Questions tagged [ramayana]
A Hindu epic, written by sage Valmiki. It is the story of Lord Rama's life.
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Was Lord Rama a non-vegetarian?
I have always believed that Lord Rama was a vegetarian, but after reading certain blogs I found out that there might be certain verses in Ramayana (like the one below) which indicate quite the ...
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Did Ramayana occur 1.6 million years ago? [closed]
Many Western scholars and Indian scholars with Western mindset tried to fix the age of Srimad Ramayana, to approximately the 5th to 4th century BC. And, they succeeded to some extent in making ...
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Did the Mahabharata and the Ramayana happen in the current Yuga cycle in the current Manvantara?
The Mahabharata war has been given a date of around 3300 BC by back-tracing planetary positions from scriptural references (archeo-astronomy). The Ramayana is speculated to be anywhere between a few ...
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How did Goddess Sita protect herself in Ravana's palace?
Ravana abducted Goddess Sita with evil intentions to marry her. But he didn't step forward to do so. What protected Goddess Sita from Ravana for more than six months (as far as I know) in Ravana's ...
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Did mountains use to have wings?
I heard that in Ramayana it is stated that mountains used to have wings at one point, then somehow all the mountains lost their wings, except for one mountain which was between India and Sri Lanka.
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If Aryabhata invented zero in Kaliyuga, how could Hindus of earlier yugas describe Ravana as having 10 heads and Kauravas were 100 in number?
Since long time I've heard that the number zero was invented by the great Indian mathematician Aryabhata.
Now I have two examples from Ramayana and Mahabharata:
In Ramayana, Ravana had 10 heads.
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Why is "Chandra" added in the name of Lord Rama?
Why is "Chandra" added to the name of Lord Rama even though he is from the "Suryavanshi" (solar) clan? Also, this title was not added to any of his brothers or his father - only to Rama himself.
What ...
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Why did Sri Rama banish Lady Sita when he was a witness of her fire-test himself?
Sri Rama was a great and just king of Ayodhya. There were some rumors reported by his subjects against the purity of Lady Sita.
So, as per the Raja Dharma, Rama had to banish Sita. But was it against ...
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Was Ravana actually a villain? Or was he a devotee of Lord Vishnu?
Ravana was one of the greatest devotees of Lord Siva. He also worshiped Lord Brahma and the two of them had given him enormous powers. Among the Trimurthis, only Lord Vishnu punished him as Lord Rama.
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Why did Lord Rama strike from behind to kill Vaali?
According to the Ramayana, when Sugriva approached Lord Rama for help in taking his kingdom and wife back from his monstrous brother Vaali, Lord Rama helped him by killing Vaali from behind without ...
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What does the Ramayana say about floating stones of Ram Sethu?
According to the Ramayana epic, Lord Rama built a bridge across the sea to Lanka to rescue Sita from Ravana. I could see many images of Ram Sethu between Sri Lanka and India in Google Maps and it is ...
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Who made Lord Hanuman immortal?
From what I've read, I've concluded that Lord Hanuman is one of the seven * Chiranjeevis.* (Immortals). But I am not sure who made Lord Hanuman immortal, and why?
I've heard many rumours that Lord ...
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When was Ravana hit by the Sudarshana Chakra?
[Note: To be clear, I am not asking why Ravana wouldn't be harmed or killed by the Sudarshana Chakra; that's obvious. I'm asking why and under what circumstances Vishnu launched the Sudarshana Chakra ...
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How could Valmiki write the Ramayana?
As we know, there is no mention of Sage Valmiki in the Ramayana. He was mentioned or seen only in the Lava-Kusha story. So who told the complete story of the Ramayana to Sage Valmiki? Was it Goddess ...
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What is the story of Alambusha, demon son of sage Rishyasringa?
Alambusha, AKA Shalakantaka, was a Rakshasa (demon) who fought on the Kaurava side in the Mahabharata war. As described in the Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata, he was the one who killed Arjuna's son ...
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How did Dasharatha become friends with Jatayu?
In the Aranya Kanda of the Ramayana, when Rama meets the great bird Jatayu for the first time, this is how Jatayu introduces himself:
But that eagle with sweet and soft words spoke to them as ...
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What scriptures describe Shanta as Dasharatha's daughter?
