Om! The Graphic Novel©

Their mother, Vinata, was tricked into becoming a bondservant of Kadru, the mother of the Nagas (serpents). The Nagas agreed to release Vinata if Garuda obtained an elixir of immortality from the heavens.

Garuda made the trip and got the potion. Upon returning to Earth, he met Lord Vishnu, a principal deity known as the Preserver. Garuda agreed to serve as his vehicle and emblem.

Garuda then delivered the magic potion to the snakes in exchange for his mother. This medicine allowed the serpents to slough off old skin and achieve a never-ending life.

The villagers left offerings for the snakes on the first of each month. They gave part of these contributions to Garuda to keep him in the snakes' good graces.

However, Kaliya, a fearsome multi-headed snake, kept the offerings for himself. Stunned by his arrogance and lack of respect, Garuda attacked Kaliya. He struck him so hard with his wings that Kaliya hid in the Kalindi River. Everyone knew that Sage Saubhari had cursed Garuda, preventing him from entering the river for stealing too many fish; otherwise, he would die in those waters.

Krishna, a significant deity in Hinduism, swam into the river to reprimand Kaliya and punished the snake by stomping on each of his heads.

Lord Shiva bestowed his celestial bow to King Janaka. This weapon was so heavy that no mortal could lift it. The king's young daughter, Sita, played with a ball that rolled behind the bow. King Janaka watched in astonishment as his baby girl moved the enormous bow out of her way to fetch the toy.  

When Sita was old enough to marry, King Janaka held an archery contest for her Swayamvara (Sanskrit for "self-groom"), which set the stage for a princess to select a husband from a long list of suitors. Kings and warriors traveled to seek her hand in holy matrimony.  

The main challenge was to lift Shiva's astronomical bow. After hundreds tried and failed, the blue prince, Rama (Lord Vishnu's 7th divine incarnation), picked up the bow effortlessly and drew the string with such force that the shaft broke into pieces. Fortunately, this was considered a phenomenon, and he won the hand of Princess Sita. King Janaka quickly sent messengers to the kingdom of Ayodhya.   

A grand procession featuring Rama's father, King Dasaratha, and his three queens met a cavalcade with King Janaka, Sita, and Rama from a neighboring kingdom. Everyone watched as Sita placed a garland of flowers around Rama's neck. The couple walked clockwise and made seven full circles around the fire god, Agni. This ritual represents the seven principles and promises made to each other, referred to as the Pheras.  

The bride and groom proceeded under a canopy known as a mandap, where a priest wed them. Both kingdoms cheered. King Dasaratha was so delighted that he announced his retirement and declared Rama and Sita the new king and queen.

Rama's stepmother, Kaikeyi, was not cheering. The jealous queen loomed in the shadows and devised a cunning plan to do away with her stepson. Kaikeyi had decided long before that her birth son, Bharata, would be the next king. She reminded the king of his promise to grant her two wishes for saving his life in battle. The queen halted the festivities and demanded-

• Bharata is made the new king.
• Rama to be exiled to the jungle for fourteen years.  

Despite his love for Rama, King Dasaratha was a man of his word and honored the queen's wishes. The king banished his favorite son. Rama respectfully accepted his fate and left for the jungle with Sita and his other stepbrother, Lakshman, by his side. Soon after, guilt prevailed, and Rama's father died of a broken heart.