The Ramayana

• Ramayana


  The story of Ramayana by Maharshi Valmiki
• Dashratha


  • Wise king of Ayodhya in India
  • Had three wives
  • Didn't have any children with them
• Obtaining a blessing from the gods

  1. Advised by chief priest Vashishta to make fire sacrifice

  2. One of the gods appeared out of the flame and handed him a pot full of nectar

  3. Dashratha shared the nectar with his three queens
• Dashratha's sons

  • Rama (born to Kausalya)
  • Bharata (born to Kaikeyi)
  • Lakshmana and Shatrugna (twins born to Sumitra)
• Sita


  • Daughter of the ruler
  • Chose Rama as her husband at the swayamvara ceremony
• Dashratha's plan to make Rama the king


  Fulfils the rules of Dharma as the eldest son should rule
• Kaikeyi's demand to banish Rama

  Due to an oath Dashratha had made to her years before
• Rama, Sita and Lakshmana set out to the forest
• Bharata


  • Upset that his mother's evil plot had won him the throne
  • Did not consider breaking the rules of Dharma to become king in Rama's place
• Bharata's actions


  1. Went to Rama's forest retreat

  2. Begged Rama to return and rule

  3. Took Rama's sandals to put on the throne and place the fruits of his work at Rama's feet
• Rama, Sita and Lakshmana were very happy in the forest
• Rama and Lakshmana's actions in the forest


  Destroyed the rakshasas who disturbed the sages in their meditations
• Shurpanaka


  • A rakshasa princess who tried to seduce Rama and was wounded by Lakshmana
• Shurpanaka's actions


  Told her brother Ravana about Sita
• Ravana


  • Ten-headed ruler of Lanka
  • Devised a plan to abduct Sita
• Ravana's plan to abduct Sita

  1. Sent a magical golden deer to lure Rama away

  2. Appeared as a holy man to get Sita to step outside Lakshmana's protective circle

  3. Grabbed Sita and carried her off to Lanka
• Rama was broken-hearted when he returned to the empty hut and could not find Sita
• Hanuman


  • General of the monkey band
  • Could fly since his father was the wind
  • Flew to Lanka, found Sita, comforted her and told her Rama would come to save her
• Hanuman's actions in Lanka

  1. Captured by Ravana's men

  2. Had his tail wrapped in cloth and set on fire

  3. Hopped from house top to house top setting Lanka on fire

  4. Flew back to Rama to tell him where Sita was
• Rama, Lakshmana and the monkey army's actions

  1. Built a causeway from the tip of India crossing over to Lanka

  2. Mighty battle took place

  3. Rama killed several of Ravana's brothers

  4. Rama confronted and killed the ten-headed Ravana

  5. Freed Sita
• Sita proved her purity through the trial by fire
• Rama became the king and ruled a Ramarajya, an ideal time when everyone does their duties and responsibilities