Rāmāyaṇa

 

Rāmāyaṇa Overview

Origin & Author:

• Traditionally attributed to Vālmīki.
• Written in Sanskrit, probably between 5th and 4th century BCE (though oral traditions predate this).

Structure:

• Divided into 7 Kandas (books/sections):
1. Bala Kanda – Rama’s childhood and early life.
2. Ayodhya Kanda – Rama’s exile from the kingdom.
3. Aranya Kanda – Life in the forest and Sita’s abduction.
4. Kishkindha Kanda – Rama’s alliance with the monkey king Sugriva.
5. Sundara Kanda – Hanuman’s heroic journey to Lanka.
6. Yuddha Kanda (Lanka Kanda) – The war between Rama and Ravana, rescue of Sita.
7. Uttara Kanda – Return to Ayodhya and later events.

Main Characters:

• Rama – Hero, prince of Ayodhya, incarnation of Vishnu.
• Sita – Rama’s wife, known for her virtue and devotion.
• Lakshmana – Rama’s loyal brother.
• Hanuman – Devoted monkey god, symbol of devotion and courage.
• Ravana – Demon king of Lanka, antagonist.
• Dasharatha – Rama’s father, king of Ayodhya.

Themes:

• Dharma (righteousness and duty)
• Loyalty, devotion, and honor
• Good vs evil
• Family and social duty

Cultural Impact:

• Influenced art, literature, dance, and drama across India and Southeast Asia.
• Adaptations exist in Thailand, Indonesia (Ramayana Kakawin), Cambodia, and the Philippines.
• Celebrated annually through festivals like Diwali (return of Rama to Ayodhya) and Rama Navami (birth of Rama).

! Here’s a timeline of major events in the Rāmāyaṇa in a table format for clarity:

Event	Description
Birth of Rama	Rama is born to King Dasharatha and Queen Kaushalya in Ayodhya.
Rama’s Education & Early Life	Rama, along with his brothers Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna, learns martial arts and dharma under sage Vashishta.
Swayamvara of Sita	Rama wins Sita’s hand in marriage by lifting and breaking Shiva’s bow at her swayamvara.
Exile to Forest	Due to a promise made by Dasharatha to Kaikeyi, Rama is exiled for 14 years; Sita and Lakshmana accompany him.
Life in Forest	Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana live in the Dandaka forest; encounter sages and demons.
Abduction of Sita	Ravana, demon king of Lanka, abducts Sita, taking her to his kingdom.
Alliance with Sugriva	Rama meets Sugriva, the monkey king; they form an alliance to search for Sita.
Hanuman’s Journey	Hanuman leaps to Lanka, finds Sita, reassures her, and brings back information to Rama.
Building of the Bridge (Rama Setu)	Rama’s army of monkeys builds a bridge to Lanka to rescue Sita.
War with Ravana	Rama battles Ravana and his army; Ravana is killed. Sita is rescued.
Agni Pariksha (Trial by Fire)	Sita proves her purity by undergoing a trial by fire.
Return to Ayodhya	Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana return to Ayodhya; Rama is crowned king.
Later Events (Uttara Kanda)	Sita is exiled due to public suspicion; she returns to Mother Earth; Rama rules righteously until his departure from the world.