Ramayana for Children

Summary

In ancient India, King Dasarath of Ayodhya, childless and sorrowful, had four sons through a divine intervention. His eldest, Rama, was a beloved prince who married Sita. However, a jealous servant manipulated Queen Kaikeyi into demanding Rama's exile. Rama, along with Sita and his brother Lakshman, willingly went into the forest for 14 years. There, they encountered and battled demons, including the deceptive Ravana who abducted Sita. With the help of the monkey army and Hanuman, Rama crossed to Lanka, defeated Ravana, and reunited with Sita. They returned to Ayodhya to a joyous welcome, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.

Takeaways

• 👑 King Dasarath ruled in Ayodhya and was sad because he had no children until a fire sacrifice granted him four sons.
• 🤱 The four sons, Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana, and Shatrugna, were born to different queens and were loved by their parents.
• 🛡 Rama and his brothers were trained in warfare and governance, growing into brave and wise princes.
• 💍 Rama won the hand of Princess Sita by breaking Shiva's bow and they got married.
• 🏡 King Dasarath decided to retire and make Rama the new king, which was celebrated by the citizens.
• 😈 A wicked maidservant convinced Queen Kaikeyi to ask King Dasarath to make her son Bharata king and to exile Rama.
• 🌳 Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana went into exile for 14 years, living a simple and happy life in the forest.
• 🐉 The demoness Surpanakha attempted to marry Rama but was repulsed by Lakshmana.
• 🦌 Rama was tricked into chasing a golden deer, which led to Sita's abduction by the demon king Ravana.
• 🐒 Hanuman, a monkey warrior, found Sita in Ravana's island of Lanka and assured her of Rama's return.
• 🔥 Rama and the monkey army built a bridge to Lanka and fought a great battle against Ravana's demons.
• 🏆 Rama killed Ravana with a celestial weapon, rescued Sita, and they returned to Ayodhya in triumph.

Q & A

Who was King Dasarath and where did he rule?

King Dasarath was a great king in India who ruled from his capital of Ayodhya.

Why was King Dasarath initially sad?

King Dasarath was sad because he had no children.

How did King Dasarath's wives give birth to sons?

After a fire sacrifice, King Dasarath presented a pot of special prasadam to his wives, which led to the birth of their sons.

Who were the four sons born to King Dasarath's wives?

Kaikeyi's son was Bharat, Kausalya's son was Rama, and Sumitra's sons were Lakshman and Shatrugna.

What was special about Rama and his brothers?

Rama and his brothers were incarnations of the Supreme Lord.

How did Rama win the hand of Sita in marriage?

Rama broke the bow of Shiva at his swayamvara and won the hand of the beautiful princess Sita.

Why did King Dasarath decide to banish Rama to the forest?

King Dasarath had promised Kaikeyi two wishes, and she asked for her son Bharat to be made king and for Rama to be banished to the forest for 14 years.

What did Rama, Sita, and Lakshman do during their exile in the forest?

During their exile, Rama and Lakshman built a cottage, and Sita collected fruits and vegetables. They also protected the peace of the sages by killing demons.

How did Ravana trick Sita into leaving the magic circle?

Ravana disguised himself as a sage and tricked Sita into leaving the magic circle by grabbing her and taking her to his capital of Lanka.

Who helped Rama and Lakshman in their search for Sita?

An army of monkey warriors, led by Hanuman, helped Rama and Lakshman in their search for Sita.

How did Rama defeat Ravana?

Rama invoked a celestial weapon and released an arrow towards Ravana, which struck him in the chest, killing him.

What did the citizens of Ayodhya do to celebrate Rama's return?

The citizens of Ayodhya let millions of oil lamps to light up the city and offered flower garlands while dancing in great jubilation.