Journey to Mithila

After leaving Gowthamas Ashram,Viswamitra took Rama and Lakshmana to a place where Janaka was doing Yagna.Janaka welcomed these along with his minister,Sathanandudu.He requested them to stay till the YAGNA WAS OVER. hE ENQUIRED ABOUT Rama and Lakshmana.Viswamitra told that they were Dasarathas sons. HE EXPLAINED him of recent happenings. He revealed their wish to see Shiva dhanush.Sathanada was the son Ahalya and Gowthama.He came to know that his parents were reunited and was happy. He praised Viswamitra and told Rama was very lucky because Viswamitra was protecting him.

Janaka was a yogi. H ewas not materialistic.Inthis context he was much above Dasaratha who was bilnd in love with Rama.Janaka was doing this Yagna for the marriage of his daughter Seetha.Seetha was found by Janaka when he was ploughing the land.He took her home and she grew up there.Seetha was ayonija.Janaka was unable to find suitable bridegroom for her.There was a great bow in his house which was given to him by Varuna.No one could lift it and use it.

Ahalya sapavimochanam

After walking for sometime,Rama came across Ashramam near Mithilanagaram.It was in dilapited condition.No one was living there. To Ramas enquiry Viswamithra explained .That was the abode of sage Gowthama.Gowthama did penance for many years along with wife Ahalya.Indra wanted to destroy Gowthamas penance.So,he approached Ahalya in the form of Rishi in the absence of Gowthama.He expressed his interest in her.Though she knew he was Indra ,she accepted his offer.GOWTHAMA SAW iNDRA COMING FROM ashram and knew what had happened.He cursed Indra to become impotent.He cursed Ahalya also to eat air and do penance in ashes without being seen by any one.When Shri Rama comes ,she would become clean and leave her lust.

Indra went to Devatha sND TOLD THEM OF HIS PLIGHT.Then they sawsto it that he had the testicles of aries.

As Rams feet touched Ashram, Ahalya became visible.She welcomed Rama,fed him and prayed.Gowthama also came and prayed Rama.Viswamitra took Rma and Lakshmana to Mithila.

indra and dithi

From the churning of the sea,Ucchasravam,precious horse,Kousthubham and Amrutham came.There was fierce war between suras and asuras for Amrutham.Many died.So,Vishnu in the form of Mohini got hold of Amrutham and started distributing it to Devathas only.They killed Asuras. Indra got the kingdom of heaven along with Amrutham. Dithi lost all her sons.She was dejected.She went to her husband and told him that his sons killed all her sons. She asked him to give one more son who had the capacity to kill Indra.She was ready to do Thapa to attain it.Kashyapa obliged her and touched her entire body. She had to be clean till she had the child and he would be borne to her after 1000 years. Dithi went to Kusaplavana forest and started Thapa.Indra came to help her.He arranged everything needed to do thapa like Darbhalu,Samidhalu,Agni,fruits ,water etc.Whenever needed he did Gathra samvahanam and fan her for her relaxation.Like this so many years have passed.ONLY TEN YEARS WERE LEFT.Dithi was happy with Indras involvement in fulfilling her deeksha.So. she would not allow her son to defeat Indra but they should live amicably and rule the entire world together. One afternoon,she felt like sleeping.She slept in a wrong position as a result of which she lost her cleanliness.Observing this,Indra enterd her womb and cut her embryo into several pieces.Hearing childs crying, Dithi got up and realised what had happened.Indra asked for her forgiveness as the child was going to be his rival in future. She was not angry with Indra because she could not maintain cleanliness.Indra cut the child into seven parts . She asked him to cut each part into seven parts and made them SApthamarudganas who rule the world.ONE Gana inBrahmaloka,one in Indra loka,one in the sky and remaining four gaqnas in four directions should rule the entire world,.When the child was crying INdra said maruda ,maruda. So they would be called as Maruthamulu. iNDRA AND dITHI THEN LEFT FOR heaven. Viswamithra was telling Rama that they were in the place where Dithi did her penance.THat Kusaplavanam was now called as Visalapuri.Ikshwaku kings son Visaludu built the city.His generation.Sumathi was ruling the country for the present. THat night they would stay there and next day they would leave for king Janakas kingdom.Sumathi came to know of the arrival of Viswamitra and hence welcomed them.

