Rama, Ramachandra - John Dowson

Eldest son of Drasaratha, a king of the Solar race, reigning at Ayodhya.  This Rama is the seventh incarnation of the god Vishnu, and made his appearance in the world at the end of the Treta or second age.  His story is briefly told in the Vana Parva of the Mahabharata, but it is given in full length as the grand subject of the Ramayana.  King Dasaratha was childless, and performed the aswamedha sacrifice with scrupulous care, in the hope of obtaining offspring.  His devotion was accepted by the gods, and he received the promise of four sons.  At this time the gods were in great terror and alarm at the deeds and menaces of Ravana, the Rakshasa King of Lanka, who had obtained extraordinary power, in virtue of severe penances and austere devotion to Brahma.  In their terror the god appealed to Vishnu for deliverance, and he resolved to become manifest in the world with Dasaratha as his human father Dasaratha was performing a sacrifice when Vishnu appeared to him as a glorious being from out of the sacrificial fire, and gave to him a pot of nectar for his wives to drink.  Dasaratha gave half of the nectar to Kausalya, who brought forth Rama with a half of the divine essence, a quarter to Kaikeyi, whose son Bharata was endowed with a quarter of the deity, and the fourth part to Sumitra, who brought forth two sons, Lakshmana and Satrughna, each having an eighth part of the divine essence.  The brothers were all attached to each other, but Lakshmana was more especially devoted to Rama and Satrughna to Bharata.

Source : Hindu Mythology & Religion by John Downson

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