Menoctoberish - a month of festivals

Yesterday's lengthy treatise may have had you running for the hills... but I hope not, because from here things are pretty basic. A little series designed for kids will serve the purpose and I will add the grown-up bits. Be aware that this saga has a great many subtleties and sub-stories intended to demonstrate Sanatana Dharma, Rama and his brothers being the example by which we ought to live. It cannot be conveyed in full in these 'for fun' posts, so only the major dramatic highlights will be given. (In case any are wondering, no, the left wrist is not back in action though I can manage the occasional sentence as a physio exercise... but am also using cut/paste from earlier posts at AVbloggy and "tizzying" them up!)

Okay - the story of Rama begins with the king Dasharatha being desperate for a son from one of his three wives. A special fire ceremony (homa) is performed and the elixir which came from it was drunk by all three wives. Eventually, they all gave birth: Kausalya to Rama, Kaikeyi to Bharata and Sumitra to twins, Lakshmana and Satrughna. The princes all grew handsome, strong and intelligent, learning from, and respecting well, their elders and teachers. They were teenagers when the forest sage, Vishvamitra, appeared at the palace in Ayodhya and requested the assistance of the princes in the protection of his ashram against some demons. The old king revered the sage for his blessings in gaining these sons, so agreed to their going to the forest. Rama, in particular, proved to have great prowess against the evil invaders and Vishvamitra presented him with a powerful sword. He also furthered the princes' education and then introduced them to a neighbouring king...



NOTES: 
Rudra is one of the names of Shiva. The sword is called Danush.
Kaikeyi was not naturally jealous, but we are presented with an example of listening to poor counsel and gossip.
Despite the austerity of forest living which would come, Rama was prepared to honour the boon as his beloved father had promised and he took that promise as his own. Nobility, integrity and selflessness in the face of envy and ambition.