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IN DAYS OF OLD, King Dasharatha dwelled in a snow white palacein the fabled city of Ayodhya. Dasharatha was a righteous king, well
loved by his subjects and renowned for his wisdom and devotion to duty.
One thing only did he lack: a son to inherit his kingdom.
So Dasharatha summoned his priests and
advisers. “You must prepare a great sacrifice,” he
commanded them. “If the offerings please the
gods, they may send a son to brighten my autumn
years and rule the kingdom after my death.”
Soon the fragrant scent of the sacrifice rose to
the heavens. The gods looked down with pleasure.
It happened that they were already assembled, trying to decide what
to do about Ravana. The cruel demon king had drunk the blood of
many innocent humans. He had interfered with men’s holy sacrifices.
Now he was threatening to overthrow the gods and take over heaven
itself! No one dared to defy the demon, because he was protected by
a great power. Long ago, Brahma had rewarded Ravana for his tireless
prayers and fasting by granting him a special wish: no god or demon
could ever defeat him.
“It is your fault that Ravana defies the hosts of heaven,” all the gods
said to Brahma. “You must find some way to rid the world of this invin-
cible demon.”
“It is true that I granted Ravana protection from all the beings of
heaven and the underworld,” Brahma answered. “But in his arrogance,
he did not consider the threat from mere mortals. No god or demon
can take the fiend’s life, but a man could slay him. For the good of
Heroic Rama, men
proclaim the
marvels of thy
matchless fame.
-
the Ramayana
The Birth of Rama
ANCIENT INDIA48
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Vishnu rides on
the shining
eagle Garuda.
49
heaven and earth, let us ask Vishnu to
accept birth as that man.”
As Brahma spoke, a dazzling light
filled the universe. Vishnu drew near,
riding on his golden eagle. “I shall be
born on earth as the son of King
Dasharatha,” said the champion of
the gods. “In human form I shall
smite the fiend Ravana.”
At that very moment, the flames
of Dasharatha’s sacrifice leaped up
on earth. A giant figure robed all in
red stepped forth from the fire. In his
hands was a golden goblet filled with
the nectar of the gods. “The god of
gods has sent me,” the divine mes-
senger told the king. “Take this cup to
your queens. Let them drink the heavenly nectar, and they shall bear
you sons.”
Dasharatha took the goblet and hurried to his three queens. He
gave half the nectar to his first wife, Kausalya. The remaining por-
tion he divided between his second wife, Kaikeyi, and his youngest
wife, Sumitra.
Soon each of the king’s wives was with child. The seasons passed in
happy anticipation. Then the three queens gave birth. Sumitra deliv-
ered twin boys named Lakshmana and Shatrughna. Kaikeyi had a son
named Bharata. Kausalya gave birth to a boy with skin as blue as the
lotus that blooms in the heart of the jungle. She brought forth Rama,
the god born as a man to deliver the world from Ravana.
The Ramayana
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95INDEX
Sita and the Demon King,
52–55, 52
Ramayana (poem), 45–46
Rambha (father of Mahisha), 61
Ravana (demon), 28–29, 46,
53–54
reincarnation, 24
religious festivals, 27
Rig-Veda (ancient text), 35
rivers, 12, 13, 15, 15
Sanskrit, 17
Sarasvati (goddess), 21, 22
Sarasvati River, 15, 16
Sarasvati (wife of Brahma), 59
Shatrughna (son of Dasharatha), 49
Shiva (god), 20–21, 22, 50, 61
dance of, 74, 75
and Ganesha, 66, 67–73, 70
Shiva Purana, 68
Shudras, 23, 25
Shukra (teacher), 40–41, 42
Shurpanakha (demoness), 52–53
Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha),
19, 77
Sita (wife of Rama), 46, 50–51,
50, 52–55, 52
“Spring in the Desert, A”
(Buddhist myth), 79–81, 79
Sumitra (wife of Dasharatha), 49
Surya (god), 20, 22
untouchables, 23
Vaishya caste, 23
Vamana the dwarf, myth of, 36,
37–43, 41
varnas (social class system), 23
Varuna (god), 22
Vayu (god), 22
Vedas (prayers), 17
Vedic period, 17, 20
Vishnu, 20, 21, 22, 30, 61, 71
and Brahma, 32, 33–34
incarnations of, 37–38, 40–42,
43, 43, 44, 45–55, 49, 50, 52
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96 ANCIENT INDIA
about the author
“I can’t think of a better way to learn about the people of
ancient cultures than by reading the stories that held their
deepest hopes and fears, their most cherished values and
beliefs. While collecting these sacred tales, I looked for the
elements that set each culture apart: the special music of the
language, the differing roles of men and women, the unique ways of inter-
preting the mysteries of life. I also enjoyed discovering the many feelings
and experiences that unite all peoples around the world, both past and
present. Pueblo storyteller Harold Littlebird said it best: ‘We know we all
come from story. They may not all be the same story but there is a same-
ness. There is a oneness in it all.’ ”
VIRGINIA SCHOMP has written more than seventy titles for young
readers on topics including dinosaurs, dolphins, occupations, American
history, and ancient cultures. Ms. Schomp earned a Bachelor of Arts
degree in English Literature from Penn State University. She lives in the
Catskill Mountain region of New York with her husband, Richard, and
their son, Chip.
MCC:Myths Of The World - Ancient India - 26812
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Page 2
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Page 47
IN DAYS OF OLD, King Dasharatha dwelled in a snow white palacein the fabled city of Ayodhya. Dasharatha was a righteous king, well
loved by his subjects and renowned for his wisdom and devotion to duty.
