Ramayana Summary - Introduction to The Ramayana - Characters, Author & Summary.

THE RAMAYANA (Indian Classical Literature) 
MAHARSHI VALMIKI (BOOK – 9 BY ROMESH CHANDRA DUTT)

INTRODUCTION TO RAMAYANA:

Comparable to the Bible or the Odyssey, the Ramayana is a classic of world literature. The poem detail about the adventures of Prince Rama. Ramayana is an epic composed by the greatest Indian poet Valmiki. This book is treated as the most scared book for the Hindus. Ramayana is the story of the battle between Lord Rama and demon Ravana. This book is written in classical Sanskrit and dating between 5^th and 2^nd century and consist more than 24,000 verses. The Ramayana was composed by Maharshi Valmiki with a view to establish certain values and morality in life. Valmiki has been able to establish the fact- “Truth triumphs at the end despite numerous hurdles”.

                   

ABOUT THE AUTHOR OF THE RAMAYANA:

Maharshi Valmiki is a great Indian sage and a renowned poet in Sanskrit literature. He is marked as ‘Adi Kavi’ who is famous for his first epic poem ‘Ramayana’. The birth name of Valmiki was Agni Sharma. By Narada Muni’s advice Agni Sharma started chanting ‘Mara’ and started a penance. After several years the word ‘Mara’ became ‘Rama’. Lord Vishnu appeared before him and rechristened him as Valmiki.

MAIN CHARACTERS OF THE RAMAYANA:

     1. KING DASHARATHA: King of Ayodhya. 

        2. KAUSHLYA: First wife of King Dasharatha and mother of Rama.

    3.  SUMITRA: Second wife of King Dasharatha and mother of Lakshmana and Shatrughna.

       4. KAIKEYI: Third and the youngest wife of King Dasharatha and mother of Bharata.

     5. RAMA: The eldest son of king Dasharatha. He was avatara of Lord Vishnu.

       6. LAKSHMANA: Son of King Dasharatha. Fully devoted to his brother Rama.

      7. SHATRUGHNA: Son of King Dasharatha an twin brother of Lakshmana.

      8. BHARATA: Son of king Dasharatha

       9. MANTHARA: Head maid of Queen Kaikeyi.

     10. SITA: She was daughter of King Janak and wife of Rama.

    11. HANUMAN: He is the son of the wind god, Vayu and a vanari women.

    12. RAVANA: Ravana is a demon and King of Lanka.

    13. VIBHISHAN: he was brother of Ravana.

STORY(SUMMARY) OF THE RAMAYANA:

Ramayana is considered the most scared book of the Hindus written by Maharshi Valmiki. Fundamentally Ramayana has been composed in Sanskrit language. This immortal book consist of 24,000 verse. Most scholars say that Ramayana has been written between the 5^th and 2^nd century BC. The Ramayana with name “Ramcharitmanas” has been written by Tulsi Das in Awadhi language.

This present book of Ramayana is concern is actually a translation in English by Romesh Chandra Dutt. He was a civil servant, a political and economical thinker, a Bengali literature personality. He was born on 13^th August, 1848 in Kolkata and expired on 30^th November, 1909.

The protagonist (main character) of the Ramayana is Rama .The story of the life of Ram has been mentioned in Ramayana. Rama is considered “Maryada Purushttam”. This holy  book gives us a great lesson about falsehood is defeated by truth. Rama teaches us that how powerful and dangerous a person is at the end he has to face the punishment of his false deeds.

R.C. Dutt does not talk about the birth and parentage of Rama , Lakshmana, Satrughna, Bharata. Basically the translation book deals with the heroic deeds of Rama.

One day great sage Vishwamitra came to Ayodhya. Having seen him king Dasharatha immediately got down and received him reverently. He was there to take Rama in order to provide protection to his sacrifice by demon. After having permission of Dasharatha Rama and Lakshmana followed Vishwamitra to the Dandok forest. They killed a female demon named Tarka. At this point Vishwamitra taught them how the meditate and chant the mantras in order to summon divine weapons. After killing Tarka they went to Siddhashrama. There Vishwamitra began an elaborated sacrifice and requested Rama to guard the sacrifice. Six days passed without any disturbance but on the seventh day when the sacrifice was about to complete Marich and Suvahu along with many demons started covering the sky. Immediately Rama discharge newly acquired weapon and kill Marich and throw him miles away. Rama also killed Suvahu and Lakshmana killed the whole demonic army. The sacrifice of Vishwamitra was complete and he blessed both of them.

