotism ended."

Brahma knew that he had granted to

Ravana the boon prayed for by him that

he should be invulnerable and invincible

against Devas, Asuras, Gandharvas and

other such beings. In his arrogance,

Ravana did not care to ask for security

against mankind. As Brahma revealed this

fateful omission all the Gods rejoiced and

turned to Vishnu.

Absolutely surrendering themselves to

Hari, the Devas begged him to be born as

a man and put an end to Ravana and his

atrocities. Hari agreed and assured the

Devas that he would be born as four sons

of King Dasaratha who was then

performing a sacrifice for progeny. As the

ghee was poured into the fire and the

flames shot up to meet it, from out of the

flames came a majestic figure, resplendent

like the noonday sun, holding a bowl of

gold.

Calling King Dasaratha by his name,

the figure said: "The Devas are pleased

with you and are answering your prayer.

Here is payasam sent by the gods for your

wives. You will be blessed with sons if

they drink this divine beverage." With joy

unbounded, Dasaratha received the bowl

as he would receive a child and distributed

the payasam to his three wives, Kausalya,

Sumitra and Kaikeyi.

He asked Kausalya to drink a half of

the payasam and he gave a half of what

remained to Sumitra. Half of what was

then lift was drunk by Kaikeyi, and what

remained was given to Sumitra again.

Dasaratha's wives were happy, even as a

beggar suddenly coming upon buried

treasure. And in due course all of them

were expectant mothers.