How 16 year old Lord Rama kills giant demoness Tataka (Tadaka) in his first major battle - Part 1 of 5 (Valmiki Ramayan)

Last updated on 28th Mar. 2019
Minor update on 11th Aug. 2019

Recently I have started reading in detail or rather studying, in fits and bursts, Kamala Subramaniam's abridged Ramayana in English, which seems to be based on Valmiki Ramayana. A few days back I read about Lord Rama engaging in his first real battle at a young age of 16 years, which was the one where he killed the demoness (rakshasi) Tataka also known as Tadaka.

Please note that in the past I have read about these events in other abridged Ramayana versions I have read but I don't think I then had the luxury of time to delve into the details and savour the blissful parts. Now, by the grace of God, I am in a position to allot some time to leisurely and detailed reading of such Hindu scripture. I offer my deeply felt gratitude to God and to my beloved and revered Gurudev, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, for this blessing.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Kamala Subramaniam's account of Lord Rama battling and killing Tataka under the guidance of Sage Viswamitra, and felt blissful. I thought I should put up a post on it but this time referring to Valmiki Ramayan, a version of which is available on the Internet, and felt that it may be of interest to some readers.

Lord Rama was the Divine power (God in formless aspect) taking form (an Avatar) as a human being, in particular as a warrior prince, to safeguard the good devotees of God and kill those demons (rakshasas) who were tyrannizing the good devotees of God, and disturbing and creating grave problems for sages (rishis) who were trying to do their penances and rituals. This was one of the big tasks for which Rama Avatar was born and which Lord Rama accomplished in his life.

The demons were very powerful not only in physique - they were giants as compared to humans - but also in the magical powers they had which they used to attack and kill humans. A pitiable state of affairs for humans who were living in territories that were ruled or were attacked by these demons.

So Lord Rama was a saviour at the physical level where he provided protection to the good devotees of God from such demons, and also a saviour at spiritual level where he was a model for Dharmic (ethical) life and embodied Dharma (ethical living).

In this context, it was fascinating for me to read in detail, and with faith that the account is largely true even if some details may be slightly inaccurate (as I think some literary license may have been used by the author of (this version of) Valmiki Ramayan), about how Rama engaged in his first real battle where the situation was kill or be killed. I say, kill or be killed, as that was the brutal reality with these demons. Tataka not only killed humans but ate them (a cannibal). As Tataka was a demoness who was brutally tyrannizing humans, Rama was instructed by Viswamitra to kill her, to protect and foster Dharma. So when Rama did battle Tataka, there was no question of Tataka imprisoning Rama or Rama imprisoning Tataka. It was kill or be killed.

The account starts with Sage Viswamitra approaching King Dasaratha (father of Lord Rama) in his court. He says that he is attempting to perform a sacrificial vow but that two demons (Rakshasas), who have the ability to change their form, are creating obstacles for him. When he was performing a sacrificial ritual, towards its end two valiant and well-trained demons, Mareecha and Subahu, desecrated the altar with meat and blood being streamed on it from the sky. This desecration of the (uncompleted) ritual led him to depart from the place with disappointment. As while doing the ritual he is not supposed to curse anybody, he said that he was not able to curse the two demons. [Ref: Verses 1-19-4 to 1-19-8a, https://www.valmikiramayan.net/utf8/baala/sarga19/bala_19_frame.htm.]

Then Viswamitra asks Dasaratha to send his son, Lord Rama, with him to kill these demons, saying that Rama is divinely blessed and with his (Viswamitra's) protection, will surely defeat the demons. He also says that none other than Lord Rama can defeat them.

King Dasaratha shudders at this request of Viswamitra and swoons.

King Dasaratha says, my lotus-eyed Rama is less than 16 years old. I do not see the warrior ability in him to fight these demons. Ref: Verse 1-20-2, https://www.valmikiramayan.net/utf8/baala/sarga20/bala_20_frame.htm

King Dasaratha says that he will come with his powerful armed battalion and protect Viswamitra's ritual. And that if Viswamitra does want Rama then he should also take himself (Dasaratha) and his army along.

