People from all around flocked to Ayodhya to catch a glimpse of King Dashrath's newborn sons. How then could Lord Shiv—the foremost devotee of Shree Ram—remain behind? He too set out for Ayodhya, accompanied by Kaag Bhushundi, the great devotee of Ram's childhood Form.

In the Ramayan, Kaag Bhushundi exclaims,

प्रति ब्रह्मांड राम अवतारा। देखउँ बालबिनोद अपारा।।

In whichever universe Ram takes avatar, I go there to watch His childhood pastimes.

With infinite universes in existence, the Lord’s descent is always taking place somewhere—concluding in one realm only to begin anew in another. Thus, while Ram was still an infant in Ayodhya, Shiv ji took on the guise of a sadhu, while Kaag Bhushundi posed as His assistant, and together they arrived at the Raghukul palace. But such immense crowds had gathered for darshan that they were turned away at the gates.

A Loving Conspiracy

Shankar ji was disheartened. Despite having journeyed to Ayodhya for Ram's darshan, He had no way of seeing the divine child. With Kaag Bushundi by His side, Shankar ji quietly withdrew to the banks of River Sarayu. Sitting by the holy waters, Mahadev began to pray: "O Prabhu, I have come for Your darshan. Will I not behold Your divine Form?"

But Bhagavan Ram is sarvagya—all-knowing. Though outwardly engaged in human-like pastimes, He is ever attuned to the silent yearnings of His devotees. As Shankar ji prayed on the riverbanks, Lord Ram answered from within the palace.

Suddenly, baby Ram began wailing.

Mother Kaushalya looked on in bewilderment. Despite all her efforts to comfort Him, His cries only intensified. A mother can usually tell when her child is merely feigning distress, but these heart-rending sobs seemed all too real. Soon, the sakhis gathered around, each trying every means to soothe Him. Yet Ram wept as though some great calamity had befallen. Sensing that something was amiss, one of Kaushalya's companions finally interjected, “Such massive crowds came for the prince's darshan today. Surely, someone's evil eye must have fallen upon Him."

Desperate for an explanation, Kaushalya readily agreed. “Yes, that must be it! Why else would my sweet child weep so inconsolably?” she exclaimed. "Quickly, find someone—anyone—who can ward off this evil eye!" As the sakhis rushed out of the palace gates in desperate search, Bhagavan Ram subtly guided their footsteps from within. They headed straight to the banks of the Sarayu, where Shiv ji and Kaag Bhushundi sat in their ascetic guise.

“Babaji,” the sakhis asked, “do you know how to ward off the evil eye?"

A knowing smile crossed Shiva ji's face. "Indeed, I do."

"And what is your name?" they inquired.

"I am Sadashiv Joshi," came the unflustered reply.

The sakhis immediately requested his help. Moments prior, he had been turned away at the palace gates; now he was being escorted as Queen Kaushalya’s esteemed guest. Walking briskly beside Shankar ji, Kaag Bhushundi leaned over and whispered a sly, teasing warning: "We both know you are no 'Sadashiv Joshi.' You will have to take me along. If you leave me behind, I will reveal your true identity to everyone!" Amused and outmanoeuvred, Shankar ji turned to the sakhis and smoothly covered His tracks: "To properly remove the evil eye, I will need my trusted assistant. We must perform the remedy together." With the deal struck, the two finally walked into the palace to greet their Beloved Lord.

Meeting Their Ishtdev

The moment they stepped into Queen Kaushalya’s chambers, Mahadev beheld an enigmatic sight: baby Ram was crying. Shankar ji fondly thought to Himself: Maharaj, what kind of leela (divine play) are You performing? After all, Ram is Anand Sindhu—the Ocean of Bliss. Yet here He was, crying like an ordinary child.

The moment Ram’s gaze fell upon Shankar ji, His wails melted into playful giggles. Kaushalya was awestruck. “This Babaji must be a highly realized soul (siddha). He has barely stepped into the room, and already my little one is smiling. Surely, he has warded off the buri nazar.” Turning to him gratefully, she said, "Babaji, I am deeply indebted to you."

Sensing a golden opportunity, Shankar ji replied, "Maiya, if you wish, place this child in my lap. I shall see to it that no evil eye ever dares cast its shadow upon Him again." Already convinced of the sage’s prowess, Kaushalya gladly placed the infant in his arms.  There He lay—baby Ram. His tender limbs exuding pristine innocence; His face aglow with a beatific smile. Even in infancy, His countenance bore the innate grace of Maryada—perfect dignity and righteousness. As Shiv ji held Ram lovingly in His lap, Kaag Bhushundi knew he could not let this moment pass. With Ram’s tiny lotus feet jutting out slightly from Shiv ji's embrace, he gently rested his head upon them, offering his heartfelt pranam.

After a while, Kaushalya asked eagerly, “Babaji, do you know how to read the lines on the hands and feet?” “Yes, Maiya,” Shiv ji replied. “Let me foretell his future. When this child grows up, he will become immensely famous. His glory will spread throughout the three worlds, and countless temples will be built in His honor." Hearing such an auspicious prophecy about her little boy, Kaushalya's heart swelled with maternal pride. Shiv ji continued, "But when he reaches his teenage years, one Baba will arrive at your gates and take him away."

