Ramayanam

What to remember

• The Ramayana was composed by Valmiki and is called the Adi Kavya (first poem). It has seven Kandas (books). Memorise their order: Bala, Ayodhya, Aranya, Kishkindha, Sundara, Yuddha, Uttara.
• Rama belongs to the Ikshvaku (Surya, solar) dynasty of Ayodhya, in Kosala. His father is Dasharatha, and his wife is Sita, daughter of Janaka of Mithila.
• Each Kanda has a key event and key place. Exams ask which event belongs to which Kanda, and who is linked to which place.

The epic and its poets

• Valmiki composed the Sanskrit Ramayana in verses (shlokas). It is traditionally said to have about 24,000 verses.
• The story is told by Valmiki. Luv and Kush recite it in Rama's court (Uttara Kanda).
• Sage Narada tells Valmiki the outline of Rama's story. The first shloka came out of Valmiki's grief when a hunter killed one of a pair of birds. This is why it is called the first poem.
• Telugu Ramayanas: Ranganatha Ramayanam (by Gona Buddha Reddy, c. 13th century, in the dvipada metre), Bhaskara Ramayanam (a group of poets), and Molla Ramayanam (by the woman poet Molla, c. 16th century, in simple Telugu). Ramayana Kalpavrukshamu by Viswanatha Satyanarayana is a modern retelling that won the Jnanpith Award.
• Other well-known versions: Ramcharitmanas (Tulsidas, Awadhi Hindi) and Kamba Ramayanam (Kamban, Tamil).

The seven Kandas

Sundara Kanda is the most popular part for recitation. It is the one in which Hanuman is the main hero.

The Ikshvaku (Raghu) dynasty

• The line is called Suryavamsha because it descends from the sun. It is also called the Raghuvamsha, after King Raghu, and the Ikshvaku dynasty, after Ikshvaku.
• Ayodhya is on the river Sarayu in the kingdom of Kosala.
• Kulaguru (family priest): Vasishtha. Minister: Sumantra.
• Dasharatha's wives and sons
• Kausalya: Rama
• Sumitra: Lakshmana and Shatrughna (twins)
• Kaikeyi: Bharata
• A putrakameshti yajna, conducted by sage Rishyashringa, was done for sons.
• The brides: Rama married Sita, Lakshmana married Urmila, Bharata married Mandavi and Shatrughna married Shrutakirti. Sita and Urmila were daughters of Janaka. Mandavi and Shrutakirti were daughters of Janaka's brother Kushadhvaja.
• Sita is called Janaki (daughter of Janaka), Vaidehi (of Videha) and Maithili (of Mithila). She was found in a furrow while the king ploughed, which is why the name Sita (furrow) is used.
• Rama's sons are Luv and Kush, born at Valmiki's ashram.

Characters

Places in the Ramayana

• Ayodhya: capital of Kosala, on the Sarayu.
• Mithila (Janakpur): capital of Videha, Janaka's kingdom.
• Chitrakuta: Rama's forest home in the first stage of exile. Bharata met Rama here.
• Dandakaranya and Panchavati: forest region on the Godavari bank, where Sita was abducted.
• Kishkindha: Vanara kingdom. It is placed in the area of Hampi (Karnataka) in tradition.
• Lanka: Ravana's island kingdom.
• Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi: linked with the bridge to Lanka and with Rama's worship of Shiva.
• Setu (Nala-setu): bridge built with the help of the Vanara engineer Nala.
• In Andhra Pradesh, the Kodandarama temple at Vontimitta is a well-known Rama temple. Bhadrachalam is the famous Rama temple on the Godavari. It is now in Telangana.

Some key episodes in order

• 1. Kidnapping of Sita from Panchavati by Ravana in the guise of a mendicant, after Maricha lures Rama away as a golden deer.
• 2. Jatayu is wounded when he tries to stop Ravana.
• 3. Rama and Lakshmana meet Hanuman at Rishyamukha mountain, and ally with Sugriva.
• 4. Hanuman jumps from Mahendra mountain. On the way he meets Mainaka, is tested by Surasa and is stopped by Simhika, and then enters Lanka.
• 5. Lakshmana is struck unconscious in battle. Hanuman brings the Sanjeevani herb mountain.
• 6. After the death of Kumbhakarna and Indrajit, Rama kills Ravana.
• 7. Rama returns to Ayodhya after 14 years, and Bharata gives the kingdom back.

