1. Who was the author of Ramayana—Sage Valmiki
2. What language is Ramayana written in--Sanskrit
3. How many verses are there in Ramayana—24,000
4. Why Ramayan is a known as Adikavya (adiKAAVya)—Because it is believed to be the first poetic work written in Sanskrit language
5. Name the Parents of Lord Rama—Dasharath –(Dasharath) and Kaushalya—(Koshal—ya)
6. How many Khandas (books) are there in Ramayana—6+1
7. Name the Khandas—Bala khanda (book on Childhood), ayodhya khanda, aranya khanda (Aranya means Forest), Kishkinda Khanda, sundara khanda and yuddha khanda, ---uttara khanda
8. What was the name of the country and city lord Rama was born in—Kosala and Ayodhya
9. How many queens did King Dasharath have—3—Kaushalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra
10. What ritual did king Dasharath do before his children were born—performed
yagna—maha-puja
11. How many half-brother’s did lord Rama have--3—laxman, Bharat, Shatrughan
12. What was the name of Bharat’s mother—Kaikeyi
13. What was the name of Shatrughan and Lakshman’s mother—Sumitra
14. What type of education did lord Rama and his brothers have—learned Vedas, mastered riding horses and elephants and use of various weapons.
15. Which sage took lord Rama and his brother Lakshman to fight with rakhshas (Demons)—Sage Vishwamitra
16. Which demons did Lord Rama kill before the age of 16—Tataka, Subahoo.
17. After killing the demons where did sages took lord Rama and Lakshman? - Mithila
18. Who was the king of Mithila? Janak
19. What was the famous possession of King Janak? Lord Shiva’s bow – Shiva-dhanssu
20. What was the name of King Janaka’s adopted daughter? Sita
21. What was the significance of lord Shiva’s Bow? It could not be strung by any king.
22. Where did king Janak find Sita when she was a baby? While he was ploughing a site
23. How many men were needed to pull Lord Shiva’s bow? 500
24. What were Sita’s wishes regarding Shiva’s Bow----if anybody strings the bow she will
marry him.
25. How did lord Rama and Sita get married? Lord Rama effortlessly lifted the mighty bow of lord Shiva and while he was stringing the bow broke into 2 pieces. After lord Rama broke the bow, king Janaka offered Sita’s hand in marriage to lord Rama.
26. Who was king Dasharat’s first choice as crown prince? Lord Rama
27. Who told Kaikeyi, that lord Rama being made crown prince? Manthra
28. How did Kaikeyi react to the news of lord Rama’s possible coronation? Initially she happily accepted the news. On Manthra’s wicked insistence she changed her mind.
29. What Manthra wanted Kaikeyi to do? Manthra wanted Kaikeyi to ask king Dasharath to make Bharat the crowne prince.
30. How did Kaikeyi convince king Dasharath to change his plans to change crown prince? King Dasharath owed Kaikeyi 2 boons.
31. Why did king Dasharath owe 2 boons to queen Kaikeyi? Because Kaikeyi saved his life during the war in the past.
32. What did Kaikeyi ask in return for the 2 boons? 1. To make Bharat the crown prince. 2. Send lord Rama in exile to the forest for 14 years.
33. What was the reaction of lord Rama on hearing these boons? He accepted without question.
34. What is the morale of the story till now?—Think a thousand times before making a promise and once a promise is made keep it at all cost. Other moral—respect your elders wishes like Lord Rama.
35. Before going to the forest what did Lord Rama pray when he passed through the coronation hall-May the God protect Bharat and the coronation items be dedicated to Bharat.
36. Who all went to the forest with Lord Rama—Sita and Lakshman.
37. What was Lakshman’s reaction when he heard that lord Rama is not made crown prince—Lakshman did not agree with King Dasharat’s decision
38. What did Lord Rama tell Lakshman when he was not happy with the wishes of king
Dasharath—he said to uphold the Dharma (divine law—moral responsibility Righteousness)—I will act on my father’s promises.
39. On their way to the forest where did Lord Rama, Lakshman and Sita rest--- on the banks of River Tamara.
40.Which rivers did Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshman crossed on their way to Forest--- -Tamara, Vedashurti, and Gomati.
41. Who greeted lord Rama when he reached northern banks of river Ganga? Chief of the tribes of hunters.
42. What did the tribal chief of hunters do for lord Rama? He helped lord Rama to cross the
river Ganga.
43. Where did Rama, Sita and Lakshman meet sage Bhardwaj---At Prayag where river
Ganga and Yamuna meet?
