Ramayana through illustrations Baal Kaand

Ramayana through illustrations: Baal Kaand

Valmiki's Ramayan comprised of seven kands which are the portrayals of different dramatic stages in Lord Rama's life. As the name suggests, 'Baal Kand' deals with the childhood and adolescence of Prince Rama. It focuses on how Rama and his three brothers were born, how they turned into great warriors and his marriage with Sita. India is all set to celebrate Dussehra on September 30 and what better time to remember Lord Rama? The festival signifies the triumph of good over evil. We are here to narrate the story of Baal Kand with the help of pictures.

Birth of Lord Rama and his brothers

King Dashratha, the ruler of Ayodhya was childless and quite upset about it. He organised 'Ashwamedha Yagna' with a desire to have a son. Agni, the god of fire presented the king with a son-giving divine dessert and told him to give the same to his three wives Kaushalya, Kaikeyi, and Sumitra. All his three wives consumed the dessert and after some time the king was blessed with four sons. Kaushalya gave birth to Rama while Bharata was born to Kaikeyi. Sumitra gave birth to twins-Lakshmana and Shatrughana.

Birth of Goddess Sita

King Janak the ruler of Mithila, was ploughing a field one day and this is when Sita appeared splitting the earth. The king discovered the girl child lying in a deep furrow. She was found covered with soil and dirt. He was overjoyed seeing her and declared her as his own child. Janak considered the baby girl as a gift from mother earth and named her Sita. He along with his wife Sunaina raised Sita, who grew into a beautiful woman.

Lord Rama and his brothers in Gurukul

Sage Vashistha acted as the teacher for the four princes in their childhood and taught them important skills. When Rama was 16 years old, Vishwamitra visted the court of King Dashratha and asked him to give Rama and Lakshmana to help him fight the demons. The demons were creating problems for the sages by ruining their yagnas. Dashratha was intially worried but on insistence of Vashistha agreed to Vishwamitra's request. It was sage Vishwamitra who imparted knowledge and instruction about supernatural weapons and warfare to the brothers. Rama and Lakshmana killed many demons including Ravana's relative Taadka with the help of this knowledge.

Lord Rama with Lord Shiva's Dhanush

Vishwamitra received an invitation from King Janak for his daughter Sita's swayamvar. The sage asked both Rama and Lakshman to accompany him to Mithila. Janak had raised the condition that whosoever will be able to tie the string of Shiva's bow will end up marrying his daughter. Many known warriors including Ravana attempted to do so but even failed in moving the bow. It was Lord Rama who was able to lift the bow. The bow broke into two pieces while Rama was tying the string.

Wedding of Lord Rama with Sita

The breaking of the bow into two pieces made Pashurama angry and he came to the ceremony. It was Lord Rama who was able to pacify the anger of Pashurama, who is Lord Vishnu's sixth avatar. Lord Rama married Sita in a grand ceremony on Vivaha Panchami conducted by Satananda. Rama's three brothers got married to Sita's sisters.