Values, vows and well-known episodes

• Rama as the ideal: He is called Maryada Purushottama, the best of men who keeps limits. He accepted exile to keep his father's word. He is the model of a dutiful son, husband, brother and king.
• Lakshmana and Bharata: Lakshmana is the model of service. Bharata is the model of selfless rule. Bharata refused the throne, went to Chitrakuta to bring Rama back, and ruled from Nandigrama.
• Hanuman: He shows devotion, strength and wisdom. His leap to Lanka, the search for Sita and the fetching of Sanjeevani are his great deeds. He is worshipped as Anjaneya and Maruti.
• Vibhishana: He chose dharma over family and was made the king of Lanka after Ravana's fall.
• Ahalya: The wife of sage Gautama. Rama's touch freed her from the curse of stone, on the way to Mithila.
• Shabari: In popular tradition, an old tribal woman who tasted the fruits first to give only the sweet ones to Rama. This shows that devotion matters more than status.
• Rama's weapons: The Kodanda bow is Rama's own bow. The Shiva bow broken at Mithila was a different bow, kept by Janaka.
• Ravana's boons: Ravana took boons from Brahma after long penance, and was proud. He had ten heads and a pushpaka vimana taken from Kubera.
• Festivals linked to the epic: Sri Rama Navami (Rama's birthday), Vijayadashami or Dussehra (victory over Ravana), and Deepavali (return to Ayodhya, in the north Indian tradition). Sri Rama Navami is celebrated with the wedding of Sita and Rama (Seetha Rama Kalyanam) in many temples of Andhra Pradesh.
• Temple link: Ramayana scenes are carved on many temple walls. Rama temples are in the Vaishnava system of worship. Their administration under the Endowments Department is an exam topic in other chapters.

Exam traps

• Sundara Kanda is about Hanuman in Lanka. Yuddha Kanda is about the war.
• Lakshmana drawing a protective line (Lakshmana Rekha) is a popular tradition. It is not in Valmiki's text.
• Bala Kanda has the bow-breaking and marriage. Ayodhya Kanda has the exile.
• Kaikeyi is Bharata's mother. Sumitra is the mother of Lakshmana and Shatrughna.
• Kosala (Ayodhya) and Videha (Mithila) are different kingdoms.
• Vali and Sugriva are the brothers of Kishkindha. Vibhishana belongs to Lanka.
• Jatayu is a vulture. Hanuman is a vanara. Jambavan is a bear king.
• Ranganatha Ramayanam was written by Gona Buddha Reddy. Molla Ramayanam is by the woman poet Molla.

One-liners

• 1. The Ramayana is called the Adi Kavya.
• 2. Valmiki is the poet of the Ramayana.
• 3. It has seven Kandas.
• 4. Dasharatha ruled Kosala from Ayodhya.
• 5. Hanuman is the son of Vayu.
• 6. Rama's exile lasted 14 years.
• 7. Ravana ruled Lanka.
• 8. Bharata ruled in the name of Rama's sandals.
• 9. Sita was found in a furrow.
• 10. Vibhishana was crowned king of Lanka.
• 11. Molla Ramayanam was composed by a woman poet.
• 12. Luv and Kush recited the epic to Rama.

Practice questions

1. Who composed the Sanskrit Ramayana, known as the Adi Kavya?

   1. Vyasa
   2. Kalidasa
   3. Valmiki
   4. Tulsidas
   Answer

   C. Valmiki

   Valmiki is the first poet (Adi Kavi) and the Ramayana is the first poem.

2. How many Kandas does the Valmiki Ramayana have?

   1. Eighteen
   2. Twelve
   3. Five
   4. Seven
   Answer

   D. Seven

   The seven Kandas are Bala, Ayodhya, Aranya, Kishkindha, Sundara, Yuddha and Uttara.

3. In which Kanda does Hanuman find Sita in the Ashoka grove?

   1. Bala Kanda
   2. Sundara Kanda
   3. Kishkindha Kanda
   4. Aranya Kanda
   Answer

   B. Sundara Kanda

   Sundara Kanda describes Hanuman's journey to Lanka.

4. Which city was the capital of King Dasharatha?

   1. Ayodhya
   2. Kishkindha
   3. Mithila
   4. Lanka
   Answer

   A. Ayodhya

   Ayodhya was the capital of Kosala.

5. Who was the mother of Bharata?

   1. Sumitra
   2. Kaikeyi
   3. Urmila
   4. Kausalya
   Answer

   B. Kaikeyi

   Kaikeyi demanded the two boons for Bharata's rule and Rama's exile.

6. Hanuman is the son of which deity?

   1. Vayu, the wind god
   2. Surya
   3. Agni
   4. Indra
   Answer

   A. Vayu, the wind god

   Hanuman is known as Vayuputra, son of Vayu and Anjana.

7. Who was the king of Lanka in the Ramayana?

   1. Sugriva
   2. Kubera
   3. Vali
   4. Ravana
   Answer

   D. Ravana

   Ravana, son of sage Vishrava, ruled Lanka.