Most people are only familiar with Dasharatha's four sons - Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna. But there is a common story that Dasharatha also had a daughter. The story as I understand it ...
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What happened to the Vanara Sena after the Ramayana?
In the Ramayana, the Vanara Sena (monkey clan) made a glorious impact and registered its strong presence headed by Lord Hanuman, Vali, and Sugriva.
But after that there is no major presence or mark ...
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Ages of Ramayana's characters
I have not found any specific reference in the Ramayana about:
What was the age of Dasharatha when Lord Rama was born?
What was the age difference amongst the four brothers (Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata ...
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During his lifetime, did Rama know that he was a God?
Was Rama aware that he is an avatar of Vishnu (during his lifetime) and acted as normal or he just tried to be good human being?
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What are the Avatarams of Vishnu described in the Yuddha Kanda of the Ramayana?
In the Yuddha Kanda of the Ramayana, after Rama kills Ravana and rescues his wife Sita, he tells Sita to walk through fire to (to others) prove that she is still faithful to him. She walks through ...
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Why did Lord Hanuman decide to spend his life as a celebate?
According to Ramayana, Lord Hanuman was a Brahmachari (celibate/bachelor). Why did he decide to spend his life as a celibate? What is the reason behind it?
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Why did Laxman get injured by Indrajit's 'shakti' weapon?
In Ramayana, Indrajit was able to hit Laxman by his special weapon named Shakti. Due to this Laxman went very near to death. Now Lord Hanuman went to Himalaya & brought Sanjivani. This way Laxman ...
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What is the story of Kalki (tenth avatar of God Vishnu)?
I have heard that in Kalki avatar, God Vishnu will marry Goddess Vaishnav devi as promised(The promise event occurs when God Vishnu were in Ram avatar and returning to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile)....
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What is the story of Mahabali's sister's attempt to destroy the world?
In the Bala Kanda of the Ramayana, Rama is hesistant to kill the Rakshasi (demoness) Thataka because she's a woman, but the sage Vishwamitra tells him that even Indra king of the gods has fought women ...
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Why Hanuman became staunch devotee of Lord Rama?
I know Lord Shiva showed his love towards Lord Vishnu by incarnating as Hanuman during Rama Avatar. But Hanuman didn't know he was incarnation of Shiva/ Vayu. (i think he still doesn't know it).
I ...
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What are the main differences between Valmiki Ramayana and Ram Charit Manas
Valmiki Ramayana and Tulsidasa's Ram Charit Manas are 2 books containing the story of life of Lord Rama and other sub stories. While Valmiki Ramayana is considered to be the original source of Lord ...
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How did Krishna get Vishnu's Sharanga Bow?
As I discuss in this answer, the divine architect Tvashta (AKA Vishwakarma) created two powerful bows, the Pinaka bow for Shiva and the Sharanga bow for Vishnu. Brahma once got Vishnu and Shiva to ...
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What did Kashyapa do with the Earth after he received it from Parashurama?
Parashurama is a famous avatara (incarnation) of Vishnu who killed the Kshatriyas (kings) of the world twenty-one times. Since he had defeated all the rulers of the world, he obtained control of the ...
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What language did people at the time of Ramayana and Mahabharata use to communicate? Sanskrit?
What was the mode of communication among the people at the time of Ramayana and Mahabharata? Was it Sanskrit?
Did Krishna, Pandavas and Kauravas (who I think had origins near the state of Bihar, where ...
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Did Lord Rama break His promise to his mother Kausalya and if so why?
Lord Rama, the seventh avatara of Vishnu is known as a personality who always keeps His word. However, the following verses from the Valmiki Ramayana struck me.
चतुर्दश हि वर्षाणि वत्स्यामि विजने ...
user9969
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Is the story of Sita's banishment present in any scriptures other than Valmiki Ramayana?
The story of Mother Sita's banishment by Sri Rama present in the Uttara Khanda of the Valmiki Ramayana, is perhaps the most controversial part of Sri Rama's story. Many Hindu acharyas such as Swami ...
user9969
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Is Kusha (kush) son of Lord Rama?
According to Wikipedia, Lord Rama and Sita have twins named Lava (Luv) and Kusha (Kush). From childhood I have also learnt that Lord Rama had twins. While reading this question, I came across this ...
