A Journey To Discover Life

Here are some sources of Mythological Links I found while reading James Todd's Annals of Mewar. This section is subject to updates if I find any further links. Mewari Ramayana Script commissioned by Rana Jagat Singh Kush, Son of Rama, had four sons, two of whom were Kushanabha and Kushambha. Kushanabha was the founder of Muhadhya, later Kanauj. Kushamba had also founded a city in his name, Kausambi. The other two are said to have built their capitals, Dharmarunya and Vasumitra, traces of neither of which are found in the present History Dushmanta and Shakuntala's son Bharata had four sons, namely, Kalinjra, Keril, Pandh, and Chowal. Kalinjra is the celebrated fortress of Bundelkhand. Keril found its place in the 36 royal clans (see part one). Pandh's capital was present-day Tanjore. Chowal's ancestors survived in the Saurastra region. Chowal thrived in a place named the same, 7 miles from Junagarh, Gujarat. From Rama, the Royals of Mewar, Marwar, Jaipur and Bikaner thri...

Origin: Lord Rama had two sons,  Labh  and  Kush . The Ranas of Mewar are descendants of the former. Labh had built his capital at  Lah-Kot (Lahore) , and the branch from which the Mewar blue blood arrives resided there until  Kanaksen  (Often traced as the founder)moved to  Dwarika, Saurashtra.  "Sen" was used as a title term for many decades by this Suryavanshi clan until it later changed to "Dit" or "Aditya", names of the Sun. Aditya was changed to Guhilot permanently after the expulsion from Saurashtra when they settled in the  Ahar  valleys (Aravallis). The  Sisodia  clan sprang from a Prince of Chittoor who had killed a hard chase hare (sissoo in local dialect). The branch often used " Ranawat ", meaning "Royal Blood", as a title, but over time, Sisodia emerged as the retained branch name. Kanaksen wrestled dominance of the Parmar race and founded  Birnagar  in AD 144. Four generations hence,  Vijay Sen ...

Recently on social media, I found many debates arising on Ram's decisions as a King and a Husband. Did his Dharma as a King overshadow his Dharma as a husband? Did he love and respect his partner? Why did Sita never protest? Why did he listen to a Dhobi? The ancient Valmiki texts define Ram as a contemporary king who rose to a Godly position with his deeds as a King for his subjects. The latter texts, mostly after Tulsi Das' Ramcharitmanas, define him as an avatar of Vishnu and a God, who descended on Earth with a purpose. I am going ahead with Ram as a king here. In Hinduism, we believe everyone's life has a purpose. We live for it. Most of us spend our lives searching for the right purpose, while others find it without realising it. Rarely, do are there people we call " Mahapurush" who know their purpose in life from a very tender age.  Ram was born in the Treta Yug, the second Yug of the four Yug cycles. The land in the North was ruled by Kings, and the Forests...

Dasharatha was very protective of his sons. He had got them after almost a lifetime of waiting and yajnas, so they were his lifeline. Ram, the eldest, won hearts with his humble, generous ways. Bharata, the second, was his favourite queen's brave son, and Laxman and Shatrughan were the twins to the lesser queen, who followed their brothers like shadows. They were a peaceful, happy family. Sage Vasistha was their Kulaguru, teaching them the Vedic hymns and the righteous ways of life. The Princes grew up in the luxurious, protected premises of the palace. The King of Mithila, too, was childless. Mother Earth granted him a daughter. Sita grew up learning and curious, followed by the king's second daughter, Urmila and their cousins Mandavi and Shrutakirti. They grew up knowing the natural ways of life, and their father took them to learn from men to know more about man and his natural instincts. The princesses were curious and always questioning the traditions, and the Princes lear...

This is an excerpt tale from the Ramayana I had retold in 2014, on my Facebook notes page, and hence thought of resharing here with you all, an excerpt close to my heart! Ram was known for following the rules. Sita, for questioning the age-old traditions. Ram followed Dharma above all, and Sita followed her Heart. They were different. Yet, they were two parts of one soul, destined to be together and apart, like a sea and its shores. It was an age-old tradition to practice polygamy in the Royal Families. Ayodhya was no different. Raja Dasaratha himself had three main queens. Most Kings had many. No one ever questioned it. It was never believed to be wrong for a man to have many wives if he could take responsibility. But Rajkumari Sita was not just anybody. She had questioned him. The Valmiki Ramayana describes a scene where one morning when they were sitting in the aangan of the Ranimahal of Ayodhya, feeding her favourite pigeons, Sita, the newly arrived teenage bride Rama was discoveri...

She sat in her mother's chambers inside the Inner Palaces, looking at the maids busy with their daily cooking and cleaning. Hurrying throughout the palace, they were making preparations to show some hospitality to the king of Anga Desh, who was arriving at the court tomorrow. He had something important to discuss with the king. Something of benefit to Ayodhya.  She was his only heiress. Yet she has lived a neglected life. She pined for his love, and he showed none to her. Her mother and stepmother loved her, brought her up, dressed her, braided her hair and taught her the lessons of life. She was entitled to all the luxuries of a princess, yet her father's unwanted child. Her anger grew by the day as her father became more and more eager for a son. There was a constant line of Rishis and Munis coming to the court to help and advise the king. As was the rumour among the servants, the King of Anga Desh was coming for the same purpose. The princess sighed. Nobody in the palace und...