8. In which Kanda is Rama sent into exile?

   1. Bala Kanda
   2. Uttara Kanda
   3. Ayodhya Kanda
   4. Aranya Kanda
   Answer

   C. Ayodhya Kanda

   The coronation plan, Kaikeyi's boons and the 14-year exile fall in Ayodhya Kanda.

9. Ayodhya is situated on the bank of the river

   1. Godavari
   2. Narmada
   3. Sarayu
   4. Krishna
   Answer

   C. Sarayu

   Ayodhya is on the Sarayu in the kingdom of Kosala.

10. Sita was the daughter of which king?

    1. Sugriva of Kishkindha
    2. Janaka of Mithila
    3. Dasharatha of Ayodhya
    4. Drupada of Panchala
    Answer

    B. Janaka of Mithila

    Sita is called Janaki, daughter of Janaka.

11. The Molla Ramayanam in Telugu was composed by

    1. Pothana
    2. Nannaya
    3. Gona Buddha Reddy
    4. a woman poet named Molla
    Answer

    D. a woman poet named Molla

    Molla was a woman poet of the 16th century who wrote in simple Telugu.

12. The Ranganatha Ramayanam in Telugu was composed by

    1. Gona Buddha Reddy
    2. Molla
    3. Tikkana
    4. Errana
    Answer

    A. Gona Buddha Reddy

    It is a dvipada Ramayanam of the 13th century.

13. Which sage gave Rama the Aditya Hridayam before the fight with Ravana?

    1. Bharadvaja
    2. Vasishtha
    3. Agastya
    4. Vishwamitra
    Answer

    C. Agastya

    Agastya taught Rama the hymn to the sun.

14. Which vulture king fought Ravana to save Sita?

    1. Jatayu
    2. Jambavan
    3. Sampati
    4. Garuda
    Answer

    A. Jatayu

    Jatayu was wounded by Ravana and told Rama about Sita's abduction.

15. Who was the wife of Vali, the Vanara king?

    1. Urmila
    2. Mandodari
    3. Trijata
    4. Tara
    Answer

    D. Tara

    Tara was the wife of Vali, and Angada was their son.

16. Which brother of Ravana joined Rama and was crowned king of Lanka?

    1. Indrajit
    2. Vibhishana
    3. Khara
    4. Kumbhakarna
    Answer

    B. Vibhishana

    Vibhishana chose dharma over family.

17. Who was the family priest (kulaguru) of the Ikshvaku dynasty at Ayodhya?

    1. Agastya
    2. Vishwamitra
    3. Valmiki
    4. Vasishtha
    Answer

    D. Vasishtha

    Vasishtha was the preceptor of Dasharatha and Rama.

18. Who among the Vanaras was the engineer of the bridge across the sea?

    1. Jambavan
    2. Sugriva
    3. Nala
    4. Angada
    Answer

    C. Nala

    Nala built the bridge (Nala-setu).

19. Lakshmana and Shatrughna were the sons of

    1. Sumitra
    2. Mandodari
    3. Kausalya
    4. Kaikeyi
    Answer

    A. Sumitra

    Rama was the son of Kausalya, Bharata of Kaikeyi, and the twins of Sumitra.

20. The breaking of Shiva's bow and the marriage of Rama and Sita are in

    1. Ayodhya Kanda
    2. Bala Kanda
    3. Yuddha Kanda
    4. Uttara Kanda
    Answer

    B. Bala Kanda

    Bala Kanda covers childhood, Vishwamitra's yajna and the wedding.

21. The war with Ravana and the killing of Kumbhakarna and Indrajit are in

    1. Kishkindha Kanda
    2. Sundara Kanda
    3. Aranya Kanda
    4. Yuddha Kanda
    Answer

    D. Yuddha Kanda

    Yuddha (Lanka) Kanda describes the battle.

22. The name Sita is said to come from the word for

    1. a furrow
    2. a river
    3. a lotus
    4. moonlight
    Answer

    A. a furrow

    Sita was found in the furrow while the king ploughed the field.

23. To which dynasty did Rama belong?

    1. Nanda
    2. Ikshvaku (Suryavamsha)
    3. Yadava
    4. Chandravamsha
    Answer

    B. Ikshvaku (Suryavamsha)

    The Ikshvaku line descends from the sun and is also called Raghuvamsha.

24. From where was Sita abducted by Ravana?

    1. Kishkindha
    2. Chitrakuta
    3. Panchavati on the Godavari
    4. Ayodhya
    Answer

    C. Panchavati on the Godavari

    Sita was abducted from Panchavati in Dandaka forest.

25. Who brought the Sanjeevani herb mountain when Lakshmana lay unconscious?

    1. Angada
    2. Sugriva
    3. Vibhishana
    4. Hanuman
    Answer

    D. Hanuman

    Hanuman carried the mountain with the healing herbs.

