Ramayana

The first episode of the Ramayana manga introduces the kingdom of Ayodhya, the prosperous capital of the Ikshvaku dynasty, ruled by the respected King Dasharatha. The opening pages establish Ayodhya as a magnificent and peaceful kingdom whose people live under Dasharatha's rule. Although the kingdom prospers and Dasharatha has conquered and protected many lands, the king carries a deep personal sorrow: he has no son and therefore no heir to continue his dynasty. As the king's sorrow grows, Dasharatha turns to his spiritual advisers for guidance. He asks Vashishtha whether there is still a path by which he might receive a son. Vashishtha tells him that sacred rites should be performed, beginning with the Ashvamedha and followed by the Putrakameshti. Dasharatha accepts this path, placing his hope in the sacred rituals. The next sequence depicts the Ashvamedha sacrifice. The sacred horse is released and travels across the lands, symbolizing the king's sovereignty. After the ritual is completed, the atmosphere changes dramatically. The sacred fires burn increasingly high while priests perform the ceremonies and sacred mantras fill the air. The manga uses powerful black-and-white imagery and intense fire effects to mark this as the first major supernatural moment of the story.