The Epics and Ramayana

Question 1

What did the epics discuss?

Answer 1

• 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).

Question 2

What were the Epics primarily concerned with?

Answer 2

Primarily concerned with kṣatriya dharma

• Teachings on it
• Illustrated in the lives of the epic characters
• Extremely popular.

Question 3

How many verses and books was the ramayana made up of?

Answer 3

• 24,000 verses (ślokas)

- Made up of 8 books (kāṇḍas).

Question 4

What type of text is the ramayana?

Answer 4

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.

Question 5

How many versions of the ramayana exist and which the most popular?

Answer 5

• 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.

Question 6

When does tradition say that the ramayana took place?

Answer 6

Tradition says that it took place at the end of the Tretā Yuga

Question 7

Who was rama?

Answer 7

• the ramayana relays the story of Rama, a prince and an avatara of Vishnu

Question 8

Who were the key characters of the ramayana?

Answer 8

• Rama
• Sita
• Hanuman
• Laksmana
• Kaikevi’
• Ravana
• Dasaratha
• Bharata

Question 9

Who was Rama?

Answer 9

hero of the epic; prince of Ayodhyā.

Question 10

Who was Hanuman?

Answer 10

monkey warrior; great friend and devotee of Rama.

Question 11

Who was Sita?

Answer 11

Rama’s wife; daughter of King Janaka of Mithilā.

Question 12

Who was Laksmana?

Answer 12

Rama’s brother from another mother.

Question 13

Who was Kaikevi?

Answer 13

Second wife Daśaratha; mother of Bharata.

Question 14

Who was Dasaratha?

Answer 14

Rama’s father and king of Ayodhyā; husband of Kausalyā, Kaikeyī’, and Sumitrā.

Question 15

Who was Ravana?

Answer 15

the ten-headed demon (rākṣasa); king of Laṅkā.

Question 16

Who was Bharata?

Answer 16

Rama’s brother; Kaikeyī’s son.

Question 17

What is the story of Rama?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

What is svanamvara?

Answer 18

• Literally means one‘s own choice)
• Ceremony where a kṣatriya princess might select her own husband.
• Usually involves a skill testing contest.

Question 19

What lesson did the Ramayana teach?

Answer 19

• 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.

Question 20

What do vlamiki and law books say that a king is not permitted to do?

Answer 20

• 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

Question 21

What was a basic virtue for women?

Answer 21

Chastity was a basic virtue for women – husbands reputation sustained through her chastity.

Question 22

How did the abduction of SIta call into question rama’s character as king?

Answer 22

• 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.

Question 23

Why was Sita viewed as the ideal wife?

Answer 23

• 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.

Question 24

How was Hanuman the ideal devotee?

Answer 24

• First to recognize Rāma’s divinity.
• Loyal and utterly devoted servant.
• Moves mountains for his lord.