RAMAYANA: What is it?, author, characters, summary and more

Considered one of the most important texts of Ancient India, the Ramayana is a work composed of twenty-four thousand verses and translated into many languages, managing to greatly influence literature, especially in its country of origin.

What is Ramayana?

Ramayana is an ancient Indian epic poem from c. 3rd century BC, considered a traditional sacred text or smṛti. This type of ancient Sanskrit writing is texts not revealed by God, but transmitted thanks to tradition.

Written 5,000 or more years ago, it is one of the most important works of Ancient India and is attributed to the sage Valmiki.

The Hindu wise man tells the story of Prince Rama of Ayodhya, considered the seventh incarnation of Vishnu, a god of Hinduism considered strong, conservative and protective.

Argument

The work is a narrative that covers the arrival into the world, education, marriage and all the adventures and misadventures of the prince and seventh incarnation of the God Vishnu, Rama.

The work develops in Rama’s experiences in his land and in exile during his brother’s reign. Accompanied by his wife and his brother, Kakshmana.

The kidnapping of his wife, his long fight to recover her and his return to his homeland to rule as a wise king, are situations that will give greater dynamism to the work.

Characters

Among the main characters of the Ramayana we find:

Branch: son of King Dasaratha, incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu and husband of Sita.

King Dasaratha: king of Ayoda and father of Rama and his three brothers.

Laksmana and Satruña: twin brothers of Rama and sons of Dasaratha. Laksmana, was his faithful companion in all his adventures.

Cheap: Rama’s second brother, who rules during his exile.

Kaosayla: Rama’s mother

Sumitra: mother of Laksmana and Satruña

Kaikeyi: Barata’s mother

Sita: wife of Rama, adopted daughter of Ajanaka, king of Mitila.

Ravana: king of the raksasa demons, in Hindu mythology.

Hanuman: He is the monkey god, considered in Hinduism an aspect of the god Shiva, faithful companion of Rama.

Rama and the Ramayana

The main character or protagonist of the Ramayana is Prince Rama, a brave, talented and wise young man, considered a great son and devoted husband.

They describe him as the perfect man among all men, he was known as Mariada Purushottama or the Supreme Man of Rules.

Son of King Dasaratha of Ayodhya and the first of his three wives, Kausalya. Therefore, Rama was the eldest son, heir to the throne and became his father’s favorite among the four brothers.

This character, as is to be expected from a prince, was born between wealth and power, but despite this he identified with those who suffer and perceived the pain and sorrow around him.

He married Sita, daughter of Mother Earth adopted by King Janaka of Mithila.

The Ramayana emphasizes duty, honor, love, good, evil, loss, jealousy and ambition, in every moment of Rama’s life.

Including the time of exile in the forest that lasted more than a decade, the abduction of Sita by Ravana the demon king of Lanka, the loyalty of her younger brothers and the war between good and evil, represented by Rama and Ravana respectively. (See article: The goddess Kali)

Composition of the work

The Ramayana is classified in Sanskrit literature as:

Kavya or poetry. Mahakavya or ancient heroic epic poem.

The original version of the Ramayana is composed of 24,000 verses, which are divided into seven Kandas or volumes, of five hundred sagas or chapters.

Each Kanda or volume is given a name: Bala Kanda, Ayodhya Kanda, Aranya Kanda, Kishkindha Kanda, Sundara Kanda, Yuddha Kanda and Uttara Kanda.

This work has multiple translations and versions, which have allowed it to survive over time through complete or partial manuscripts, the oldest being from the 11th century after Christ.

The current text of the Ramayana presents two different versions, that of North and South India.

Structure of the Ramayana

Generally divided into seven books, covering from the birth to the death of Rama, contemplating many important aspects of his life. The seven kandas or volumes are:

Bala Kanda or childhood chapter, details his birth, his first years in Aiodhiá until his wedding to Sita. Ayodhya Kanda or chapter of Aiodhiá: the experiences and suffering of Dásharatha and the beginning of Rama’s exile. Aranya Kanda or Forest Chapter: These texts describe Rama’s exile in the forest, as well as the abduction of his wife Sita. Kishkindya Kanda or chapter of the Vánara kingdom: Rama befriends the monkey Sugriva, and the Vánara army begins to search for the prince’s wife. Sundara Kanda or beautiful chapter: Hanuman’s journey to Lanka is described, where he finds out that Sita is a prisoner. Yuddha Kanda or chapter of the war: this part of the text recounts the battle between Rama and Rávana, the victory of the protagonist, the return to the land of Aiodhiá and his coronation as the new sovereign. Uttara Kanda or final chapter: the narrative focuses on the life of Rama and Sita in Aiodhiá. When Sita is accused and sentenced to exile and the death of both husbands.

There are many comments and gossip about the authorship of the first and last chapter of the Ramayana.

Some claim that they were not written by Valmiki, since they have some variations and differences in style and sometimes the content contradicts each other.

