Dasharatha was the father of Lord Rama. Dasharatha ruled the kingdom of Ayodhya and was a righteous and just ruler. He had three wives, Kausalya, Sumitra, and Kaikeyi, but was unable to have children. King Dashratha sought advice from Sage Vashistha who recommended him to perform a Putrakameshthi Yagya. Following the advice of Sage Vashishta, King Dashratha performed the Yagya. Rishishringa Muni was the chief priest of the yagya performed by King Dasharatha. Putrakameshti Yajna is a specific type of yajna performed to fulfil the desire of having a child. (Book now!) In the yagya, the priests offered various sacred materials and herbs, into the sacrificial fire while chanting Rigveda’s Purusha. The ceremony was performed with great devotion and austerity, and Agnideva appeared before Dasharatha and gave him a bowl of sweet rice pudding to be divided among his wives. Kausalya, Sumitra, and Kaikeyi each consumed a portion of the pudding, after which they became pregnant and gave birth to Rama, Lakshmana, Shatrughna, and Bharata, respectively.
