Ramayana

Between which centuries was the Ramayana likely composed?

Between the 7th and 4th centuries BCE

Who is the poet credited with composing the Ramayana?

Valmiki

In what language was the Ramayana composed?

Sanskrit

Name the two major Indian festivals that celebrate events from the Ramayana.

Diwali and Dussehra

What does the festival of Dussehra commemorate?

The triumph of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana

Who is Rama?

The hero of the story; eldest son of King Dashrath; seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu

Who is Sita?

Princess of Janaka; earthly form of Lakshmi; Rama’s devoted wife

Who is King Dashrath?

Benevolent ruler of Kaushala and Ayodhya; father of Rama and his brothers

Who is Lakshmana?

Rama’s younger brother and protector; accompanies Rama and Sita into exile

Who is Bharata?

Rama’s brother; refuses the throne during Rama’s exile and acts as regent

Who is Shatrughna?

Youngest brother of Rama; devoted companion to siblings

Who is Ravana?

Evil king of Lanka; powerful Rakshasa; abducts Sita

Who is Hanuman?

Powerful Vanara (monkey); devoted to Rama; helps locate Sita in Lanka

Who is Sugriva?

Exiled monkey king; ally of Rama

Who is Vibhishana?

Ravana’s younger brother; righteous; defects to Rama’s side

Who is Kaikeyi?

Queen of Dashrath; mother of Bharata; demands Rama's exile

Who is Manthara?

Kaikeyi’s nursemaid who influences her to demand Rama’s exile

Who is Vishwamitra?

King of Videha; father of Sita; organizes Shiva’s bow contest

Who is Janaka?

King of Videha; father of Sita; organizes Shiva’s bow contest

Who is Marich?

Ravana’s uncle; disguises as a golden deer to lure Rama and Lakshmana away

Who is Surpanakha?

Ravana’s sister; instigates Ravana to abduct Sita

Who is Jatayu?

Bird king who tries to rescue Sita from Ravana but is mortally wounded

Who is Sampathi?

Jatayu’s brother who informs Hanuman of Sita’s location

Who is Vali?

Sugriva’s brother who banished him; defeated by Rama

Who is Kumbhakarna?

Ravana’s giant warrior brother who sleeps for six months at a time

Who is Indrajeet?

Ravana’s son; powerful magical warrior who wounds Lakshmana

Who is Vashistha?

Sage who advises King Dashrath to perform the yagya to beget sons

Who is Sumitra?

Dashrath’s third queen; mother of Lakshmana and Shatrughna

What ceremony does King Dashrath perform to beget heirs?

Yagya (ceremony to beget sons)

How many sons are born and to how many queens?

Four sons born to three queens

Which incarnation of Vishnu is Rama considered?

Seventh incarnation

Who seeks Rama’s help to defeat demons near Ayodhya?

Sage Vishwamitra

Which demons does Rama defeat as a young warrior?

Marich and Taraka

What contest must Rama win to marry Sita?

Lift and string the great bow of Shiva

Who demands Rama’s exile and Bharata’s coronation?

Queen Kaikeyi, influenced by Manthara

How long is Rama exiled?

14 years

How does Bharata show his devotion to Rama?

Refuses the throne and places Rama’s sandals on the throne

Which demon disguises as a golden deer to lure Rama and Lakshmana?

Marich

Who abducts Sita?

Ravana

Who informs Hanuman of Sita’s location?

Sampathi

Where does Hanuman find Sita?

Ashok Vatika in Lanka

Who advises Rama to build a floating bridge?

Vibhishana’s advice and the sea god’s instruction

What is the name of the bridge?

Setu

Which giant warrior brother of Ravana sleeps for six months?

Kumbhakarna

Who wounds Lakshmana?

Indrajeet, Ravana’s son

Who is crowned king of Lanka after Ravana’s defeat?

Vibhishana

What happens to Rama and Sita at the end?

Rama returns to heaven; Sita returns to Mother Earth

What is the central philosophical theme of the Ramayana?

Karma and reincarnation; the triumph of good over evil

The Ramayana emphasizes the importance of which moral qualities?

Love, loyalty, courage, kindness, and rejection of greed and violence

What does the Ramayana teach about life’s challenges?

Life involves trials and suffering through which one learns devotion and righteous behavior