The Ramayana Summary

Born during an age when the demon Ravana terrorized the world, Rama is the virtuous, wise, and powerful prince of
Ayohya. As a young man, he is able to accomplish what no other man has ever done: he lifts and strings the bow of Siva,
and by so doing her earns the right to marry the beautiful Sita.

Just when he is about to ascend the throne of Ayodhya, his father Dasaratha is forced to exile him for fourteen years to
the forest due to a vow made long ago. Unruffled, Rama accepts his exile; his wife Sita and his loyal
brother Lakshmana accompany him. In the forest, the princely brothers kill many demons and visit many wise men and
women.

The evil demon Ravana hears of Sita's beauty, and kidnaps her. He has fallen in love with her and tries to seduce her, but
she rebuffs his advances for nearly ten months.

Desperate to win her back, Rama and Lakshmana form an alliance with the monkey king Sugriva, and invade Lanka with
an army of monkeys. After many violent battles, Rama defeats Ravana and wins back Sita. He is concerned that she has
been unfaithful during her long captivity, and so Sita undergoes a trial by fire to prove her chastity. Rama takes her back,
and they return to rule Ayodhya for many wonderful years.

In another version of the tale, Rama hears his people gossiping about Sita's imagined indiscretions, and he banishes her
to the forest, where she gives birth to Rama's twin sons. Sita and the children confront him years later; he tries to
explain his harsh actions to Sita, but she vanishes into the earth to escape him.

