One day in early summer he thought of performing a horse-sacrifice for progeny. He consulted his religious masters and, on their advice, got Sage Rishya-Sringa to perform the
yaaga.
The yaaga was a grand affair and the invitees included many of the kings of the day. It was no easy thing to perform yaagas. The location and erection of the sacrificial platform had to be attended to in detail strictly according to prescribed rules. There were experts whose guidance was sought in arranging things. It meant the building of a new camp-city, capable of accommodating tens of thousands and providing hospitality and entertainment for the invitees who included the princes and sages of the land. In short, yaagas in those days were something like our present-day State-sponsored big scale conferences and exhibitions.
When all arrangements were complete the ceremonies were set in motion strictly as enjoined by the
Shaastras.
Contemporaneously with the yaaga in Ayodhya, there was a conference of the Devas in heaven. The Devas complained to Lord Brahma that Raavana, king of the demons, drunk with the power acquired by the boon granted to him by Brahma, was causing them untold misery and hardship. They represented to Brahma: "It is beyond our capacity to subdu~, conquer or kill Raavana. In the security of your boon, he has grown wicked and insolent and ill-treats all, even women. His desire is to dethrone Indra. You are our only refuge and it is' for you to devise a method by which Raavana can be slain and his despotism ended."
Brahma knew that he had granted to Raavana the boon prayed for by him that he should be
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