4)The Ramayana 1.Bala Kandam  Rama and Lachumanar going to Kanakam

❖ Sumantra brought Rama and Lakshmana to the palace, where they prostrated at the feet of Sage Vashishta, Sage Vishwamitra, and their father Dasaratha. The king placed their arms in those of Sage Vishwamitra and entrusted them to him, saying that they were like his mother, father, and guru. He also whispered to Vishwamitra that they will bring them back and added them.

❖ Sage Vishwamitra then bid farewell to Ayodhya and set out on foot as sages are known to travel in such a way as to avoid causing harm to any living creatures like ants and worms that might be affected by chariots. Rama and Lakshmana followed him. On their journey, they came across the holy river Sarayu and bathed in it. They also reached a flower oasis where they offered the Gayatri Mantra and arkya to the sun god Surya. Arkya is a form of service offered by tirtha to the gods and devotees.

❖ They also paid homage to the sun god before sunrise, at the top of the sun, and before sunset, which is known as giving arkya without angle, giving with sight, and giving without seeing respectively.

❖ As they traveled, Sage Vishwamitra spread ashes of ashoka, mango, etc. on the ground for them to sleep on. Lakshmana slept at Rama's feet while Sage Vishwamitra sat on Rama's head and stared at him. Rama's face was overflowing with mercy.

❖ Sage Vishwamitra, in his mind, wondered how Rama's father Dasaratha could have sent him to this kingdom, fearing his wrath. He thought that if Rama had been born as his son, he would never have sent him to Kanakat, even if a thousand devotees had come. He felt that Rama, being born as a human being in this world, was sleeping on the empty land in this kingdom without any comfort.

❖ The trio got up early the next morning, bathed, and prayed the Gayatri Mantra before continuing on their journey. They came across a fine ashram, where Lord Shiva, the supreme deity worshiped by all, had performed sacrifices. This ashram was very special and powerful as the Lord Shiva stood in penance here. The place was also known as Angadesam as it was where Cupid's limbs fell off when Lord Shiva's forehead eye destroyed him when he tried to cancel Lord Shiva's sacrifice.

Ramabran defeated Araki

❖ On that day, Rama, Lakshmana, and Sage Vishwamitra stayed at the ashram with devotion to Lord Shiva. The next day, they settled their morning debts and left. On their journey, they came across a deadly desert, where Rama and Lakshmana suffered a lot due to the unbearable heat and thirst. Sage Vishwamitra preached two vijnyas to Rama and Lakshmana, Palai and Atipala, which gave them the strength of ten thousand elephants and their hunger and thirst disappeared.

❖ Rama looked at Sage Vishwamitra and asked him the reason for this desert and if it was caused by the temple being burnt by Lord Shiva's forehead eye. He also asked if this desert would continue to exist during the reign of his father. Sage Vishwamitra explained that the desert was caused by a monster named Tadagai, who single-handedly destroyed the fertile land and turned it into a desert.

❖ Sage Vishwamitra explained that Tadagai and her family were once Yatsaras, but were cursed by Sage Agastya to become monsters due to their cruel actions. They were now causing innumerable atrocities to the sages and were being aided by the demon king Ravana.

❖ Thadagai, the leader of the monsters, would wake up after smelling the scent of humans. Rama initially hesitated to fight her as he thought she was a girl, but Sage Vishwamitra clarified that she was a cruel being and killing her would be a virtue. Thadagai threw her spear at Rama, but he crushed it and shot an arrow at her, striking her down. The gods showered flowers upon Rama for his bravery.