Which sage performed the Putrakameshti yajna for King Dasharatha?

Rishyasringa performed the Putrakameshti yajna for King Dasharatha. In the Ramayana, Dasharatha of Ayodhya sought sons because his three queens had not yet produced a male heir. His royal priest, Vashishta, recommended the ritual, while Rishyasringa presided over it as the specialist officiant.

Rishyasringa is portrayed as an exceptionally powerful sage. His unusual origin story says he was born with deer-like horns and raised in seclusion by his father, Vibhandaka. He later married Shanta, who is described in some traditions as Dasharatha's daughter and in others as the daughter of King Romapada of Anga.

After the sacrifice, Agni appeared and gave Dasharatha a vessel of divine payasam. The king distributed it among Kausalya, Kaikeyi, and Sumitra. The ritual's result was the birth of Rama, Bharata, and the twins Lakshmana and Shatrughna. A common mix-up is crediting Vashishta with performing the yajna: he advised and supported it, but Rishyasringa was the principal ritual authority.