The Ramayana Summary

Born during an age when the demon Ravana terrorized the world, Rama is the
virtuous, wise, and powerful prince of Ayohya. As a young man, he is able to
accomplish what no other man has ever done: he lifts and strings the bow of Siva, and
by so doing her earns the right to marry the beautiful Sita.
Just when he is about to ascend the throne of Ayodhya, his father Dasaratha is forced
to exile him for fourteen years to the forest due to a vow made long ago. Unruffled,
Rama accepts his exile; his wife Sita and his loyal brother Lakshmana accompany
him. In the forest, the princely brothers kill many demons and visit many wise men and
women.
The evil demon Ravana hears of Sita's beauty, and kidnaps her. He has fallen in love
with her and tries to seduce her, but she rebuffs his advances for nearly ten months.
Desperate to win her back, Rama and Lakshmana form an alliance with the monkey
king Sugriva, and invade Lanka with an army of monkeys. After many violent battles,
Rama defeats Ravana and wins back Sita. He is concerned that she has been unfaithful
during her long captivity, and so Sita undergoes a trial by fire to prove her chastity.
Rama takes her back, and they return to rule Ayodhya for many wonderful years.
In another version of the tale, Rama hears his people gossiping about Sita's imagined
indiscretions, and he banishes her to the forest, where she gives birth to Rama's twin
sons. Sita and the children confront him years later; he tries to explain his harsh actions
to Sita, but she vanishes into the earth to escape him.

The Ramayana Character List

Rama
The son of King Dasaratha and Queen Kausalya, Rama is the prince of Ayodya. 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.

Sita
Sita's father, King Janak, found her lying in a furrow on sanctified ground and decided to
raise her as his daughter. She marries 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.

Ravana
Ravana is 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.
Lakshmana
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.
King Dasaratha
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.
Viswamitra
Viswamitra is 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.
Ganga
Ganga is 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.
Siva
Siva is part of the great trinity in Hindusim, 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.
Lava
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.

Kusha
Along with Lava, one of the youths to whom Valmiki taught theRamayana that he
received from Narada. He is one of the sons of Rama, but he does not know this.
Vasishta
Guru to King Dasaratha, he offers religious advice to the king and the royal family.
Rishyaringa
A great rishi; he presides over the sacrifice that King Dasaratha offers in order to get a
son. He is sometimes depicted as a combination of a deer and a man.
Tataka
A beautiful woman who was transformed into a demon (rakshasi) when she tried to
seduce the rishi Agastya. As a demon, she drinks the blood of living creatures and kills
anything she can see. In one of his first great acts, Rama breaks her curse by slaying
her.
Kaikeyi
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.
Sumitra
Second wife of Dasaratha. She is the mother of Lakshmana and Shatrughna.
Kausalya
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.
Manthara
An old maid of Kaikeyi's. She is a wicked woman, and gives Kaikeyi the idea to ask
Dasaratha to exile Rama and crown Bharata king instead.
Guha
King of the hunters, he rules near the wilderness in Shringiberapura. He is fiercely loyal
to Rama.
Kausalya
Wife of Dasaratha, mother of Rama. She is wise and kind, but she is not close with her
husband; the greatest joy in her life is Rama.
Bharata
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.
Shatrughna
Son of King Dasaratha and Queen Sumitra (she drank two sips from the sacred cup,
and consequently had twins). His twin brother is Lakshmana, and his half-brothers are
Rama and Bharata. He follows his brother Bharata everywhere.
Sumantra
Chief counselor of Dasaratha. He is the one who unwillingly brings Rama into exile.
Surpanakha
The sister of Ravana, she is a powerful rakshasi. She attempts to seduce Rama and kill
Sita, but the princely brothers attack her. She tries to muster the rakshasa army against
Rama.
Maricha
A rakshasa, uncle of Ravana. Rama defeated him with a purifying magical weapon, and
he renounced his evil ways to become a rishi.
Khara
A rakshasa, cousin to Ravana. He rules the area of Janasthana, near the forest of
Rama's exile. He is very powerful, and likes to kill rishis and despoil sacred rituals.
Jatayu
A powerful golden eagle who speaks in the voice of a human being. He was loyal to
King Dasaratha, and pledges his service to Rama. He dies defending Sita from Ravana.
Kabandha
A terrible rakshasa who has the form of a body with no legs or head -- only arms and a
gaping mouth. He was transformed into this ugly shape by Indra; formerly, he was a
celestial archer. He tells the brothers to seek Sugriva, the prince of vanaras.
Sugriva
The rightful king of the vanaras, a race of magical monkeys. He was usurped by his
brother Vali, and pledges his service to Rama and Lakshmana if they can restore him to
his throne.
Hanuman
Advisor to Sugriva. He is the son of the wind god Vayu and a vanari woman.
Angada
A vanara youth, son of Vali and nephew of Sugriva. He is brave and intelligent.
Vibheeshana
Young brother of Ravana. Though he is a rakshasa, he is wise and good. When Ravana
refuses to listen to his counsel, he joins Rama's army.
Sampati
A great golden eagle, brother of Jatayu. His wings were burned when he flew too close
to the son.
Jambavan
King of the Riksharaj (magical bears). He is an ally of Sugriva and Rama. He is known
for his gentle wisdom and quiet strength.
Indrajit
The favorite son of Ravana, and his most powerful warrior. He earned his name after he
captured Indra, the king of the gods.
Kumbhakarna
Ravana's brother. He is a giant with infinite strength who sleeps for six months at a time
before waking up and eating everything he can see.
Agastya
An elderly and extremely powerful rishi who blesses Rama. Later when Rama is king of
Ayodhya, he comes to Rama's palace and tells him secret tales about the people he
met on his journeys.