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10 articles tagged with #ramayana. Browse more by category or search the library.
Driven from his kingdom by his elder brother Vali, sheltering on Rishyamukha with Hanuman, Sugriva struck the alliance with Rama that won the Ramayana war. After Vali's death, with Tara as queen, he ruled Kishkindha and sent his vanaras to the four directions.
Born to Ravana and Mandodari, master of the Brahmastra, Pashupatastra, and Vaishnavastra, the only warrior who defeated Indra and bound him in chains — Meghanada became Indrajit. His death by Lakshmana broke Lanka's spine.
Born Ratnakara, transformed by Narada, taught the Ramayana by Brahma, gave shelter to the exiled Sita, raised Lava and Kusha, and recited his epic to Rama himself — Valmiki is the Adi Kavi, first poet of Sanskrit.
Born a rakshasa, raised by a brahmin father, Vibhishana refused his brother's adharma, walked across to Rama's camp, was crowned king of Lanka, and became one of the seven chiranjivins — eternal models of *sharanagati*.
Son of the queen who exiled Rama, Bharata refused the throne, walked barefoot to Chitrakuta, returned with Rama's sandals, and ruled from a hut in Nandigrama for fourteen years. The Ramayana's most thorough refutation of the idea that mothers' sins are children's gifts.
Aspect of Sesha-naga, half of Vishnu's couch, husband of Urmila — Lakshmana stayed awake for fourteen years so Rama and Sita could rest. He killed Indrajit and built the parnashala and broke himself for his brother.
Grandson of Pulastya, a brahmin scholar of the four Vedas and the sixty-four arts, conqueror of Indra, builder of the golden Lanka, Shiva-bhakta — Ravana is the Ramayana's most learned villain. The text never lets the reader forget that.
Born of Vayu and Anjana, an aspect of Rudra, leaper across oceans, finder of Sita, burner of Lanka, immortal — Hanuman is bhakti embodied. Where the Ramayana is sung, he is present.
Found in the furrow of King Janaka's plough, married to Rama, abducted by Ravana, vindicated by fire, mother of twins, returned to the earth — Sita is the Ramayana's still centre and Indian culture's most elegant grief.
Seventh avatar of Vishnu, eldest son of Dasharatha, husband of Sita, brother of Lakshmana — Rama is the Ramayana's *Maryada Purushottama*: the man whose every action sets the boundary of dharma.
