Ramayana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ramayana |
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| Information | |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Author | Valmiki |
| Language | Sanskrit |
| Verses | 24,000 |
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic about Rama. It is one of the two most important ancient epics of India, the other being the ancient Mahabharata. The epic was originally written by sage (rishi) Valmiki of Ancient India. The book has about 96,000 verses and is divided into seven parts.
The story of the Ramayana is about Prince Rama who has been exiled from his kingdom of Ayodhya. He goes on to kill king Ravana of Lanka in a long battle.
Different versions of the book are available. It has been translated into all the major languages of the world.
The different parts of the Ramayana are also called books. These seven parts or books are noted below:
- The first book is Balakand, meaning the book of the childhood.
- The second book is Ayodhyakanda, meaning the book of Ayodhya.
- The third book is Aranyakanda, meaning the book of the forests.
- The fourth book is Kishkindhakanda, meaning the book of Kishkindha.
- The fifth book is Sundarakanda, meaning the book beautiful.
- The sixth book is Yuddhakanda, meaning the book of the war.
- The seventh book is Uttarakanda, meaning the book of after events.
There are different views about the time the Ramayana was written. Some people believe that it was written 2,500 years ago. Others think that it was written around 1,800 years ago. All agree that the book is very old and was written before the Mahabharata.
The Ramayana is still very popular today. Every autumn the Ramlila (Rama play) is performed at the festival of Dassehra. A huge model of Ravana is set alight. This symbolises the triumph of light over darkness.
A Tamil version of the book was written between the 9th and 10th century. The writer of this book was Kamban. This version is known as Iramavataram, meaning coming of Rama. In the 16th century, Tulasidas wrote a Hindi version of Ramayana. This was named Ramacharitmanasa. Over many centuries, the story of Rama reached places in other countries like Indonesia and Malaysia. The Ramayana has been translated into most of the major languages of the world.
The Ramayana was used in Ancient India for the teaching of young children. It was mainly used for acting out their religious beliefs so that their children knew that they were to worship the main Hindu beliefs that were: Brahman, Multiples gods, Dharma, Samsara, and Karma.
Images for kids
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An artist's impression of sage Valmiki composing the Ramayana
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Rama (left third from top) depicted in the Dashavatara, the ten avatars of Vishnu. Painting from Jaipur, now at the Victoria and Albert Museum
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The marriage of the four sons of Dasharatha with the four daughters of Siradhvaja Janaka and Kushadhvaja. Rama and Sita, Lakshmana and Urmila, Bharata and Mandavi and Shatrughna with Shrutakirti.
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A gold carving depiction of the legendary Ayodhya at the Ajmer Jain temple.
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Rama leaving for fourteen years of exile from Ayodhya. -
Ravana fights Jatayu as he carries off the kidnapped Sita. Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
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Ravana is meeting Sita at Ashokavana. Hanuman is seen on the tree.
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Sita with Lava and Kusha
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The epic story of Ramyana was adopted by several cultures across Asia. Shown here is a Thai historic artwork depicting the battle which took place between Rama and Ravana.
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Cambodian classical dancers as Sita and Ravana, the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh (c. 1920s)
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Lakshmana, Rama and Sita during their exile in Dandaka Forest depicted in Javanese dance
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Rama (Yama) and Sita (Me Thida) in Yama Zatdaw, the Burmese version of Ramyana
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The Thai retelling of the tale—Ramakien—is popularly expressed in traditional regional dance theatre
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A Ramlila actor wears the traditional attire of Ravanan.
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Hanuman discovers Sita in her captivity in Lanka, as depicted in Balinese kecak dance.
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Hanoman at Kecak fire dance, Bali, 2018
See also
In Spanish: Ramayana para niños
