The Epics and Ramayana Flashcards
What did the epics discuss?
- Tell the stories of the gods and heroes who provide models for the Hindu way of life.
- Combine interests in the path of knowledge/liberation with support for values of Dharma and action in society.
- Also provide a broad foundation for bhakti (devotion/worship of the gods).
What were the Epics primarily concerned with?
Primarily concerned with kṣatriya dharma
- Teachings on it
- Illustrated in the lives of the epic characters
- Extremely popular.
How many verses and books was the ramayana made up of?
- 24,000 verses (ślokas)
- Made up of 8 books (kāṇḍas).
What type of text is the ramayana?
Considered smṛti (that which was ‘remembered’ or ‘handed down’) - composed by humans and handed down as tradition through the generations.
- Very significant, religiously and culturally.
- Told, and retold; oral transmissions, written, performed.
How many versions of the ramayana exist and which the most popular?
- Hundreds if not thousands of versions exist.
- The version attributed to the sage Vālmīki is perhaps the oldest and most popular.
Composed between 500BCE and 300CE.
When does tradition say that the ramayana took place?
Tradition says that it took place at the end of the Tretā Yuga
Who was rama?
- the ramayana relays the story of Rama, a prince and an avatara of Vishnu
Who were the key characters of the ramayana?
- Rama
- Sita
- Hanuman
- Laksmana
- Kaikevi’
- Ravana
- Dasaratha
- Bharata
Who was Rama?
hero of the epic; prince of Ayodhyā.
Who was Hanuman?
monkey warrior; great friend and devotee of Rama.
Who was Sita?
Rama’s wife; daughter of King Janaka of Mithilā.
Who was Laksmana?
Rama’s brother from another mother.
Who was Kaikevi?
Second wife Daśaratha; mother of Bharata.
Who was Dasaratha?
Rama’s father and king of Ayodhyā; husband of Kausalyā, Kaikeyī’, and Sumitrā.
Who was Ravana?
the ten-headed demon (rākṣasa); king of Laṅkā.
Who was Bharata?
Rama’s brother; Kaikeyī’s son.
What is the story of Rama?
Rama, prince of Ayodhya, won the hand of the beautiful princess Sita (seen here), but was exiled with her and his brother Laksmana for 14 years through the plotting of his stepmother. In the forest Sita was abducted by Ravana, and Rama gathered an army of monkeys and bears to search for her. The allies attacked Lanka, killed Ravana, and rescued Sita. In order to prove her chastity, Sita entered fire, but was vindicated by the gods and restored to her husband. After the couple’s triumphant return to Ayodhya, Rama’s righteous rule (Ram-raj) inaugurated a golden age for all mankind
What is svanamvara?
- Literally means one‘s own choice)
- Ceremony where a kṣatriya princess might select her own husband.
- Usually involves a skill testing contest.
What lesson did the Ramayana teach?
- Restoration of dharma, defeat of the forces of adharma.
- Rama as dharmic son/king.
- Both expressed and protected the order of dharma.
- -Upholds the fundamental virtue of truthfulness – order and power flow from this virtue.
- -Going back on his word would risk losing all sense of personal order and power.
What do vlamiki and law books say that a king is not permitted to do?
- According to Vālmīki and many Law Books king is not permitted to seek his own happiness at the expense of his subjects.
- King is attentive to their needs, his own life provides an example of social order.
- King was duty bound to control and protect his wife
What was a basic virtue for women?
Chastity was a basic virtue for women – husbands reputation sustained through her chastity.
How did the abduction of SIta call into question rama’s character as king?
- Abduction of Sītā calls into question his character as king.
- Cannot ignore his citizens
- In giving up Sītā, Rāma demonstrating his proper understanding of the king’s role – social order and welfare of citizens are top priority; personal happiness and pleasure are secondary.
- Illustrates that every individual is called upon to control individual preferences for the good of society as a whole.
- Model for Hindu dharma.
Why was Sita viewed as the ideal wife?
- Viewed as ideal wife because she follows her husband into the forest.
- Puts her husband before all others, even herself.
- Refuses to be rescued by Hanumān.
- Also seen as a model of strength and virtue.
- Yet she also stands her ground.
- On one occasion she agrees, but on the second occasion she gently but firmly refuses.
How was Hanuman the ideal devotee?
- First to recognize Rāma’s divinity.
- Loyal and utterly devoted servant.
- Moves mountains for his lord.
