A Summary of the Ramayana
The Battle of Lanka - WikiImages
What is the Ramayana?
The Ramayana is an epic poem attributed to the sage Valmiki (500 BCE to 100 BCE) it has over 24,000 verses. It is the story of how Rama rescues Sita from the Demon Ravana. It is a classic good over evil story, but within it are teachings and lessons aplenty – including the story of how Monkey God Hanuman (a key character connecting to yogic teachings) who helps to save Sita, and how both Rama and Hanuman epitomise the true nature of yoga – being real rather than perfect. The Ramayana is not just a story; it encapsulates the moral and ethical values that are central to Hindu philosophy. It is a guide for ethical living and spiritual devotion. As with all oral based traditions and cultural stories there are many nuances and variations to be found depending on translators and story tellers.
Here is an overview of the epic Ramayana tale:
The king of Ayodhya, Dashratha had four sons by three different wives: Rama was the eldest, Lakshman and Satrugna were twins and Bharat was the youngest.
Rama is an incarnation of Vishnu and had married a beautiful princess called Sita – an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi - and now King Dashratha will pass the throne to his son Rama.
But the mother of Dashratha’s youngest son, Bharat, was jealous: she wanted the throne for her own son. The king had once promised to grant her a wish/boon, and now she saw her chance. She told the king that she wanted Rama to be exiled for fourteen years and her own son, Bharat, to be placed on the throne.
The King had made a promise, so reluctantly he banished Rama to the forest, with his new wife, Sita and his brother Lakshman.
Rama
Rama represents order, and doing the right thing. He follows society’s conventions and the idea of Dharma – following your duty and purpose in life, so he puts up no fight in leaving for exile. Sita represents unconditional love, grace and loyalty and trusts her internal voice – she goes willingly with Rama. As does Lakshman.
Whilst he is away Rama’s youngest brother puts Rama’s sandals on the throne. He does not ascend the throne but rules in Rama’s place.
For some while they lived a simple, peaceful life in the forest. Until one fateful day…
Ravana, the demon king of Lanka, with twenty arms and ten terrible heads arrives in the forest. He is both horrific and handsome. He’s a more nuanced character than just evil, he represents ego and excess. He is surrounded by 1000’s of Rakshasas or Demons who protect and support him.
Ravana sees Sita in the forest and was so entranced by her that he decides she should belong to him. And using his magic, he creates a beautiful golden deer as a trap.
When Sita saw the deer, she begged Rama to catch it for her; but first he and Lakshman placed Sita in a magic circle, to keep her safe from any danger.
As soon as Sita was alone, Ravana turned himself into an old man and tricked Sita into stepping out of the magic circle. Ravana grabbed her and swept her into his chariot, pulled by winged demons, taking her to Ravana’s island home of Lanka.
Despite her fear Sita thought quickly and she dropped her jewellery, piece by piece, over the side of the chariot to leave a trail on the ground below.
Back in the forest, Rama soon realised he’d been tricked and he ran back to where he had left Sita, but it was too late. He couldn’t find her.
He and Lakshman search the forest and find Sita’s jewellery on the ground.
As Rama despairs, he sees a white monkey coming towards him - Hanuman, the monkey-king himself!
Hanuman took Rama to the monkey city, where he called together the monkey army - and their friends, the great bears - all ready to search for Sita.
Hanuman, Rama and Sita
Hanuman was not only the monkey-king: he possessed special powers. He could carry heavy weights, shapeshift and fly! He is told by a vulture where Sita is but he has to navigate the sea between where they are in India and Lanka. Hanuman has doubts, but is reminded by his community of his greatness and makes a huge leap across the ocean. (with a few obstacles along the way which are stories in themselves)
He finds Sita, imprisoned on Ravana’s island, and receives from her a ring to take to back to Rama. She wishes to be saved only by Rama. On Hanuman’s way home he sets fire to Ravana’s city.
So Rama, Lakshman and Hanuman prepared for battle. But how will they all cross the sea?
Hanuman had the monkey army work together to build a bridge. Then Hanuman’s army poured across the bridge and the fighting began. The battle was long and terrible - but at last, Rama spotted the demon-king. Rama was a great warrior, but in the evil Ravana, he had almost met his match. Each time he swiped his sword at one of Ravana’s terrible heads and cut it off, another would straight away grow back in its place.
Finally, Rama pulled out the bow that he carried on his back and with it a single arrow. It had been a gift from the gods, and as Rama took aim, he chanted a prayer that the arrow would meet its target. It shot out of the bow with a blinding flash and the demon-king fell to the ground, dead.
But the ordeal for Sita is not over – despite Ravana being cursed to be unable to violate women, and Sita staying faithful and loyal to Rama through her imprisonment, Rama believes Sita has been violated and no longer pure. Being one to follow the rules and what society says he confronts her.
Sita undertakes and passes a trial by fire, where she walks through fire and emerges unscathed, thus proving her purity. This act is a testament to her virtue and integrity and unconditional love for Rama.
Rama returns to Ayodhya as king with Sita, and Lakshmana. Lamps light up the city with joy, this is the birth of Diwali, the festival of lights. It was not just the celebration of a hero’s return, but of goodness finding its way home.
…and later
Despite her courage, and resilience, Sita is eventually exiled to the forest again due to public doubt over her purity. but that’s for another time.
With thanks to the following websites for information:
https://hindu.mythologyworldwide.com/the-ramayana-and-its-spiritual-teachings/
Where to watch and read The Ramayana
Read
Children’s versions of the Ramayana are a great way to read the story in brief and a good option is the comic strip book by Amar Chitra Katha Valmiki's Ramayana: The Great Indian Epic
The Concise Rāmāyana of Vālmīki (1988) by Swami Venkatesananda
The Ramayana (1978) William Buck and there’s an audio version of it read by Ram Das
Watch
A short little 5 min children’s version is on the BBC website here https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/school-radio/articles/zc84cmn
Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama (Full animated film 1993) can be found on youtube
Coming in 2026 and 2027 a new two part movie of The Ramayana - the trailer is here https://worldoframayanamovie.com/