When Rama and Lakshman were youths just coming into manhood, the sage Vishvamitra requested their help in defeating some powerful rakshasa demons who had been disturbing the sacrifices performed by the sages for the good of the world. The sacrifices commenced, night fell, and the demons attacked, defiling the sacrificial arena with unclean substances like blood and body parts. Rama and Lakshman, having been well schooled in use of weapons, shot the demons and sent them hundreds of miles away into the ocean.