RAMAYANA Flashcards
The son of King Dasaratha and Queen Kausalya, he is an avatara of Vishnu, the Blue
God and the sustainer of worlds. He is also a virtuous,
strong, and just man in his own right. He is married to
Sita, whom he loves deeply. He has a strong bond with
his brother Lakshmana as well.
Rama
Shes the wife of Rama, and loves him so much that she follows him into exile. She is famed for her virtue and beauty, and is regarded as an avatara of the goddess Lakshmi, Vishnu’s consort.
Sita
A rakshasa who performed penance for the God Siva for many years, and in return
received a great blessing from the God: he cannot be killed by any God, demon, or other
divine being. His arrogance combined, with great intelligence and power, has led him to rule over much of the earth, spreading terrible
evil everywhere he goes.
Ravana
Son of King Dasaratha, and brother of Rama. He is deeply devoted to his brother, whom he follows through many dangerous adventures and quests. He is married to
Sita’s younger sister, Urmila.
Lakshmana
King of Ayodhya, father of Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna. Of all his three sons, he loves Rama most deeply, and tries to shelter
the boy from any danger. He is a good king: kind, just and well-liked by his people.
King Dasaratha
A great sage and wise man who was once a king. Through long meditation, he gained a number of magical powers. He takes Rama on a quest to defeat a demon and to lift the bow of Siva, the first step in the future king’s great journey.
Viswamitra
A goddess, the daughter of
Himavan. Because of her incomparable beauty, she was given to the Devas, and
she became the Milky Way. Later, Siva brought her down to earth and she became the river Ganges.
Ganga
Part of the great trinity in Hinduism, 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.
Siva
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.
Lava
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.
Kaikeyi
Second wife of Dasaratha.
She is the mother of Lakshmana and Shatrughna.
Sumitra
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.
Kausalya
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.
Bharata
Not according to dharma; evil.
Adharma
An offering.
Anjali
Wealth and possessions, one of the four goals in life.
Artha