The very next morning they went for Mithla. There swayamvara of Sita, daughter of king Janaka was being conducted. Rama also took part in that event and was successful to lift the great bow of Lord Shiva. Very soon the great bow broke into two during stringing. This news was sent to Dasharatha and he visited Mithla with marriage procession. A grand wedding took place and Rama got married to Sita. They came back to Ayodhya.

Few years later, Dasharatha wanted to make Rama the King of Ayodhya and ordered for the arrangement for coronation. But his desire of making Rama the king remained unfulfilled. This all happened because of the conspiracy of Manthra, the head maid of Queen Kaikeyi. She brainwashed Kaikeyi and told her for asking her remaining two boons that were given to her my King Dasharatha. When Dasharatha came in Kaikeye apartment to convey her the message but she was not present there. Dasharatha immediately guessed that there is something wrong. When he met Kaikeyi she asked her two boons to be fulfilled now. Her first wish was coronation of her son, Bharata and her second wish was banishment of Rama to the forest 14 years. Dasharatha was extremely shocked but he have to keep his promise. At this news everyone shocked and angry especially Lakshmana. Lakshmana decided to accompany Rama. Sita too declared that she will also go with his husband, Rama. And according the order of Dasharatha they left for the forest in a chariot derv by Sumanta.

The people of Ayodhya followed the chariot till the bank of Ganga. At mid-night they successfully escape from the citizen of Ayodhya and started their further journey. After travelling  on the bank of Ganga they met Guha, boatmen’s chief. When Guha saw them he requested to stay and give him chance to take care of them but Rama immediately said no to his request and made him under stand his situation. The very next morning Rama send back Sumanta to Ayodhya. Then three of them got into boat of Kevta, a boatmen in order to cross the river Ganga.

Sumanta reached Ayodhya and went to Dasharatha to tell everything. That very night Dasharatha passed away. At the time of this conspiracy and Dasharatha death Bharata and Shatrughna were at their maternal uncle house. They were returned to Ayodhya without knowing anything. After sometime they got to know about everything happened. Bharata goes in search of Rama he met him and told him about happening of Ayodhya but Rama was obeying the promise and did not return. Bharata returned to the kingdom and after the death ceremony he was given the charge of the kingdom but he refused it.

Rama, Sita and Lakshmana were passing their time peacefully with lot of hardship in the forest. But one day Surahnakha, sister of Ravana appeared before Rama and tried to approach him to marry her but Rama didn’t react to her. After that she approached Lakshmana. Lakshmana in the state of anger cut her nose. Ravana decided to take revenge on behalf of her Sister. He was a demon king of Lanka. Ranvana abducted Sita according to his plan. He played a trick with the help of  his maternal uncle, Marich. He had the power to disguise himself. He turned himself into a beautiful golden deer and appeared before Sita. She got mesmerized and asked Rama to get that deer. Rama went after that deer and didn’t returned for so long. Lakshmana went in search of his brother. In between Ravana appeared as a sage and abducted her and took her to Lanka.

Rama and Lakshmana started searching Sita in the forest. In the path of searching Sita they met a divine bird, Jatayu. He made them know that Ravana has abducted Sita and he tried his best to protect Sita but could not succeed. Thus after convening the direction he died. Later Rama took help of Sugriva and army of monkeys. Rama sent Hanuman to Lanka to search Sita. Hanuman appeared before Sita as the messenger of Rama. After some time a fierce war took place between Rama and Ravana. Rama had army of monkeys, Hanuman, Lakshmana, Vibhishana and Sugriva. One by one all the great warrior of Ranvana were killed by Rama and Lakshmana. This war took place for a very long period of time. Dispite all efforts Rama was unable to kill Ravana. At this point of time Vibhishana made Rama understand that Ravana was blessed with a mysterious power he could only be likked by attacking on his navel. According to the advice of Vibhishana Rama hit at the navel of Ravana. Thus Ravana was killed. Rama won the battel against Ravana. Rama freed Sita and enthroned Vibhishana as the king of Lanka. He along with Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman returned to Ayodhya. Rama became the king of Ayodhya and ruled for years.