King Dasharatha performing Yagnas in Ayodhya

Ayodhya: King Dasharatha performing Ashwamedha and Putrakameshti Yagnas:

(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 8 to 15)

• Meditation: I meditate on the Ashwamedha and Putrakameshti Yagnas performed by king Dasharatha near Ayodhya which resulted in getting Sri Rama as his son.

• Dasharatha performing Ashwamedha Yagna: The virtuous king Dasharatha did not have a son which made him feel anguish at heart. The king decided to perform an Ashwamedha Yagna to get a son and therefore summoned the sages and eminent brahmins. The sages and brahmins consented and blessed the king and said to prepare the ground of the Yagna on the northern bank of river Sarayu. Minister Sumantra told king Dasharatha in private about an earlier prophecy of sage Sanatkumara that king Dasharatha will perform a Vedic ritual through sage Rishyashriga and obtain sons. Accordingly, sage Dashratha brought sage Rishyashringa and his wife Shanta to Ayodhya (from Anga). King Dasharatha first performed the Ashwamedha Yagna on the northern bank of river Sarayu. Through donations to brahmanas and others, king Dashratha became sinless and ecstatic at heart.

• Dasharatha performing Putrakamesthi Yagna: Then king Dashratha performed the Putrakamesthi Yagna presided over by sage Rishyashringa. This finally resulted in getting four sons.

- King Dasharatha performing Putrakameshti Yagna near Ayodhya
- Ayodhya - Makhauda Dham (Basti district, Uttar Pradesh) (20 km north of Ayodhya)