Story
King Dasharatha of Ayodhya, though righteous and victorious in many yagnas, remained without an heir. On Guru Vashishtha’s advice he conducted the Putrakameshti Yagna under Sage Rishyashringa. From Agni‑dev arose a divine being with payasam. Dasharatha distributed it to Mata Kaushalya, Mata Kaikeyi and Mata Sumitra. This prasad soon blossomed into four sons, signalling that when a king upholds dharma with shraddha, Ishvara surely answers. The Ramayana begins with a vow, a fire and a blessing.
Why it matters
This is the origin point of the whole epic — without an heir, there is no Ram, no exile, no Ravan Vadh. It's also the first of many moments in the Ramayana where sincere devotion, not wealth or status, is what moves the divine.
Notes from visitors
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