Dasaratha then asks Viswamitra to tell him more about these demons.

Viswamitra then talks about Ravana who he describes as a very brave and mighty demon who has the boon of Brahma which he is using to torment the three worlds (three planes of existence). He says that Ravana is assisted by other demons in this (evil) work of tormenting the three worlds. Ravana is himself not interfering with Viswamitra's rituals but is instigating the two powerful demons, Mareecha and Subaahu, to create big hindrances for rituals.

Then Dasaratha says, when I myself am not capable of confronting the evil Ravana, how can I send Rama to confront him? Ref: Verse 1-20-20

Dasaratha mentions how powerful Ravana is and how even Devas (divine beings/gods) are afraid of Ravana. How can mere humans confront Ravana!

Dasaratha who had earlier told Viswamitra that he will do whatever he says, now tries to back out saying that he should be excused from not fulfilling his word (of doing whatever Viswamitra asks of him).

Viswamitra gets very angry. Note that Viswamitra's anger is feared as in that anger he may curse, and his spiritual power (gained from ritual and penance, I presume) is such that the curse will come to pass.

Seeing Viswamitra's anger, Vasistha the famous sage and Guru of Dasaratha, urges Dasaratha to keep his word. Vasistha says that irrespective of whether Rama is trained or untrained in weaponry, so long as Viswamitra is protecting Rama, it will be like heavenly ambrosia/nectar being protected by fire, due to which no demons will be able to hurt Rama. Ref: Verse 1-21-9, https://www.valmikiramayan.net/utf8/baala/sarga21/bala_21_frame.htm

Vasistha says that Viswamitra is knowledgeable about all kinds of weaponry/missiles. He tells Dasaratha that he should not have any doubt about sending Rama with Viswamitra.

Dasaratha gets convinced by Vasistha's words and agrees to send Rama with Viswamitra (to kill fearsome and mighty demons).

After getting the blessings of Dasaratha and Kausalya (Rama's mother), Lord Rama is entrusted to Viswamitra by Dasaratha. Viswamitra leads the way with Rama and Lakshmana following Viswamitra. [As Lakshmana is very close to Rama, Lakshmana accompanies Rama]. Both Rama and Lakshmana each have their own bow and quiver(s)/arrow(s). Note that the bow and arrow was the mighty weapon for humans at that time.

Rama and Lakshmana are praised as highly charming and dynamic figures with their walking behind Viswamitra being compared to Ashwin twin devas (divine beings/gods) walking behind Brahma. Ref: 1-22-7,8, https://www.valmikiramayan.net/utf8/baala/sarga22/bala_22_frame.htm

Rama and Lakshmana are also praised as being highly effulgent and compared as sons of Agni Deva (Fire god) with Viswamitra being compared to god Shiva. They are also armed with swords and their fingers have leather covers.

Once they reach the river Sarayu, Viswamitra asks Rama to take water (in his hand, one presumes) and then teaches him two mantras, Bala and Atibala, which when recited (properly) will not allow tiredness or fever to affect the chanter (Rama) and also protect him from demons when he is sleeping or not vigilant.

Viswamitra also speaks about additional powers that these mantras will give Rama and make Rama a very powerful figure that nobody can match.

Rama accepts the teachings/mantras and his face beams with gladness. Rama shines like a thousand rayed sun in a cloudless sky in autumn.

--- skipping some events to jump to encounter with Tataka ---

After they cross the confluence of rivers Sarayu and Ganga, they see a horrendous forest without any trodden paths. Rama mentions the swarms of crickets, wild boars, tigers, elephants and vultures which were making fierce screeching noises, in this forest. Rama then asks Viswamitra what this wretched forest is.

[Ravi: This is the forest tyrannized by Tataka demoness. More about the forest, Tataka demoness and the killing of Tataka by 16 year old Lord Rama in part 2 of 2, which I hope to put up in the next few days.]

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[I thank valmikiramayan.net and have presumed that they will not have any objections to me sharing the above extract(s) & references from their website on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]