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W E L C O M E
"We bow to the cuckoo of Vaalmeeki that rests on the branch of poetry and gives out the sweet cooing of the beatiful sounds of "Raama" , "Raama" for our pleasure. "
CONTENTS
( list of incidents in the Raamaayanam)
Though the Raamaayanam is not as vast as the Mahaabhaaratham, it is quite lengthy and it may not be possible for some readers to trace or remember what happened when and where. To facilitate easy reference to the course of incidents in the epic, I hereunder give a list of all important events of the epic, not in their chronological order, but in the order they are placed in the epic. Of course, such a list occurs at the beginning of each Kaanda itself. I hope that this will serve as a quick reference to some readers.
Baala-Kaanda
Ayodhyaa-Kaanda
Aranya-Kaanda
Kishkindhaa-Kaanda
Sundara-Kaanda
Yuddha-Kaanda
Uththara-Kaanda
Baala-Kaanda is the first of the seven books of the Raamaayanam. Baalakaanda is named as Aadi-Kaanda too. Baala means 'young' or 'boy'. Aadi means 'first'. This Kaanda is called Baala Kaanda since it describes the life of ' Raama, the boy' .
This Kaanda contains the accounts of
- Introduction to Raamaayanam and its composition,
- Very brief summary of Raamaayanam,
- Dasharatha's rule in Ayodhya,
- Episode of Romapaada and Rishyashringa,
- Dasharatha performs Ashvamedha and Puthra-Kaama sacrifices,
- Birth of Raama, Bharatha, Lakshmana and Shathrughna and their and early years,
- Vishvaamithra visits Dasharatha and asks him to send Raama with him to protect the sacrifices,
- Dasharatha hesitates but sends Raama with Vishvaamithra after Vasishtha's advice,
- Vishvaamithra awards many powerful Asthras to Raama,
- Vishvamithra narrates to Raama the history of Thaataka,
- Raama kills Thaataka,
- Vishvaamithra narrates many ancient episodes about Paarvathi, Kumaara, Sagara, Bhageeratha, Ganga, churning of milk-sea for ambrosia, Maruths, Ahalya and Gouthama,
- Vishvaamithra takes Raama and Lakshmana to Janaka's city Mithila,
- Ahalya's emanicipation from her husband Gouthama's curse
- Shathaananda relates to Janaka and others about Vishvaamithra's past life,
- Raama breaks Lord Shiva's great bow,
- Dasharatha and his party goes to Mithila,
- Raama marries Seetha,
- Marriages of Bharatha, Lakshmana and Shathrughna with Maandavi, Oormila and Shruthakeerthi,
- Raama subdues Parashuraama on his way back to Ayodhya,
- Raama lives happily at Ayodhya winning the hearts of the people
Ayodhyaa-Kaanda is the second book of the Raamaayanam.
This Kaanda is named Ayodhya Kaanda since it describes the life of Raama in the city of Ayodhya. Ayodhyaa-Kaanda describes following incidents of the epic.
- Raama stays at Ayodhya for nearly twelve years after his marriage,
- Raama's way of life and behaviour,
- The love and respect of the people towards Raama,
- Bharatha and Shatrughna leave for their uncle's house in the Kekaya provinces,
- Dasharatha declares Raama as Crown Prince and orders for the arrangements and celebrations thereof,
- Manthara poisons Kykeyi's mind to claim the throne for Bharatha,
- Kykeyi demands the king to fulfil her two earlier grants, one to enthrone Bharatha and another to send Raama to the Dandaka forest on exile for fourteen years,
- Dasharatha collapses dreading separation from Raama and laments about Kykeyi's adamance,
- Raama leaves for the woods on exile alongwith Seetha and Lakshmana,
- Raama goes on towards the forests crossing the rivers Thamasa, Gomathi, Syandika, Vedashruthi and Ganga,
- Raama visits the sage Bharadvaaja,
- Raama crosses the river Yamuna and stays at Chithrakoota,
- Dasharatha passes away at Ayodhya,
- The ministers summon for Bharatha and Shathrughna and they return to Ayodhya,
- Bharatha derides Kykeyi,
- Bharatha performs final rituals for Dasharatha,
- Bharatha goes to Rama at Chithrakoota to plead for returning,
- Raama laments over his father's demise,
- Raama stubbornly adheres to his promise made at his father's word,
- Bharatha returns with Raama's sandals and keeps them as Raama's representative,
- Bharatha stays at Nandigraamam awaiting Raama's return,
- Raama meets the sage Athri and his pious wife Anasooya,
- Raama further advances into the forests and enters the Dandaka forest.