However, experts believe that even if these differences exist between both chapters and the rest of the content, they are an integral part of the Ramayana.

Both chapters have the greatest amounts of mythological references in this work, such as the birth of Rama, the divine nature of the prince, and the legends of Ravana.

Summary by chapters

As mentioned above, the Ramayana tells the life and experiences of Prince Rama from his birth, covering aspects such as childhood, adolescence, marriage and exile to the forests.

Traditionally divided into seven kandas, volumes or books, where a particular stage in the life of Vishnu’s incarnation is described and treated, organized chronologically.

Below you will find a summary of each of the seven kandas that make up the Ramayana:

Bala Kanda

It is the first book of Ramayana and is responsible for recounting in detail the origin of Rama and his three brothers: Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna.

The King of Ayodhya, known as Dasharatha, Rama’s father had three wives: Kausalya, Kautilya and Sumitra. However, none had given him children. (See article: Chilam Balam)

Wishing to have heirs, he performed a fire sacrifice, putrakameshti yagya, a ritual where offerings are given to the fire god Agni, supervised by Rishishringa Muni.

The ceremony ends successfully and the Lord of Fire, Agnidev was present, presenting a tray of sweets to the King for his wives to eat. This gift blessed the King with four children.

Kausalya, mother of Rama, Kaikeyi gave birth to Bharata and twins Lakshmana and Shatrughna were born to Sumitra.

In this kanda the childhood of the four brothers, their education and learning about the arts of war and the scriptures are recounted in detail.

One of the most highlighted aspects in all the reproductions and translations of the Ramayana is the fight and destruction of the demons that bothered Vishwamitra. The responsibility was left in the hands of Rama and Lakshmana, performing sacrificial rites.

This happened when Rama was only sixteen years old and Vishwamitra went to the court of King Dasaratha requesting help. Lakshmana who was faithful and devoted to Rama during his lifetime, followed him and met the challenge.

The origin of the young Sita and the details of her union with Rama are also related. Sita, at a very young age was found by Janaka the King of Mithila, considering the girl a gift from the gods, he adopted her.

In Bala Kanda, Prince Rama passes Shiva’s test of lifting and wielding an extremely heavy bow.

Ending this narrative the brothers are married: Rama married Sita, Lakshmana married Urmila, Bharata married Mandavi and Shatrughna married Shrutakirti.

Ayodhya Kanda

In the Ayodhya Kanda all the events and events that caused Rama’s exile to the forests for fourteen years are narrated.

When King Dasaratha decides to relinquish the throne to Rama, after consulting with members of the Kosala assembly, he faces a difficult decision.

One day before Prince Rama is crowned, one of the king’s three wives, Kaikeyi, under the influence of Manthara, an intriguing servant, demands that her husband grant her two wishes that he had promised her some time ago.

These two wishes were that Rama should be exiled to the forests for fourteen years and the second wish was that his son Bharata should succeed him on the throne.

Dasharatha was a man who kept his promises and did not go back on his word, therefore, his situation was difficult and confusing, because he loved his children, but Rama was the one who from the beginning was destined to rule.

Rama, who knew that the king was a man of his word, wanted to alleviate his father’s suffering and anguish, accepting the exile with great calm and serenity.

Showing complete self-control, he went to the forest in the company of his brother Lakshmana and his wife Sita, who insisted on joining him in exile, even though the prince did not want him to suffer in such a situation.

Bharata refused to accept the crown, embarrassed by his mother’s evil behavior. He asked his brother to return, however, Rama, avoiding displeasure with his father, decided to go into exile and not contradict him.

Rama decided not to return until he was fourteen years old, as was Kaikeyi’s wish, thus fulfilling his father’s orders. Bharata then chose to take command in Rama’s name.

Aranya Kanda

This volume consists of 75 sargas, describing the last months of exile in the forest of Prince Rama, his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana.

In the years of exile Rama, Sita and Lakshmana headed south, visiting hermitages of great and important sages. This journey lasted for more than ten years and then they decided to settle in Panchavati, Dandaka forest.

Surpanakha, Ravana’s sister, upon seeing Rama, was bewitched by his beauty and tried to seduce him, but when she failed to attract any of the princes, her anger and evil were unleashed. She decided to attack Sita, and Lakshmana cut off her nose and left ear as punishment.

The woman first went in search of her brother Khara, who, full of anger, sent seven Rakshasa warriors to assassinate Rama, however, none of them achieved their objective, dispatching them easily.

Khara attacked the princes with one fourteen thousand soldiers and they were all killed. So trying to avenge the humiliation Surpanakha went in search of his other brother, Ravana.

Knowing well her brother’s weakness for women and his great cunning, the woman described Sita’s beauty, making her irresistible to Ravana.

Surpanakha’s idea of ​​taking Sita’s life was frustrated, since her brother’s plan was at no time to murder the woman, he wanted to kidnap her.

He presented himself as a man who asked for the help of…