Amrutha madhanam

THis story concerns about the time in Kruthayuga.THere were two sects.-Dithis children and Adithis children.Sons od Dithi were strong.Sons of ADithi were ferocious and righteous.Both were thinkig of how to overcome old age, disease and death.THey were determined to churn PalasaMUDRAM for Amrutham.THey made Mandhara mountain as a stick to churn Palasamudram.First they got Halahalam-poison.THey were afraid and requested SHiva to accept it as agrapuja.Vishnu also requested him in this regard.Shiva gulped it as if it were Amrutham and hence became Srikantudu.He detained it in his throat only.again they started churning and this time Mandhara PARVATHAM SANK INTO pathala.Then Devathas and Gandharvas requestd VISHNU TO HELP THEM.Then Vshnu held the mountain in the form of tortoise/turtle on his back . He alos held his hands high and helped in churning also.After some time,Dhanvantari came up followed by Apsaras.Since they were formed from the juice formed from churning they were called as Apsarasalu.60000 crores of Apsaras were borne.No one married them. So they either became normal women or prostitutes. Daughter of Varuna deva Varuni (Sura) came from sea and went in search of who would marry her.Sons of Dithi did not marry her.Sons of Adithi married her and hence became Suralu.Dithis sons became Asuras.

jahnavi

Ganga was following Bhagiratha.During its path it invaded great sage Juhnus Yagasala with water.He got angry and drank Ganga. Then all rishis and devathas requested him to release Ganga and appeased him saying that she would be his daughter.Then he released her through his ears.THatis why she is also called as Jahnavi.Like this Ganga joined sea and then went into Pathala to fulfill Bhagirathas task.Its waters ran through the ashes of Sagaras sons . HENCE THEY were cleared of their sins and hence went to Heaven. Since Ganga was brought to Earth by Bhagiratha. it is also called as Bhagirathi.Brahma came and blessed Bhagiratha.Viswamitra told this story to Rama and Lakshmana. Then they slept and next day they went to Vishalapuram.Rama wanted to know about the city and Viswamitra obliged.

Bhagiratha

Sagara tried in vain to bring Ganga to Earth.HE died.Amsumantha ruled the country. Later he gave the kingdom to his son Dilip. In time, he too passed away.His son was Bhagiratha.He did not have children.He left the kingdom to his ministers and did thapa for 1000 years.Brahma came and asked about his wish.He asked that jalatarpan to sagaras sons be made possible and he be gifted with a son to continue the progeny.Brahma accepted his wish and told him to take the help of Shiva to control and withhold Ganga. Bhagirhatha did thapa to appease Shiva and he agreed to withhold ganga in his plaits on his head.Ganga was arrogant and felt that Shiva cannot hold her so she would take him to Bhuloka with her speed.Shiva assessed her arogance and as a result she could not come out of his jatas.So many years have passed. Bhagiratha could not find Ganga. So he went to thapa again.Shiva was satisfied. So he left Ganga in bindu sarassu ie bindu lake.After leaving Shiva,Ganga branched in to seven payas.Thay were hladini,Pavani,Nalini branches flew towarsd east.suchakshuvu,seetha,sindhuvu branches flew towards west.seventh branch went behind Bhagirahtaha.by touching shiva ganga became pure and sacred . so not only humans but sages and devathas also did take bath in Ganga.

yagna of sagara-contd

So ,Sagaras sons went in search of the horse.They harassed each and everyone who came across and killed them.They could not find the horse.They returned and told their their father but he ordered them to go and search again and return with the horse only.They dug the earth deep. at its end ,they found an elephant Virupaksha bearing the part of the earth.They saluted it and turned South from east.There they found great elephant-Mahapadmamu.Towards west they came across great elephant-Sowmenasamu and towards North they found bhadramu.Towards the corner EAsanya. they found Vishnu in the form of Kapila.Near him was the horse they were searching.THey thought he was the culprit and went against him. Kapila burnt them alive with his anger. SAgara waited for his sons ,but it was futile.Then he sent his grandson Amsumantha in search of his sons and the horse.Amsumantha came across the horse and the ashes of his uncles.To do jalatarpanam he searched for water but he could not find any.Then maternal uncle of his uncles came there.He advised him that ordinary water would not suffice the purpose. But Ganga from heaven should be brought and flown over the ashes to fulfil the jalatarpanam.But for the present . he told amsumantha to take the horse and do the yagna successfully.