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Legends of Ram Navami

One of the most sacred Hindu occassions, Ram Navami has its origins in the ancient Vedas (holy Hindu scriptural texts). Much in the way of most other Hindu festivals, Ram Navami also has a fair share of legends and stories associated to it. Go through some of the most interesting legends related to Lord Rama, the god whose birth Ram Navami commemorates. If you like reading these legends of Ram Navami, click here and refer this page to your friends and loved ones. Wish you a happy Ram Navami!

Rama and the Demons

Democracy and the modern way of life have given us the chance to live without bloodshed and fights. But this was not so thousand years ago.

In India, people were divided into four groups known as castes according to their birth and occupation. These four castes were the Brahmanas, the Kshatriyas, the Vaishyas and the Shudras. Of these, the Kshatriyas were entrusted with the protection of the other three castes. All able chidren belonging to the Kshatriyas were trained in the art of warfare from an early age.

Ramachadra, who was born as a prince, belonged to the Kshatriya caste. Like all Kshatriya boys, he was being taught in martial ways or the art of battle. Being an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the supreme god, none was equal to Rama in strength and military ability as also in all other ways. He picked his lessons faster than his teachers could imagine and did it even better than how he was shown.

One day, the great sage Vishwamitra came to Ayodhya approached King Dasharatha, Rama's father. He informed the monarch how two Rakshasas (demons), the female monster Tadaka and her son Maricha, were attacking the hermitage where he resided along with other yogis (saints), causing mental troubles for them all and interrupting their spiritual activities.

Rama was all of 16 years at this time. King Dasharatha was hesitant as his son was too young for the task. He offered to go with Viswamitra himself, but on the sage's insistence he agreed to send Rama, along with his younger son Lakshmana. The two young princes promised Dasharatha that they would obey the great sage and try to fulfill all his wishes. With the blessings of their parents, the boys set off with Rishi (sage) Vishwamitra.

Soon the three arrived reached Dandaka forest, where the Rakshasi Tadaka and her son Maricha lived. On the order of Viswamitra, Rama shouted a challenge to the demons to come out and face them. He twanged the string of his bow. At its violent sound, the wild animals in the jungle were seen to run helter-skelter out of fear. The birds perched on nearby trees chirped as loud as they could and flew as fast as possible.

A moment of silence followed. Then the huge figures of Tadaka and Maricha were seen to emerge from behind the tree leaves. Mad with rage, the demoness roared furiously and lunged at Rama and Lakshmana. A great battle ensued, such a one as is rarely seen. At last Rama shot a deadly arrow at Tadaka that went though the heart of the demoness, killing her instantly. Seeing his mother die before his eyes, Maricha attacked the brothers with double ferocity. After a terrible fight that felled many trees and raised a duststorm, Maricha was killed. A shower of arrows from Rama and Lakshmana's bows propelled the demon's body through the air and dropped it into the sea.

Pleased at the prince's efforts, Viswamitra taught the brothers several mantras (divine chants) that could be used to summon many divine weapons. With his blessings, the princes returned to their palace and the overjoyed King Daharatha held a celebration to mark this great occassion.

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