Ramayana

Ramayana is recited everyyear in the month of Karkidakam. Often remember Ammumas chanting 'Balagan Ayodhayil, Araniyan Thanil Poku,Kishkindan Rajanodu, Sundaran Yudham Cheyathu......'

The Ramayana is one of two epics, the other being the Mahabharata, which have had a crucial influence in shaping the nature of Indian civilization. The Ramayana existed in the oral tradition perhaps as far back as 1,500 BCE, but the fourth century BCE is generally accepted as the date of its composition in Sanskrit by Sage Valmiki. Many historians claim that Ramayana actually happened and is not a mythological folklore. There are so many versions of it - Valmiki Ramayan, Adbhuta Ramayan, Kamba Ramayan, Local versions like Bengali Krittibasi Ramayan.


The epic Ramayana can basically be divided into eight parts or kandas:

Bal kanda - In this kanda, the birth of Lord Rama and his four brothers is narrated. How they were born, their childhood, studying at the gurukul and learning archery, etc.

Ayodhya Kand - This is when Lord Rama grew up to be a prince, Sita's swayambar and breaking Lord Shiva's bow, marriage of the four brothers to Sita and her sisters. It also includes Dashratha's decision to declare Lord Rama as the king and Kaikayi sending Lord Rama, along with Sita and Lakshman, to exile.

Aranya Kand - It includes the first thirteen years of their exile, Bharat coming to convince Lord Rama to come back, meeting Jatayu, killing Demons, and finally Sita's abduction.

Kishkindha Kand - It includes Lord Rama meeting Hanuman and Sughreev, killing Bali and sending troops in search of Sita.

Sundar Kand - This Kand primarily includes the struggles of Lord Hanuman to find Sita, his visit to Lanka, killing Ravana's younger son and setting Lanka on fire and the search party returning to Kishkindha with the information.

Lanka Kand - It includes Lord Rama's struggles to reach Lanka and the entire battle between Rama and Ravana. Rescuing Sita and coming back to Ayodhya.

Uttar Kand - This includes the crowning of Lord Rama, his life with Sita and his brothers.

Lav-Kush Kand is not normally considered a part of Ramcharitmanas, which is a book only about Lord Rama and not his sons, and therefore it has only seven kands. But the epic Ramayana consists of all rights of them. This Kand includes Sita's pregnancy, the blame that was put on her 'purity', her exile, birth of Lord Rama's sons, Lav and Kush. The two children are brought up in Valmiki's ashram and are unaware of their true identity. They come to know about their true identity when they capture Lord Rama's Ashwamedha's horse. They question Rama about the reason he sent his preganent wife for exile. Unable to get a satisfactory answer, a depressed Sita calls upon her mother Earth and disappears into it. Years later, Kala(Death or Time) comes to take back Rama, and in a turn of events Rama returns to his celestial abode along with his brothers.

- There is one superhero - Hanuman.
- Keep Calm Trust Ram; like Rahul Dravid
- Mantras earlier are like spells.Vishwamitra gave them to Rama and Lakshman
- Jatayu and Ravana were equally powerful but on agreeing to share their weakness Jatayu confessed it was in his wings while Ravana lied that it was in his feet when it was in his stomach.
- Sita and Hanuman underwent suffering and signify strength within us, while Vaali and Ravan represent weakness, all within us. Ram in between is the balance.