( The N in this name is pronounced hard like 'n' in 'turn'. The D is pronounced like 'd' in 'dump'. The last S indicates plural number. )
As is usual, a lengthy book is divided into various parts and those parts are further subdivided into smaller sections. The Raamaayanam too is divided into seven books or volumes named Kaandas with each Kaanda having its own name. Every Kaanda is further subdivided into some Sargas . A sarga consists of some Shlokas of indefinite number varying from as small as sixteen to as large as two hundred.
Given here is list of links to the seven Kaandas with the number of Sargas, number of Shlokas and the duration of time of the incidents in each Kaanda.
Serial Number Name of the Book Story covered by the book Number of Sargas Number of Shlokas Duration of the course of incidents in the Kaanda 1 Baala-Kaanda Upto the marriage of Raama 77 2 276 around 16 years 2 Ayodhya-Kaanda Upto Raama's entering the Dandaka forest 119 4 279 around thirteen years 3 Aranya-Kaanda Upto Raama's reaching the Pampa lake 75 2 479 Around thirteen years 4 Kishkindhaa-Kaanda Upto the Vaanaras' reaching the Southern sea 67 2 486 Around one year 5 Sundara-Kaanda Upto Hanumaan's return from Lanka 68 2 832 A few days 6 Yuddha-Kaanda Upto Raama's corronation. 131 5 798 A few months. Raama was around 42 years old then. 7 Uththara-Kaanda Upto Raama's Renunciation 111 3 543 Around eleven thousand years Total 648 23 693 Note: The numbers vary slightly in other Recensions. "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. "
DEDICATED TO MY LATE MOTHER Smt JOGAMMA