On the banks of the Sarayu river stood the magnificent city of Ayodhya, the capital of the kingdom of Kosala. King Dasaratha, its ruler had 4 noble sons - Rama, Lakshmana, Bharatha and Shatrughana .

One day Sage Vishwamitra, approached the king, asking for Rama's and Lakshmana's help in killing demons who were disturbing his meditation. The heroic lads destroyed the demons easily. Vishwamitra was impressed, and took them under his wing and trained them to use magic weaponry.

He then led them to the kingdom of Mithila ruled by King Janaka. Janaka had proclaimed that the man who could string the mighty bow of Shiva would win his beautiful daughter, Sita's hand in marriage. Many kings had tried to lift the great bow, but none could even budge it. Rama, with the blessings of the gods and his guru Vishwamitra, lifted the bow with no effort. As he bent down to string the bow, it broke with a sound that echoed in the three worlds, leaving him shocked at his own strength. Sita was overjoyed, and the two were wed with pomp and splendor.