Aranya-Kaanda is the third Kaanda in the Raamaayanam. The Kaanda is named so because it describes the incidents that happened in the forest (aranya=forest) during Raama's stay there.
The Aranya Kaanda describes the following main incidents in the epic.
- Raama settles in the hermitages in the forests
- Raama meets the sages in the forest
- Slaying of demon Vviraadha,
- Raama meets sage Sharabhanga,
- Raama assures safety to the sages and meets sage Sutheekshna,
- Raama spends ten years at various solitaries and returns to Sutheekshna's hermitage,
- Raama visits the sage Agasthya's brother (Sudarshana),
- Raama meets sage Agasthya and obtains a powerful divine weapons from him ,
- Raama goes to Panchavati in Janasthaanam in the Dandaka forest,
- Raama meets the bird-king Jataayu,
- Demoness Shoorpanakha accosts Raama,
- Laksmana deforms shoorpanakha's face,
- Shoorpanakha complains to Khara and demands him kill Raama ,< /li>
- Raama slays the demons Dooshana, Thrishiras and Khara along with their fourteen thousand force,
- Akampana reports destruction of forces at Janasthaanam and advices Raavana to abduct Seetha,
- Raavana seeks Maareecha's help to abduct Seetha,
- Maareecha reprimands Raavana for the thught of antagonizing with Raama and sends him back,
- Shoorpanakha goads Raavana to abduct Seetha,
- Raavana again approaces Mareecha for his help and threatens with life when he first denies,
- Maareecha decoys Raama and Lakshmana from Seetha,
- Raavana approaches Seetha in the guise of a mendicant and abducts her,
- Seetha cries for help as Raavana carries her away,
- Seetha invokes Jataayu for help,
- Jataayu comes to rescue Seetha and fights with Raavana till his own fall,
- Seetha drops her ornaments and garment at a small group of Vaanaras on a hill,
- Raavana secures Seetha in Ashoka grove in Lanka,
- Raama laments about missing Seetha,
- Raama and Lakshmana search for Seetha,
- Raama and Lakshmana meet the dying Jataayu and learn that Raavana abducted Seetha ,
- Raama and Lakshmana slay Kabandha,
- kabandha advises Raama to make friends with the Vaanara chief Sugreeva at Rishyamooka hill,
- Raama and Lakshmana reach the Pampa lake looking for Sugreeva.
Kishkindhaa-Kaanda is the fourth of the seven Kaandas of the Raamaayanam. It is named so after Kishkindha, the abode of Vaali and Sugreeva, as almost all the current incidents of the epic described in this Kaanda took place at Kishkindha.
This Kishkindhaa-Kaanda primely describes the following incidents of the epic.
- Sugreeva suspects Raama to be an adversary ,
- Hanumaan comes to Raama and Lakshmana to inquire about them,
- Hanumaan fixes alliance of friendship between Raama and Sugreeva,
- Sugreeva shows Seetha's ornaments to Raama,
- Raama promises Sugreeva to kill Vaali,
- Sugreeva describes Vaali's prowess and strength,
- Raama hits the seven trees and projects of dundubhi's carcuss to make Sugreeva believe that he exceeds Vaali in strength,
- Sugreeva challenges Vaali,
- Sugreeva loses to Vaali in the first fight and retreats,
- Raama keeps a mark of garland around Sugreeva's neck for distinguishing between Vaali and sugreeva,
- Raama kills Vaali,
- Sugreeva becomes king of Vaanaras at Kishkindha,
- Raama stays on Prasravana hill during the rainy season,
- Lakshmana reports Raama's annoyance about sugreeva's delay and urges Sugreeva to send forces in search of Seetha,
- Sugreeva dispatches four parties of the Vaanaras to four directions in search of Seetha with a time limit of one month,
- Raama gives his ring to the south-party member Hanumaan to show to Seetha as his token,
- All parties exxcept the south-bound one, fail in their search and return to Sugreeva within the time of one month,
- The south-bound party under Angada's leadership gets trapped in a cave,
- The Vaanaras escape from the cave with the help of the ascetic woman Svayamprabha,
- The Vaanaras meet the bird Sampaathi,
- Sampaathi gives the Vaanaras a valuable information that Seetha was confined in Raavana's Lanka
- Hanumaan and other Vaanaras reach the shore of the south sea.
