Rishyashringa - Page 2


© Harsh Nevatia
Page 2

She made a floating garden island out of boats and populated it with only women. At that time Rishyashringa was alone in charge of the hermitage since his father had gone to attend to several duties. When Rishyashringa went to the river he saw this moving island and the women there and wondered what kind of sages they were. He went on to the island, began to feel good in the company of the women, was enticed to come to Anga, given basic sex education and finally married Shanti. In the meantime Vibondaka returned to his hermitage, and learnt that his son had got married. He stormed to Anga intending to put a curse on the king. But he was convinced by one and all that what had happened was destined to be. Shanti had already become pregnant and Vibondaka instructed Rishyashringa that as soon as his child was born he must return to the hermitage

Meanwhile Dasharatha desperately wanted an heir. Sage Vasishtha told Dasharatha that if Rishyashringa performed the putra-kamesti (desire for a son) sacrifice he was sure to beget sons. Dasharatha personally went to Anga and begged Rishyashringa to perform the sacrifice. There were 28 days left before the delivery after which Rishyashringa had to return to his father and the putra-kamesti sacrifice could be done in 24 days, so Rishyashringa consented.

From the sacrificial fire emerged a huge pot of kheer or sweet rice in milk. Rishyashringa asked Dasharatha to give this sweet rice to his three queens. Dasharatha took the sweet rice. He gave half of it to Kausalya and half to Kaikeyi. The two queens did not want Sumitra, Dasharatha's third wife, to be left out so they both gave her half their share. In this way Rama came in Kausalya's womb, Bharat in Kaikeyi's womb and Lakshman and Satrughna in Sumitra's womb.

This is how Rishyashringa became the vehicle for Vishnu's incarnation as Rama and it was for this purpose that Sage Kashyap had created Vibondaka.

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