26. Who ruled Ayodhya in the name of Rama's sandals during the exile?

    1. Bharata
    2. Shatrughna
    3. Dasharatha
    4. Lakshmana
    Answer

    A. Bharata

    Bharata placed the sandals on the throne and ruled from Nandigrama.

27. Kishkindha was the kingdom of the

    1. Rakshasas
    2. Vanaras
    3. Nagas
    4. Gandharvas
    Answer

    B. Vanaras

    Sugriva ruled it after Vali's death.

28. Which popular detail is NOT found in Valmiki's text?

    1. The golden deer
    2. Rama breaking Shiva's bow
    3. The Lakshmana Rekha
    4. The burning of Lanka
    Answer

    C. The Lakshmana Rekha

    The protective line is a later popular tradition.

29. Which sage performed the putrakameshti yajna for Dasharatha?

    1. Gautama
    2. Rishyashringa
    3. Narada
    4. Parashara
    Answer

    B. Rishyashringa

    Rishyashringa conducted the sacrifice that led to the birth of four sons.

30. Sita is called Vaidehi because she

    1. was married in Videsha
    2. was found at Vidisha
    3. was born at Vidarbha
    4. belonged to the Videha kingdom
    Answer

    D. belonged to the Videha kingdom

    Videha was the kingdom of Janaka.

31. Indrajit (Meghanada) was the son of

    1. Vibhishana
    2. Khara
    3. Ravana
    4. Kumbhakarna
    Answer

    C. Ravana

    Indrajit was Ravana's son with Mandodari.

32. The birth of Luv and Kush and Sita's return to the earth are narrated in

    1. Uttara Kanda
    2. Bala Kanda
    3. Sundara Kanda
    4. Yuddha Kanda
    Answer

    A. Uttara Kanda

    Uttara Kanda is the last Kanda.

33. Consider these statements. 1. Kausalya was the mother of Rama. 2. Kaikeyi was the mother of Lakshmana.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    Lakshmana's mother was Sumitra.

34. Consider these statements. 1. Valmiki is called the Adi Kavi. 2. The Valmiki Ramayana has seven Kandas.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both statements are correct.

35. Consider these statements. 1. Rama meets Sugriva in Kishkindha Kanda. 2. Hanuman burns Lanka in Aranya Kanda.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    Hanuman burns Lanka in Sundara Kanda.

36. Consider these statements. 1. Bharata married Mandavi. 2. Shatrughna married Urmila.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    Urmila married Lakshmana. Shatrughna married Shrutakirti.

37. Consider these statements. 1. Jatayu was a bear king. 2. Jambavan was a vulture.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    D. Neither 1 nor 2

    Jatayu was a vulture and Jambavan was a bear king.

38. Consider these statements about Telugu Ramayanas. 1. Molla Ramayanam was written by a woman. 2. Ranganatha Ramayanam is in the dvipada metre.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both are correct.

39. Consider these statements. 1. Vibhishana was the brother of Kumbhakarna. 2. Vibhishana fought on the side of Ravana until the end.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    Vibhishana joined Rama.

40. Consider these statements about Sita. 1. She was the daughter of Dasharatha. 2. She was the daughter of Janaka.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    Sita was the daughter of Janaka of Mithila.

41. Which pair of Kanda and event is correctly matched?

    1. Sundara Kanda - Bharata's meeting at Chitrakuta
    2. Bala Kanda - death of Ravana
    3. Kishkindha Kanda - bridge over the sea
    4. Aranya Kanda - abduction of Sita
    Answer

    D. Aranya Kanda - abduction of Sita

    Sita was taken by Ravana in the forest, in Aranya Kanda.

42. Which pair is correctly matched?

    1. Guha - minister of Ravana
    2. Sampati - brother of Jatayu
    3. Shabari - wife of Vali
    4. Trijata - mother of Hanuman
    Answer

    B. Sampati - brother of Jatayu

    Sampati gave Hanuman's party the direction of Lanka.

43. Consider these statements. 1. The Lakshmana Rekha is described in Valmiki's text. 2. Hanuman is the son of Vayu.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    The Lakshmana Rekha is a popular later tradition.

44. Consider these statements about places. 1. The Kodandarama temple at Vontimitta is a Rama temple in Andhra Pradesh. 2. Bhadrachalam is on the bank of the Krishna river.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    Bhadrachalam is on the Godavari.

45. Who tricked Rama away from Sita by taking the form of a golden deer?

    1. Subahu
    2. Khara
    3. Kabandha
    4. Maricha
    Answer

    D. Maricha

    Maricha, a Rakshasa, took the deer form at Ravana's request.