- The Vaanaras worry about crossing the sea and express their abilities in distance-jumping,
- Jaambavaan scintillatingly encourages and enthuses Hanumaan to jump over to the other end of the sea.
Sundara-Kaanda is the fifth of the seven Kaandas of the Raamaayanam. Unlike the other Kaandas that were named after a place or stage of Raama's life, this is peculiarly named as 'Sundara(=graceful or beautiful)-kaanda'. Notable point is that the poetry in this Kaanda is really beautiful with its alliterations and apt similies.
This Kaanda describes the following main incidents of the epic.
- Hanumaan transgresses the southern-sea and lands in Lanka,
- Hanumaan assumes a minute form and enters Lanka,
- Hanumaan thoroughly but unsuccessfully searches for Seetha in the harem and palace of Raavana
- Hanumaan finds Seetha in the Ashoka grove,
- Hanumaan shows knack and skill in approaching Seetha and securing her trust,
- Hanumaan deliver's Raama's token-ring to Seetha and obtains her head-jewel to show to Raama
- Hanumaan destroys the Ashoka park ,
- Hanumaan kills Aksha, Jambumaali, Mahodara, Mahaapaarshva and some others
- Indrajith confines Hanumaan with Brahma Asthra,
- Hanumaan stands face-to-face with Raavana,
- Raavana orders to kill Hanumaan but vibheeshana stops,
- Raavana ordrs to ignite Hanumaan's tail,
- Hanumaan burns the palaces in Lanka,
- Hanumaan, returns to his waiting colleagues on the other shore of the sea,
- Hanuman and his partys reaches Kishkindha and rampantly enjoys in the regal grove Madhuvana,
- Hanumaan reveals the good news of Seetha's safety to Raama,
- Raama heartily appreciates Hanumaan for his abilities and help,
- Raama decides to set out for seizing Lanka.
Yuddha-Kaanda is the sixth of the seven Kaandas of the Raamaayanam. It is so named as it chiefly describes the war (Yuddha=war) between the demons and the Vaanaras.
This Kaanda describes the following main incidents of the epic.
- Raama leads the Vaanara army to the shore of the south sea and camps there,
- Raavana consults with his confidants,
- vibheeshana counsels to Raavana,
- Raavana expells Vibheeshana,
- Vibheeshana takes refuge with Raama,
- Raama makes Vibheeshana corronated as Lanka's king,
- Raama prays Samudra to give way and Samudra suggests building of a bridge across the sea,
- Nala Constructs a bridge across the sea,
- The Vaanaras cross the sea and seize Lanka ,
- Raavana sends spies to secure information of the Vaanara armies,
- Raavana tries to deceive Seetha by creating a delusion that Raama was killed,
- Raama sends Angada as envoy to Raavana,
- The war between the demons and Vaanaras commences,
- Vaanaras kill demons like Prajangha, Praghasa, Jambumaali, Vajramushti, Ashaniprabha, Vidyunmaali etc. ,
- Indrajith fights unseen and confines Raama and Lakshmana with Naaga bond,
- Garuda frees Raama and Lakshmana from the hold of Naaga bond,
- Raakshasa fighters Dhoomraaksha, Vajradamshtra, Akampana, Prahastha, Kumbhahanu, Mahaanaada, Samunnatha etc fall one after the other,
- Raavana's fist personal fight,
- Raavana wounds Lakshmana severely and Raama drives Raavana away from the battle field,
- Raavana orders to wake up Kumbhakarna,
- Kumbhakarna falls to Raama's arrows after creating havoc in the Vaanara armies,
Fall of demon fighters like Naraanthaka, Thishiras,Devaanthaka, Mahodara, Mahaapaarshva, Athikaaya etc. , Indrajith strikes second time to subdue Raama and Lakshmana,
- Hanumaan brings Sanjeevini and saves all,
- Vaanaras burn down Lanka,
- Fall of demon warriors like Kampana, Prajangha, Shonithaaksha, Yoopaaksha, Kumbha, Nikumbha, Makaraaksha etc,
- Indrajith lands in the battle field for the third time and creates a dellusion of killing Seetha,
- Indrajith confuses the Vaanaras and goes to Nikumbhila grove to perform rituals,
- Vibheeshana leads Lakshmana and others to Nikumbhila to disturb Indrajith's performance of rituals,
- Lakshmana kills Indrajith,
- Raavana laments over Indrajith's fall and attempts to kill Seetha but Supaarshva prevents him,
- Raavana comes to battle field again, hits Lakshmana severely and Raama again drives him away,
- Hanumaan again brings Sanjeevini to save Lakshmana,
- Duel between Raama and Raavana, Raavana's driver side-tracks the vehicle to save a tired Raavana and brings back soon,
- Indra sends his car to Raama to mount in the battle and Agasthya tells Raama to recite Aadithya-Hridayam ,an extolment of Sun God for victory,
- The final duel between Raama and Raavana,
- Raavana falls,
- Raavana's wives cry and lament over Raavana's death,
- Raama orders for Raavana's final rituals and vibheeshana's coronation,
- Seetha proves her purity and chastity before all,
- Raama journey to Ayodhya alongwith Vaanaras and Vibheeshana,
- Sage Bharadvaaja offers a heavenly feast to Raama and party,
- Bharatha welcomes Raama,
- Raama reaches Ayodhya and gets himself corronated as king.