One thing only did he lack: a son to inherit his kingdom.
So Dasharatha summoned his priests and
advisers. “You must prepare a great sacrifice,” he
commanded them. “If the offerings please the
gods, they may send a son to brighten my autumn
years and rule the kingdom after my death.”
Soon the fragrant scent of the sacrifice rose to
the heavens. The gods looked down with pleasure.
It happened that they were already assembled, trying to decide what
to do about Ravana. The cruel demon king had drunk the blood of
many innocent humans. He had interfered with men’s holy sacrifices.
Now he was threatening to overthrow the gods and take over heaven
itself! No one dared to defy the demon, because he was protected by
a great power. Long ago, Brahma had rewarded Ravana for his tireless
prayers and fasting by granting him a special wish: no god or demon
could ever defeat him.
“It is your fault that Ravana defies the hosts of heaven,” all the gods
said to Brahma. “You must find some way to rid the world of this invin-
cible demon.”
“It is true that I granted Ravana protection from all the beings of
heaven and the underworld,” Brahma answered. “But in his arrogance,
he did not consider the threat from mere mortals. No god or demon
can take the fiend’s life, but a man could slay him. For the good of
Heroic Rama, men
proclaim the
marvels of thy
matchless fame.
-
the Ramayana
The Birth of Rama
ANCIENT INDIA48
MCC:Myths Of The World - Ancient India - 26812
CPL1108-21 / 4272
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Page 48
Myth_3c.eps
Vishnu rides on
the shining
eagle Garuda.
49
heaven and earth, let us ask Vishnu to
accept birth as that man.”
As Brahma spoke, a dazzling light
filled the universe. Vishnu drew near,
riding on his golden eagle. “I shall be
born on earth as the son of King
Dasharatha,” said the champion of
the gods. “In human form I shall
smite the fiend Ravana.”
At that very moment, the flames
of Dasharatha’s sacrifice leaped up
on earth. A giant figure robed all in
red stepped forth from the fire. In his
hands was a golden goblet filled with
the nectar of the gods. “The god of
gods has sent me,” the divine mes-
senger told the king. “Take this cup to
your queens. Let them drink the heavenly nectar, and they shall bear
you sons.”
Dasharatha took the goblet and hurried to his three queens. He
gave half the nectar to his first wife, Kausalya. The remaining por-
tion he divided between his second wife, Kaikeyi, and his youngest
wife, Sumitra.
Soon each of the king’s wives was with child. The seasons passed in
happy anticipation. Then the three queens gave birth. Sumitra deliv-
ered twin boys named Lakshmana and Shatrughna. Kaikeyi had a son
named Bharata. Kausalya gave birth to a boy with skin as blue as the
lotus that blooms in the heart of the jungle. She brought forth Rama,
the god born as a man to deliver the world from Ravana.
The Ramayana
MCC:Myths Of The World - Ancient India - 26812
CPL1108-21 / 4272
Final Myths-India interior_ 11/11/08 3:36 PM Page 49
Page 94
Prinergy Evo_175.eps
95INDEX
Sita and the Demon King,
52–55, 52
Ramayana (poem), 45–46
Rambha (father of Mahisha), 61
Ravana (demon), 28–29, 46,
53–54
reincarnation, 24
religious festivals, 27
Rig-Veda (ancient text), 35
rivers, 12, 13, 15, 15
Sanskrit, 17
Sarasvati (goddess), 21, 22
Sarasvati River, 15, 16
Sarasvati (wife of Brahma), 59
Shatrughna (son of Dasharatha), 49
Shiva (god), 20–21, 22, 50, 61
dance of, 74, 75
and Ganesha, 66, 67–73, 70
Shiva Purana, 68
Shudras, 23, 25
Shukra (teacher), 40–41, 42
Shurpanakha (demoness), 52–53
Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha),
19, 77
Sita (wife of Rama), 46, 50–51,
50, 52–55, 52
“Spring in the Desert, A”
(Buddhist myth), 79–81, 79
Sumitra (wife of Dasharatha), 49
Surya (god), 20, 22
untouchables, 23
Vaishya caste, 23
Vamana the dwarf, myth of, 36,
37–43, 41
varnas (social class system), 23
Varuna (god), 22
Vayu (god), 22
Vedas (prayers), 17
Vedic period, 17, 20
Vishnu, 20, 21, 22, 30, 61, 71
and Brahma, 32, 33–34
incarnations of, 37–38, 40–42,
43, 43, 44, 45–55, 49, 50, 52
MCC:Myths Of The World - Ancient India - 26812
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96 ANCIENT INDIA
about the author
“I can’t think of a better way to learn about the people of
ancient cultures than by reading the stories that held their
deepest hopes and fears, their most cherished values and
beliefs. While collecting these sacred tales, I looked for the
elements that set each culture apart: the special music of the
language, the differing roles of men and women, the unique ways of inter-
preting the mysteries of life. I also enjoyed discovering the many feelings
and experiences that unite all peoples around the world, both past and
present. Pueblo storyteller Harold Littlebird said it best: ‘We know we all
come from story. They may not all be the same story but there is a same-
ness. There is a oneness in it all.’ ”
VIRGINIA SCHOMP has written more than seventy titles for young
readers on topics including dinosaurs, dolphins, occupations, American
history, and ancient cultures. Ms. Schomp earned a Bachelor of Arts
degree in English Literature from Penn State University. She lives in the
Catskill Mountain region of New York with her husband, Richard, and
their son, Chip.
MCC:Myths Of The World - Ancient India - 26812
CPL1108-21 / 4272
Final Myths-India interior_ 11/11/08 3:39 PM Page 96
