Rāma Janana (Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa)

Rāma Janana means “the birth of Rāma”. The Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa tells it in the Bāla Kāṇḍa. Bhagavān Vishṇu came down as Rāmacandra from the womb of Kauśalyā in Ayodhyā. The day was the ninth of the bright half of the month of Caitra, in the Abhijit muhūrta (the auspicious hour of midday). Before this, King Daśaratha had a putrakāmeshṭi yajña (a fire ritual for the birth of sons) performed by Ṛśyaśṛṅga, on the advice of Vasishṭha.

Ayodhyā and Daśaratha

Ayodhyā stood on the bank of the Sarayū river. It was the capital of the Kosala kingdom, and in common speech the city was called Avadha and its king Avadhesa. Daśaratha, of the Ikshvāku line of the Sun, ruled this kingdom. He had every virtue. He was dharmavān (devoted to dharma), a jñānī (a knower) and loyal in heart to Bhagavān Vishṇu. He had three chief queens: Kauśalyā, Kaikeyī and Sumitrā. But for many years Daśaratha had no children. This grief weighed on him, for a king without children cannot perform the rites for his ancestors.

Vasishṭha’s advice and the putrakāmeshṭi

One day Daśaratha went to his family guru Vasishṭha and asked for a remedy for his lack of children. Vasishṭha comforted him: “Grieve no more. Four sons, famous in all the worlds, will be born to you.” In time Vasishṭha called Ṛśyaśṛṅga and had him perform the holy putrakāmeshṭi yajña. Agni himself came out of that fire and put in Daśaratha’s hands a vessel full of pāyasa (sweet milk rice). He said: “Daśaratha, your wish will be fulfilled as Vasishṭha promised. Share this pāyasa among your three queens in the proper way.” With these words Agni vanished.

Sharing the pāyasa

At an auspicious moment Daśaratha carried out the sharing of the sacred pāyasa.

He divided it into two halves and gave one half to Kauśalyā. From the other half he gave one portion to Kaikeyī. He divided the last portion again into two. One part he gave to Kauśalyā and the other to Kaikeyī. Kauśalyā and Kaikeyī each touched their portions with both hands and gave them to Sumitrā.

So Sumitrā received portions that both Kauśalyā and Kaikeyī had touched. The three queens ate their pāyasa and in time they conceived. At the very moment Kauśalyā conceived, Bhagavān Vishṇu entered her womb. From that day all the worlds shone with prosperity and joy.

The birth of Rāmacandra

Nine months passed in an air of divine blessing. The time of Rāma’s birth came near, and all the signs in the sky came together in harmony:

Navamī tithi, the lunar month of Caitra, the bright fortnight, the beloved Abhijit muhūrta, midday, with pleasant warmth, bringing rest to all the worlds.

In that auspicious time, with cool and scented breezes blowing, Jagannātha Śrī Hari came down from Kauśalyā’s womb.

When the news spread, the devas rejoiced and the ṛshis were filled with bliss. The kinnaras danced and the gandharvas sang. The deva-dundubhis (drums of the devas) sounded. Flowers fell like rain. Forests burst into bloom and fruit. Rivers ran sweet with water. Mountains shone with gems. The devas in the sky praised Rāmacandra and blessed him in countless ways.

Kauśalyā’s vision

The moment Bhagavān Rāma came out of the womb into the world, he showed his mother Kauśalyā his own true divine form. This form is avāṅmanasagocara (beyond speech and mind). Kauśalyā saw the four-armed form. It held the śaṅkha (conch), cakra, gadā (mace) and padma (lotus). The eyes were like lotuses, the dress was the pītāmbara (yellow cloth), and the body was dark like a rain cloud. Every auspicious mark was on him, and the Śrī-vatsa was on his chest. Her memories of past lives came flooding back. Her body was covered with goosebumps and her eyes flowed with tears of joy. With joined hands she praised Bhagavān Rāma in many ways.

Then, full of love, she prayed: “O vibhu (all-pervading one)! Please put aside this cosmic form and take the form of an infant. Let me hear you call out ‘Mother’ (ammā). That is what my heart most desires.” At once the divine form became a tiny baby and began to cry.

The baby’s cry brought all the queens running to the birth room. Servants ran in all directions in excitement. Within minutes the glad news had spread through Ayodhyā. Daśaratha’s heart swelled with joy. He knew that Paramātmā himself had blessed his house, and he was overcome with divine bliss. He ordered festive music through the city and sent word to Vasishṭha at once.

Vasishṭha came, looked at the divine form of the child, and stood still for a moment, wholly absorbed. Daśaratha performed the nāndī-mukha, the jātaka-saṃskāra and the other birth rites. Then he honoured the brāhmaṇas, the common people and the ministers with gifts of cows, cloth and gold.

The other births

After Rāma’s birth, Kaikeyī gave birth to one blessed son, and Sumitrā to twin sons. The joy in Daśaratha’s palace was beyond words. Ayodhyā was hung with flags and banners, and every house overflowed with celebration. The women of Ayodhyā, beautiful by nature and shining with joy, came in groups to the birth room carrying golden pots of auspicious things. The streets smelled of kasturī (musk), candana (sandalwood) and pañca-dravya (five fragrant substances). The whole city celebrated for a full month as if only a single day had passed.

Śiva told Pārvatī: “At that time, moved by the joy of the occasion, I and Kākabhuśuṇḍi went to Ayodhyā in human forms to see those celebrations. It was a feast for the eyes. I am telling you this secret now.”

Sources

• Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa, Śrī Rāma Janana