One Word Many Meanings

Vamana

- August 2, 2022


Illustration: Sanjhiya Mayekar

The word Vamana has many references in the Puranic texts. Some of them are:

1. Vamana is the fifth incarnation in Vishnu’s Dashaavatar or ten incarnations.
2. Vamana is the name of one of the eight elephants that support the universe on their backs.
3. A holy place at the borders of Kurukshetra is called Vamana. In this place is a pond named Vishnupada. Legend says that if one bathes in it, their sins will be washed away and they will be granted entry into Vishnu’s abode.

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The Sons of Rama

The story of Rama and Sita was first set down by the sage Valmiki in his epic poem 'Ramayana.' Rama was the eldest son of Dasharatha, the king of Ayodhya, who had three wives - Kaushalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra. Rama was the son of Kaushalya, Bharata of Kaikeyi and Laxmana and Shatrughna of Sumitra. The four princes grew up to be brave and valiant. Rama won the hand of Sita, the daughter of King Janaka. Dasharatha wanted to crown Rama as the king but Kaikeyi objected. Using boons granted to her by Dasharatha earlier, she had Rama banished to the forest. Sita and Laxmana decided to follow Rama. While in the forest, a Rakshasi, Shoorpanakha, accosted Laxmana but had her nose cut off by him. In revenge, her brother Ravana, king of Lanka, carried Sita away. Rama and Laxmana set out to look for her and with the help of an army of monkeys, defeated Ravana. On returning Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile, Rama banished Sita because of the suspicions of his subjects. In the ashrama of sage Valmiki, she gave birth to her twin sons, Luv and Kush.

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