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W E L C O M E
"We bow to the cuckoo of Vaalmeeki that rests on the branch of poetry and gives out the sweet cooing of the beatiful sounds of "Raama" , "Raama" for our pleasure. "
BAALAKAANDA
( The first book of the Raamaayanam )
( The L in this name is pronounced soft like 'l' in 'lung'. The N is pronounced hard like 'n' in 'turn'. The D is pronounced soft like 'd' in 'dump'. )
Baala-kaanda is the first of the seven books of the Raamaayanam. Baalakaanda is named as Aadi-Kaanda too. Baala means 'young' or 'boy'. Aadi means 'first'. This Kaanda is called Baala Kaanda since it describes the life of ' young Raama ' ie upto his marriage with Seetha.
This Kaanda contains the following topics of the epic.
- Introduction to Raamaayanam and its composition,
- Very brief summary of Raamaayanam,
- Dasharatha's rule in Ayodhya,
- Episode of Romapaada and Rishyashringa,
- Dasharatha performs Ashvamedha and Puthra-Kaama sacrifices,
- Birth of Raama, Bharatha, Lakshmana and Shathrughna and their early years,
- Vishvaamithra visits Dasharatha and asks him to send Raama with him to protect the sacrifices,
- Dasharatha hesitates but sends Raama with Vishvaamithra after Vasishtha's advice,
- Vishvamithra narrates to Raama the history of Thaataka,
- Raama kills Thaataka,
- Vishvaamithra awards many powerful Asthras to Raama,
- Vishvaamithra narrates many ancient episodes about Paarvathi, Kumaara, Sagara, Bhageeratha, Ganga, churning of milk-sea for ambrosia, Maruths, Ahalya and Gouthama,
- Vishvaamithra takes Raama and Lakshmana to Janaka's city Mithila,
- Ahalya's emanicipation from her husband Gouthama's curse
- Shathaananda relates to Janaka and others about Vishvaamithra's past life,
- Raama breaks Lord Shiva's great bow,
- Dasharatha and his party goes to Mithila,
- Raama marries Seetha,
- Marriages of Bharatha, Lakshmana and Shathrughna with Maandavi, Oormila and Shruthakeerthi,
- Raama subdues Parashuraama on his way back to Ayodhya,
- Raama lives happily at Ayodhya winning the hearts of the people
"We bow to the cuckoo of Vaalmeeki that rests on the branch of poetry and gives out the sweet cooing of the beatiful sounds of "Raama" , "Raama" for our pleasure. "