Rabindranath Tagore, born in 1861 in Kolkata, was a versatile Indian poet, novelist, and musician, making history as the first non-European Nobel laureate in Literature. His works, exploring themes of spirituality and humanism, alongside his contributions to education and music, have left a lasting legacy. Tagore’s vision continues to inspire artists and educators globally. Continue reading Rabindranath Tagore
On the banks of Sarayu River, Viswamitra teaches the princes two powerful mantras that keep exhaustion and danger at bay. After an arduous journey, they reach a jungle inhabited by Tataka, a formidable creature causing hardships for the locals. Upon Viswamitra’s urging, Rama and Lakshmana kill Tataka, restoring peace and nature’s bounty. Viswamitra then bestows upon them heavenly weapons and teaches them their use as they continue their journey, arriving at Janaka’s city for a significant sacrifice event while encountering and triumphing over more adversaries.
Continue reading Rama Defeats the Monsters. Ramayana 5
Indian Mythological Drama by Kalidasa VIKRAMORVASI, URVASI WON BY HEROISM, or THE HERO AND THE NYMPH. Vikramorvasiyam meaning Urvasi Won by Valour is a Sanskrit drama written by the ancient Indian poet Klidasa, who lived in the 4th or 5th Century CE. It is based on the love story of King Pururavas and an Apsara (celestial nymph) called Urvasi, who was renowned for her beauty. The initial story appears both in Rigveda and Mahabharatha. The play consists of five acts. The name may also be written as VIKRAMORVASI or URVASI WON BY VALOR or THE HERO AND THE NYMPH. As they make their way … Continue reading VIKRAMORVASIYAM, (NYMPH WON BY HEROISM)
In this ancient tale, the king Dasaratha is approached by the revered sage Viswamitra who requested Rama, the king’s son, to help him defeat formidable Rakshasa adversaries contaminating his sacrifices. Despite initial reluctance to expose his young son to danger, on sage Vasishtha’s counsel, Dasaratha agrees. Rama and Lakshmana depart with Viswamitra for their first adventure, being blessed by the kingdom and filling the kingdom with sounds of good fortune.
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King Trisanku, of Solar dynasty, wished to ascend to heaven with his body intact. Turned into an undesirable ‘chandala’ by a curse, he sought help from sage Viswamitra. Despite initial failures, Viswamitra used his spiritual power to ascend Trisanku to the heavens, creating a new starry horizon. However, the gods expelled Trisanku, leading Viswamitra to expend his accumulated power to stop Trisanku’s fall, creating his own celestial path. Challenges and temptations repeatedly tested and expanded his spiritual powers until he attained the status of a true ‘Brahma Rishi’. Continue reading Ramayana Summary Ch. 3
The Story of Viswamitra SAGE VISWAMITRA Over the course of time, Dasaratha’s sons, Rama and Bharata, were born to Kausalya and Kaikeyi, respectively. Laksmana and Satrughna were born to Sumitra as twins. It is supposed that she got the twins because she had consumed the exquisite payasam (Sweet liquid) on two separate occasions. The sons are typically thought of as pieces of Vishnu in the same proportion as the amount of payasam that their mothers drank, which may range anywhere from a little amount to a large amount. As a result, Rama was half Vishnu. However, such computations are meaningless … Continue reading Ramayana Summary Ch.2
“The Ramayana” is an ancient Sanskrit epic chronicling the kingdom of Kosala and its prosperous city, Ayodhya. King Dasaratha ruled Ayodhya, a city known for its wealth, strong army, and advanced urban civilization. Despite his prosperity, Dasaratha longed for a son, which led him to perform a horse sacrifice under the guidance of sage Rishyasringa. Concurrently, the Devas asked Lord Vishnu to stop Ravana’s tyranny, thus leading to the promise of Vishnu being born as one of Dasaratha’s sons. Continue reading Ramayana Summary ch.1