44. What advice did sage Bhardwaj give to lord Rama? They should live on the mountain Chitrakuta
45. Where did lord Rama and Lakshman build their hut? In the Chitrakuta by river Mandakini.
46. Which relative visited lord Rama, Lakshman and Sita at Chitrakuta? Bharat and Shatrughan.
47. Why did he visit lord Rama at Chitrakuta? Because he wanted to take back lord Rama to
Ayodhya and make him the king of Kosala.
48. What type of news did Bharat give lord Rama? He told that their father has passed away.
49. What did lord Rama say to the pleading Bharat? It is our dharma to redeem our fathers pledge to mother Kaikeyi.
50. What did Bharat do when lord Rama asked to go back to Ayodhya and rule? He took lord Rama’s paduka(Sandal) and said that I will place them on the throne as the symbolof lord Rama’s authority.
51. What advice did lord Rama give Bharat? He said look after the kingdom and protectmother Kaikeyi and don’t be angry with mother.
52. Which sage gave lord Rama the celestial weapons? Sage Agastya
53. What did sage Agastya (Agastya rishi) tell lord Rama? He told them to live at Panchavati.
54. Who did lord Rama, Sita and Lakshman meet on the way to Panchavati? A vulture named Jatayu.
55. What did Jatayu tell Lord Rama? He said I am a friend of your father. I will stay with you in case you need my help.
56. Who was the king of Kishkindha? Vali or Bali
57. Who was the brother of Vali? Sugriva.
58. Where did Sugriva live after he lost battle with his brother Vali? Rishamukha mountain.
59. What did Ravana decide; when he heard that Sita is the most beautiful woman in the
world? Ravana decided to abduct Sita.
60. Which demon helped Ravana abduct Sita ? Maricha
61. Who took the form of a beautiful golden deer and began to graze near Rama's cottage in Panchavati? Maricha
62. Before dying, Maricha imitated Ram's voice and shouted what? "Oh Lakshman! Oh Sita!
Help! Help!"
63. What did Maricha do when Ravana approached him with the plan of abducting Sita? Maricha tried to persuade Ravana to stay away from Rama.
64. What options did Ravana give Maricha, on hearing Maricha’s advice? 2 Choices (1. Help to carry out plan and 2. Prepare to die)
65. What did Maricha do on hearing Ravana's choice? Maricha preferred to die in Rama'shand and agreed to help Ravana in the abduction plan.
66. On hearing Maricha's voice what did Sita do? Sita asked Lakshmana to go and help lord Rama.
67. What did Lakshmana do on hearing Sita's request to rescue lord Rama? Lakshmana tried to convince Sita that the voice was only a fake.
68. What did Ravana do as soon as he found Sita alone? Ravana in the form of ascetic came near Sita's cottage and asked for alms (bhiksha)
69. What did Sita do when Ravana disguised as ascetic asked for alms? Sita tried to offer rice to the holy man, while staying within the protection line drawn by Lakshmana
70. What did Sita do when ascetic asked her to come near and offer? Sita was unwilling to cross the line but when Ravana pretended to leave the place without alms-- Sita crossed the line to offer the alms.
71. What did ascetic do after Sita crossed the line? Ascetic turned into Ravana and took Sita away in chariot.
72. Who tried to save Sita from Ravana? Jatayu, the king of eagles (vultures).
73. Who told lord Rama about Sita's abduction? Jatayu.
74. Who advised Rama to go to the monkey king Sugriva, to get help in regaining Sita? Demon Kabandha .
75. Where did Lord Rama and Lakshmana meet Hanuman? Rishyamukha mountain
76. What Sugriva did when he met lord Rama? Sugriva told his story and sought help from Rama to kill Vali.
77. Who confirmed that Ravana took Sita to Lanka? Sampati, the brother of Jatayu. (Vanara or Monkey army met Sampati on Mahendra hill when they went in search of Sita.)
78. Where did Hanuman found Sita in Lanka? Ashoka grove
79. What did Hanuman do after finding Sita? He gave Rama's ring to Sita and asked Sita to take a ride on her back to return to Rama.
80. Did Sita agree to go with Hanuman? No. she said "I do not want to go home. There are many like me in Lanka. I want Rama to free every one". Sita gave her necklace to Hanuman as evidence confirming their meeting.
81. What did Hanuman do before leaving the Ashoka grove? Hanuman wanted to see Ravan, so he began destroying the Ashoka grove by uprooting the trees.
82. What did Ravana do on hearing from the Rakshasa about the monkey destroying Ashoka
grove? He asked Indrajeet, his son, to capture Hanuman.
