Ramayana Simplified: Part 6: Rama’s journey with Vishwamitra continues

Maharishi Vishwamitra teaches Rama to use different weapons. Since Rama is the future king, Maharishi Vishwamitra was giving training in all areas so that Rama can become a successful king. Rama was also curious and interested in learning more about different places, about different weapons, etc.

As they were continuing their journey, Rama saw another deep forest and asked more about that place. Maharishi Vishwamitra said that the place was called Siddhashram (current day Buxar), the place where Lord Vamana (5th incarnation of Lord Vishnu) was engaged in tapas (meditation).

Story of Vamana and Mahabali

Mahabali was a very righteous ruler of the earth and a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. He was an excellent king and over the course of time, people started praising him for his rule. Some people suggested that he should rule the devaloka apart from the earth, overthrowing Indra, which is a major position in devaloka. Mahabali thus started fighting for the position of Indra. Indra approached Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu took the incarnation or avatar of a dwarf called Vamana. Vamana went to Mahabali and asked for three-foot land. Everyone laughed thinking why this dwarf was just asking three-foot land. Mahabali told him to measure and take as much as he wanted. The dwarf grew bigger and took 2 feet of land which covered the whole world and said there was no space for the third feet. Mahabali was under the impression that he owned the entire world. He was filled with ahangara (or ego). Mahabali understood his mistake and apologized to Lord Vamana. Lord Vamana blessed him and made him the watchman of Patalaloka which was also owned by lord Vishnu.

Yaga goes on successfully

The yaga hosted by Maharishi Vishwamitra along with other munis (monks) ended up successfully under the full protection of Rama and Lakshmana. The Maharishis who came for the yaga praised the two young princes. Rama asked Maharishi Vishwamitra politely about what he can do next since he had completed the tasks that were assigned to him(to kill Thadaka and the asuras who were disturbing the yaga).

Maharishi Vishwamitra said that the king Janaka of Mithila city was conducting several mahayajnas and that Rama and Lakshmana could also join. Maharishi also said that there was a very powerful bow in king Janaka’s palace and that no one was able to lift it. Thus, they start their journey towards Mithila. On the way, Rama asks about different places and Maharishi Vishwamitra also explains in detail about different places.

Few Insights…

• We see how Rama is interested in learning about different things and the way Maharishi Vishwamitra explains everything in detail. The Hindu culture has been always based on the conversation between a student and teacher (guru sishya samvada). It doesn’t encourage believing in something blindly. A good student is curious and always asks questions and the teacher comes to the knowledge level of the student and explains it to them. The way a child is brought up during his/her first 10 years determines their culture, thoughts, way of living, etc. Thus that is referred to as an imprinting period.
• We also see that Rama and Lakshmana came to learn a huge lot of things and techniques from Maharishi Vishwamitra who was also a very valiant ruler before becoming a Maharishi. If Dasharatha had not left Rama and Lakshmana, they would have missed getting this knowledge.
• The humbleness of Rama as a prince or as the future king is to be noted. At each stage, Rama asks questions very politely and does everything as instructed by the Maharishi. His humbleness is not affected by the praise he gets from other munis who were present at the yaga.
• Let’s also see what is a yaga and why yaga is done
• Yaga is generally done by rishis or monks, but it's done for the society and not for their personal gain. Humans want peace in their minds apart from food, clothing, and shelter. The atmosphere of mantras (hymns) laid at yaga helps in bringing peace to our mind, the smoke coming from yaga also purifies the atmosphere, and when humans breathe it, the benefits are immense.