Kaushalya's heart skipped a beat. "What? He will leave with a Baba for the forest?" she asked nervously. Shiv ji quickly assuaged her fears. “Do not fret, Maiya. During that very same episode, he will get married and return home with a breathtakingly beautiful bride.” Kaushalya smilingly breathed a sigh of relief. “Ah, that is wonderful! But tell me, Babaji, does He have the line of kingship in His hand?”

Examining the tiny palm with great seriousness, Shiv ji replied, "You know, Maiya, that line is rather faint and not very well-developed just yet. His travel line, however, is exceptionally prominent. He is destined to journey far and wide. Since the line of kingship is not fully formed, I could always return in a few years to inspect it once more.”

With the perfect pretext to behold Lord Ram once more, Shiv ji took His leave. And so Bhagavan Ram continued His delightful childhood pastimes. He tottered through the sunlit courtyards of Dashrath and Kaushalya, filling their hearts with immeasurable joy and their days with ever-new bliss.

Mithila Beholds the Lord

By the time Ram blossomed into the prime of His youth, the venerable sage Vishwamitra arrived in Ayodhya. At his behest, Ram and Lakshman accompanied him into the dense, perilous forest to safeguard the sacred yagyas from demonic attacks. There, Ram slew the fearsome demoness Tadaka, drove away Marich, and vanquished Subahu, restoring peace and sanctity to the hermitages.

With their mission accomplished, Vishwamitra beckoned the princes onward to yet another sacred yagya.

Along the way, they came upon the stone form of Ahilya, who had long remained bound by an ancient curse. The moment Ram's feet touched the stone, the curse was lifted, and by His grace, she was instantly liberated.

Their journey then brought them to the majestic city of Janakpur in Mithila, where King Janak graciously welcomed them into his royal palace. The following day, Ram approached His guru with a request. “May I go around and see the city?” Though it appeared to spring from simple curiosity, Ram's true purpose was divine: to immerse the residents of Mithila in the blissful nectar of His Roop Madhuri—the enchanting beauty of His personal Form. As Ram and Lakshman strolled through the streets, everyone who beheld Them was mesmerized.

"My, my, who is this handsome prince?" some murmured. "We pray our Sita is married to Him!"

Others sighed, "King Janak made a grave mistake by vowing to give Sita's hand only to the one who can break that bow. He looks so gentle... how will He ever break the mighty Shiv Dhanush?"

A few quickly chimed in, "Come now, how can you blame Raja Janak?"

Still others had their own hopes. "If He marries Sita, just think—whenever He visits His sasural (in-laws), we shall have His darshan!"

Thus, a symphony of hope, speculation, and awe hummed through Mithila, with every heart spellbound by the divine beauty of the Lord.

As night fell, Ram and Lakshman lovingly served Vishwamitra by pressing his feet. Before retiring, the sage blessed them. "Go to sleep, my children." In the next room, Lakshman began pressing Ram's feet. Years later, during the exile, he would forgo sleep altogether. But on this night, Ram gently smiled and stopped him. "Enough, dear brother. You should sleep too."

The next day, a beautiful and unforgettable encounter awaited them—one we shall soon witness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Is one form of God greater than another—for example, Shree Ram and Shiv ji?

Answer: Whenever God descends in this world, He has certain objectives to accomplish. Accordingly, He manifests certain shaktis (powers) to perform particular leelas, while His remaining shaktis remain latent. Ved Vyas, who was an avatar of the Supreme stated:

सर्वे पूर्णाः शाश्वताश्च देहास्तस्य परमात्मनः॥ ~ Varaha Puran 2.1.224

All descensions of God are replete with all divine powers.

As every Form the Lord assumes is complete and tailored to fulfil a specific divine mission, we should not regard one avatar as greater and another as lesser.

Question: Some believe Bhagavan is only Sakaar (with form), while others insist He is only Nirakaar (formless). Which view is correct?

Answer: Bhagavan has created this entire universe, which is full of forms, qualities, attributes. There is nothing that limits the Creator Himself from assuming a form. If someone stipulates that God cannot have a form, it means that person does not accept Him as Sarva Shaktimaan (omnipotent). Thus, to say, “God is formless,” is an incomplete statement. On the other hand, to say, “God manifests in a personal form,” is also only a partial truth. The all-powerful God has both aspects to his divine personality—the personal form and the formless aspect.

The Brihadaranyak Upaniṣhad states:

द्वे वाव ब्रह्मणो रूपे मूर्तं चैवामूर्तं च। ~  2.3.1 [v3]

God appears in both ways—as the formless Brahman and as the personal God. They are both dimensions of His personality.

Having said that, our mind is naturally habituated to recalling forms and images of people and events. For instance, when we think of our friends, we first remember their form. This is the mind’s nature. The formless aspect is difficult for it to relate to, meditate upon, and become absorbed in. Therefore, out of His boundless love and compassion for His devotees, that very same formless Bhagavan manifests in His personal Form to provide us souls, a tangible basis for devotion. Read When Gyan met Bhakti: A Tale of Two Paths to deepen your understanding in this regard.  

Video Resource

The Prayer that Moves God - A Heart-Touching Shiva Leela with Baby Ram | Swami Mukundananda