Vishwamitra departs with Rama and Lakshmana - Chapter 12

Rama started off with Vishwamitra and his brother Lakshmana who was inseparable from him also followed. They both carried their bow and arrows and wore also protective gloves for their hands made of strong skin of a kind of lizard (Udumbu in Tamil). They walked along the southern bank of river Sarayu for one and a half Yojana distance (about 18 km). Then they halted and Vishwamitra taught them two mantras called "Bala and Atibala" thanks to which Vishwamitra said that they would be free of hunger and thirst and also would be protected from the Rakshasas even when they were asleep. This is the first of several mantras they got from the rishi. After spending the night there they started the next day early morning. Vishwamitra who chanted the famous shloka "Kausalya Supraja Rama" meaning Kausalya's darling son awakened Rama and Lakshmana from sleep very early.


These lines are well known, as they are included in the Suprabhatam sung every morning for waking up Lord Venkateswara of Tirupati. 

They then reached the place where the river Tripadaga joined Sarayu. They also saw a group of beautiful and peaceful Ashrams therewith several rishis and Brahmins. Rama wanted to know the history of that place and Vishwamitra happily explained. 

Right through their stay with Vishwamitra, he taught them the history and geography of the places they passed by. I will digress into this as and when because this gives us some interesting details about our country at that time.

Vishwamitra said that once upon a time Lord Shiva was doing penance there. He was distracted by Manmada (Kama) the Love God. Shiva was angered and so he burnt him to ashes but kindly granted that he would be visible only to his wife Rati. Since he lost the body there he became "Ananga" and the place was called Anga country. Since then the rishis lived in that place called Kamashrama and were doing their penance. Vishwamitra then decided to spend the night there and they enjoyed the hospitality of the rishis who knew who they were. 

The next morning the three crossed the river by a boat. When they reached the mid-river a very loud noise was heard and Rama wanted to know about it. Vishwamitra explained that the river Sarayu was very pure and sacred as it originated from Lake Manasa, a lake that was created by Brahma. The big noise they heard rose from the joining of river Sarayu with the Ganges. At the present time, things ought to be very different with landslides in The Himalayas and other geological changes that could have occurred. 


Then they reached the southern bank and started walking through a dark terrifying forest thick with huge trees (Tava, Kadiva, Aswakarna, Vilva, and Dindukam) and green vegetation. Note that some of the trees are not identifiable now or could be extinct as well. Vishwamitra explained the history of that place. Originally it was a place of great peace and prosperity. There were two kingdoms called Malada and Krusa. Lord Indra had incurred a curse (Brahmahatti) (such instances repeat often) and he came to that place. There he was treated by Devas and rishis who were living there and he got liberated from the curse. Indra was so pleased that he blessed the place.

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