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Who were Ahiravan and Mahiravan?
Were there any characters like Ahiravan and Mahiravan in Ramayana? What did they do in Lord Rama's battle against Ravana?
I heard they captured Lord Rama and Laxmana. Can someone explain this ...
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Why did only Lord Rama kill Ravana?
As we know there were many people who could have killed Ravana, like Lord Hanuman and Jambavan. But they didn't kill Ravana. Only Lord Rama did. Why?
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Was the story of adultery of Indra in the story of Ahalya a PRAKSHIPTA?
If Lord Indra is a "womaniser" as described as in the Puranic Literature, can anyone tell as to how many women fall prey to him?
Only Ahalya's story occurs to me. So we have to closely examine the ...
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Brahmins used to eat Five-nailed animals?
पंच पंच नखा भक्ष्या ब्रह्म क्षत्रेण राघव |
शल्यकः श्वाविधो गोधा शशः कूर्मः च पंचमः ||
(Kishkinda Kanda 17th Sarga 39th Shloka)
Meaning
Raghava, five kinds of five-nailed animals, viz., a kind of ...
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How many sons did Kesari have, other than Sri Hanuman?
Shuka, Ravana's aide, describes the individual strengths of the various commanders in the army of monkeys, mentioning their names one by one, in detail, in Yuddha Kanda of Srimad Ramayana.
While ...
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Did lord Hanuman have a son?
As per a previous question asked on this site, we know that Lord Hanuman was a bachelor,
Surya grants him a boon that he will still be a bachelor even after
marriage as a Prajapatya Brahmachari ...
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Were there toilets in ancient India i.e., during times of Ramayana and Mahabharata?
The people of Indus valley did have toilets in their homes, so were there toilets in the times of Mahabharata or Ramayana? Does any Hindu scripture mention about toilet system?
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Where is the meeting of Rama and Hanuman in their childhood mentioned?
I have read somewhere that Rama firstly met Hanuman when he was 5 years old.
As per the story, Lord Shiva took a 'Madari (मदारी)' form and took Hanuman with him to let him meet his lord. and later ...
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Why did Hanuman fight with Lord Rama?
I heard there was one occasion where a god and his devotee fought a great battle against each other. It's the case of Lord Rama vs. Hanuman.
Being a true devotee, why did Hanuman fight against his ...
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How did Ravana get the golden city of Lanka?
In the Ramayana, we know that Ravana was the King of the golden city of Lanka. How did he get this city? I know very little other than that it was offered by Shiva.
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Did Rama know that he was Avatar of Lord Vishnu?
This chapter of Ramayana narrates the meeting of Garuda with Rama.
न च कौतूहलं कार्यं सखित्वं प्रति काङ्क्षिणा ।
कृतकर्मा रणे वीर सखित्वं प्रतिवेत्स्यसि ॥६-५०-५७
"O, hero! You need not ...
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What is the use of chanting Aditya Hridayam?
How to chant Aditya Hrudayam?
How does it help in life?
What is the story behind this?
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What scriptures describe the story of Rama visiting Vishnu in Vaikuntha?
Most people only know of occasions in which two different incarnations of Vishnu met, for instance the encounter between Rama and Parashurama in the Ramayana. What is not as well known, however, is ...
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Different Ramayanas
I have heard different tales of Ramayana while travelling to different parts of India. The basic story remains the same but slight differences do exist. What really concerns me is the way Ravan ...
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Why didn't Ravana use the Chandrahasa sword against Lord Rama?
From http://ramayana.tigercoder.com/07uttara/uttara_016.html:
“After being spoken to in this way by Lord Shiva, Ravana, the lord of Lanka replied: ‘O Lord Shiva, if you are pleased with me, grant ...
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What is the difference between Rajasuya Yajna and Ashwamedha Yajna?
I had heard stories about king performing Rajasuya Yajna and Ashwamedha Yajna from Ramayana and Mahabharata (though I don't have very good knowledge about them).
They looks similar like horse is ...
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Did the Churning of the Ocean happen again in the Vaivasvata Manvantara?
One of the most famous incarnations of Vishnu is Kurma the tortoise, who helped the gods during the Churning of the Ocean. Now I had always assumed that the story of the churning of the ocean only ...
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