The Ramayana Character List Lakshmana

Rama Son of King Dasaratha, and brother of Rama. He is

deeply devoted to his brother, whom he follows
The son of King Dasaratha and Queen Kausalya, Rama is
through many dangerous adventures and quests. He is
the prince of Ayodya. He is an avatara of Vishnu, the
married to Sita's younger sister, Urmila.
Blue God and the sustainer of worlds. He is also a
virtuous, strong, and just man in his own right. He is King Dasaratha
married to Sita, whom he loves deeply. He has a strong
King of Ayodhya, father of Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata,
bond with his brother Lakshmana as well.
and Shatrughna. Of all his three sons, he loves Rama
Sita most deeply, and tries to shelter the boy from any
danger. He is a good king: kind, just and well-liked by his
Sita's father, King Janak, found her lying in a furrow on
people.
sanctified ground and decided to raise her as his
daughter. She marries Rama, and loves him so much Viswamitra
that she follows him into exile. She is famed for her
Viswamitra is a great sage and wise man who was once
virtue and beauty, and is regarded as an avatara of the
a king. Through long meditation, he gained a number of
goddess Lakshmi, Vishnu's consort.
magical powers. He takes Rama on a quest to defeat a
Ravana demon and to lift the bow of Siva, the first step in the
future king's great journey.
Ravana is a rakshasa who performed penance for the
God Siva for many years, and in return received a great Ganga
blessing from the God: he cannot be killed by any God,
Ganga is a goddess, the daughter of Himavan. Because
demon, or other divine being. His arrogance combined,
of her incomparable beauty, she was given to the
with great intelligence and power, has led him to rule
Devas, and she became the Milky Way. Later, Siva
over much of the earth, spreading terrible evil
brought her down to earth and she became the river
everywhere he goes.
Ganges.
Siva
Siva is part of the great trinity in Hindusim, along with
Vishnu and Brahma. He is a great ascetic, and often sits
in meditation. He is able to tame the power of other
gods, devas, and supernatural beings, and he often
grants blessings and wishes to those who sit in
dedication meditation ('tapasya'). His wife is Parvati.
Lava
Along with Kusha, one of the youths to whom Valmiki
taught the Ramayana that he received from Narada. He
is one of the sons of Rama, but he does not know this.
Kusha
Along with Lava, one of the youths to whom Valmiki
taught the Ramayana that he received from Narada. He
is one of the sons of Rama, but he does not know this.
Vasishta
Guru to King Dasaratha, he offers religious advice to the
king and the royal family.
Rishyaringa
A great rishi; he presides over the sacrifice that King
Dasaratha offers in order to get a son. He is sometimes
depicted as a combination of a deer and a man.
Tataka
A beautiful woman who was transformed into a demon
(rakshasi) when she tried to seduce the rishi Agastya. As
a demon, she drinks the blood of living creatures and
kills anything she can see. In one of his first great acts,
Rama breaks her curse by slaying her.
Kaikeyi
The third and youngest wife of King Dasaratha, and
mother of Bharata. She is famed for her beauty. After
she saved the life of Dasaratha in battle, he offered to
grant anything she would ask of him. She later calls in
this favor to have Bharata crowned king and Rama sent
into the forest, inspired by the worlds of her maid,
Manthara.
Sumitra
Second wife of Dasaratha. She is the mother of
Lakshmana and Shatrughna.
Kausalya
The first wife of Dasaratha and mother of Rama. She is
the oldest wife, and very kind and wise. She does not
have a close relationship with her husband, but she
loves her son Rama very deeply.
Manthara
An old maid of Kaikeyi's. She is a wicked woman, and
gives Kaikeyi the idea to ask Dasaratha to exile Rama
and crown Bharata king instead.
Guha
King of the hunters, he rules near the wilderness in
Shringiberapura. He is fiercely loyal to Rama.
Kausalya
Wife of Dasaratha, mother of Rama. She is wise and
kind, but she is not close with her husband; the greatest
joy in her life is Rama.
Bharata
Son of King Dasaratha and Queen Kaikeyi, he is half-
brother to Rama, Lakshmana, and Shatrughna. He is
devoted to his brother Rama, and he tries desperately
to undo the damage committed by his mother Kaikeyi.
Shatrughna
Son of King Dasaratha and Queen Sumitra (she drank
two sips from the sacred cup, and consequently had
twins). His twin brother is Lakshmana, and his half-
brothers are Rama and Bharata. He follows his brother
Bharata everywhere.
Sumantra
Chief counselor of Dasaratha. He is the one who
unwillingly brings Rama into exile.
Surpanakha
The sister of Ravana, she is a powerful rakshasi. She
attempts to seduce Rama and kill Sita, but the princely
brothers attack her. She tries to muster the rakshasa
army against Rama.
Maricha
A rakshasa, uncle of Ravana. Rama defeated him with a
purifying magical weapon, and he renounced his evil
ways to become a rishi.
Khara
A rakshasa, cousin to Ravana. He rules the area of
Janasthana, near the forest of Rama's exile. He is very
powerful, and likes to kill rishis and despoil sacred
rituals.
Jatayu
A powerful golden eagle who speaks in the voice of a
human being. He was loyal to King Dasaratha, and
pledges his service to Rama. He dies defending Sita
from Ravana.
Kabandha
A terrible rakshasa who has the form of a body with no
legs or head -- only arms and a gaping mouth. He was
transformed into this ugly shape by Indra; formerly, he
was a celestial archer. He tells the brothers to seek
Sugriva, the prince of vanaras.
Sugriva
The rightful king of the vanaras, a race of magical
monkeys. He was usurped by his brother Vali, and
pledges his service to Rama and Lakshmana if they can
restore him to his throne.
Hanuman
Advisor to Sugriva. He is the son of the wind god Vayu
and a vanari woman.
Angada
A vanara youth, son of Vali and nephew of Sugriva. He is
brave and intelligent.
Vibheeshana
Young brother of Ravana. Though he is a rakshasa, he is
wise and good. When Ravana refuses to listen to his
counsel, he joins Rama's army.
Sampati
A great golden eagle, brother of Jatayu. His wings were
burned when he flew too close to the son.
Jambavan
King of the Riksharaj (magical bears). He is an ally of
Sugriva and Rama. He is known for his gentle wisdom
and quiet strength.
Indrajit
The favorite son of Ravana, and his most powerful
warrior. He earned his name after he captured Indra,
the king of the gods.
Kumbhakarna
Ravana's brother. He is a giant with infinite strength
who sleeps for six months at a time before waking up
and eating everything he can see.
Agastya
An elderly and extremely powerful rishi who blesses
Rama. Later when Rama is king of Ayodhya, he comes to
Rama's palace and tells him secret tales about the
people he met on his journeys.