One day the great sage Vishwamitra came to Ayodhya and asked for Rama and Lakshmana to protect his sacrifice from demons. King Dasharatha reluctantly agreed. Shri Rama slew the demoness Tataka and protected the sacrifice from Maricha and Subahu. Vishwamitra gave them many divine weapons.
On the way to Mithila, Ahalya, who had been turned to stone by Sage Gautama's curse, was set free by the touch of Shri Rama's feet.
King Janaka of Mithila had set a condition for his daughter Sita's swayamvar: Sita would marry the one who could lift Pinaka, Lord Shiva's mighty bow, and string it. Many powerful kings could not even move it.
With his guru's permission, Shri Rama lifted the bow with ease, and as he strung it, it broke with a mighty thunder. Sita placed the wedding garland around Shri Rama's neck. At the same time Lakshmana married Urmila, Bharata married Mandavi and Shatrughna married Shrutakirti.