When Ram,Lakshmana,Bharata and Shatrughan become adolescents, their sacred thread ceremony was held.

"This ceremony initiates you to life as students.

Tomorrow, you will accompany Guru Vashishtha to the Gurukul to lead a life of simplicity and learning,"King Dashratha informed his sons after the ceremony was over.

Guru Vashishtha was the royal priest and the Kulguru, or family teacher, of the Raghu dynasty.

All the boys were handsome and good natured but Ram, the eldest, was especislly loved in the royal household and throughout the kingdom.

That evening, Ram's mother Kaushalya said to him sadly,"My son, this will be the last meal that we shall have together before you go."