Uththara-Kaanda is the seventh and last Kaanda of the Raamaayanam. 'Uththara' means 'after'or 'subsequent'. As this Kaanda describes the incidents of the epic 'after' Raama's corronation, the name is so given to it.
The main incidents described in this Kaanda are as following.
- Agasthya and other sages visit king Raama,
- Agasthya relates the history of Raavana and his ancestors,
- Episodes of Pulasthya, Vishravas, Kubera,maalyavaan, Maali,sumaali,Kykasi,
- Birth of Raavana and his brothers and their penances to obtain boons from Brahma,
- History of Pushpaka and Lanka,
- Raavana's victorious campaigns against the Lords of cardinal directions,
- Nandi's curse to raavana,
- Vedavathi's curse to Raavana,
- King Maruththa's episode,
- Anaranya's fight with Raavana and his curse to Raavana,
- Raavana subdues the naagas in the nether world,
- Raavana molests Rambha and incurs Nalakoobara's curse,
- Raavana meets crushing defeats in the hands of Vaali and Arjuna (Kaarthaveerya),
- Childhood and heroic deeds of Hanumaan,
- Raama bids farewell to all the
- Raama honours Vibheeshana, Sugreeva and others for their help in his victory,
- Raama disowns Seetha fearing public blame and sends her away to the hermitages in the forests,
- Sage Vaalmeeki protects Seetha,
- Episode of king Nriga,
- Episode of king Nimi and sage Vasishtha,
- episode of Oorvashi and Purooravas,
- Episode of Yayaathi,
- Episode of demon Madhu and his son Lavana,
- Seeths gives birth to twins Kusha and Lava,
- Shathrughna slays Lavana and rebuilds the city of Madhura
- Episode of Raama's ancestor Kalmaashapaada (Mithrasaha or Sudaasa),
- Raama kills Shambooka,
- Episode of king Shvetha and the divine jewel,
- Episode of king Danda and Dandaka forest,
- Episode of demon Vrithra,
- Episode of king Ila,
- Episode of Budha and Purooravas,
- Raama performs Ashvamedha sacrifice,
- Kusha and Lava sing the Raamaayanam in the sacrifice halls,
- Vaalmeeki brings Seetha to Raama and upholds her purity and sincerity,
- Seetha prays Mother Earth to take her within her and enters the nether world,
- Raama's grief over Seetha's separation from him,
- Bharatha wins the Gandharva province and installs his sons Taksha and Pushkala at Takshashila and Pushkalaavathi as their rulers ,
- Lakshmana's sons Angada and Chandrakethu become rulers of Angadeeyam and Chandrakaantham in the Kaarupatha provinces,
- Lord Brahma sends Yama to Raama remind the hour of returning to his original abode,
- Sage Durvaasas forces Lakshmana to interrupt the conversation of Raama and Yama,
- Raama disowns Lakshmana and Lakshmana renounces the world,
- Raama renounces the world and reaches his abode and all the body-incarnates coallisce with their original sources,
- Lord Brahma awards the abode Saanthaanika to all the subjects of Raama.
"We bow to the cuckoo of Vaalmeeki that rests on the branch of poetry and gives out the sweet cooing of the beatiful sounds of "Raama" , "Raama" for our pleasure. "