FAQs about Ramayana and Lord Rama (Q & A, Information, Facts) | What are some interesting facts about Rama? | What is the real name of God Ram? | How long did Rama live? | Who loved Rama the most?
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Just before going to “FAQs about Ramayana and Lord Rama (Q & A, Information, Facts) | What are some interesting facts about Rama? | What is the real name of God Ram? | How long did Rama live? | Who loved Rama the most?“, let us have a brief some brief information.
राम / ರಾಮ / Rama / Ram, just this name ‘Rama’ is enough for us to get both material and spiritual materials. Just chanting the name ‘Rama’ can give us the most divine “Vaikuntha / Anantasana / Shwetadvipa / Goloka / Kshirasagara”.
Rama is the 7th avatar of Bhagavan Lord Sri Vishnu in the ‘dashavatar’ category. Rama’s consort name is Goddess Sri Sita Devi and she is an avatar of Goddess Sri Lakshmi Devi.
The greatest devotee of Lord Sri Rama after Goddess Sri Sita Devi is ‘Mighty and Great’ Lord Sri Hanuman. Lord Rama is the eldest son of Dasharatha and his mother name is Kausalya Devi. Lord Rama’s brothers’ names are Lakshmana, Bharata (Bharat) and Shatrughna.
List of FAQs and Q & A about Ramayana and Lord Sri Rama (information, facts) as given below:
What is the meaning of the name Rama? – (Please remember that Rama has unlimited number of meaning. In that, let us know one meaning as given below).
In the word ‘रति’ / ‘rati’, that is, ‘र’ / ‘ra’ means which is always glowing or something which is always glittering. Also the first letter of the word ‘महीधर’ / ‘mahidhara’ is ‘म’ / ‘ma’, meaning, the world. Thus totally, it becomes ‘राम’ / ‘rama’.
All glittering and glowing entities get their glow and glittering ability from our Lord Sri Rama Chandra Prabhu. All entities are completely dependent on our Lord Sri Rama Chandra Prabhu and no entity possesses glow or glittering ability on his / her / its own.
You will get more information about this from this link: What is the Rama name correct meaning
How can we get Lord Rama and attain moksha in this Kali Yuga? – Just by chanting the great name of ‘Sri Rama, that is for e.g., “श्री रामाय नमः” (Sri Ramaaya Namah) or हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण क़ृष्ण क़ृष्ण हरे हरे | हरे राम हरे राम राम राम हरे हरे ||
(Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare | Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare ||) is enough. We can definitely attain the ‘moksha’ (divine liberation – A permanent place in Vaikuntha or Anantasana or Shwetadvipa).
3. What is eka sloki (shloka, hymn) Ramayana? – Whole of Ramayana is being explained in just one (Eka) sloka as given below:
आदौ राम तपो वनादि गमनं हत्वा मृगं कांचनं ।
वैदेही हरणं, जटायु मरणं, सुग्रीव सम्भाषणं ॥
वाली निर्ग्रहणं, समुद्र तरणं, लंकापुरीदाहनं ।
पश्चात रावण कुम्बकर्ण हननं एतहि रामायणं ॥
ಅದೌ ರಾಮ ತಪೋ ವನಾದಿ ಗಮನಂ ಹತ್ವಾ ಮೃಗ-ಕಾಂಚನಮ್ |
ವೈದೇಹೀ ಹರಣಂ, ಜಟಾಯು ಮರಣಂ, ಸುಗ್ರೀವ-ಸಂಭಾಶಣಮ್ ||
ವಾಲಿ ನಿಗ್ರಹಣಮ್, ಸಮುದ್ರ ತರಣಂ, ಲಂಕಾಪುರೀದಾಹನಮ್ |
ಪಶ್ಚಾತ್ ರಾವಣ-ಕುಂಭಕರ್ಣ-ಹನನಂ ಏತದ್ಧಿ ರಾಮಾಯಣಮ್ ||
adau rāma tapō vanādi gamanaṁ hatvā mr̥ga-kān̄canam |
vaidēhī haraṇaṁ, jaṭāyu maraṇaṁ, sugrīva-sambhāśaṇam ||
vāli nigrahaṇam, samudra taraṇaṁ, laṅkāpurīdāhanam |
paścāt rāvaṇa-kumbhakarṇa-hananaṁ ētad’dhi rāmāyaṇam ||
Lord Sri Rama went to forest. He chased the deer. Goddess Sita was kidnapped, Jatayu was killed. There were discussions with Sugriva. Vali was killed. The ocean was crossed. Lanka was burnt and later Ravana and Kumbhakarna were also killed. This is the story of Ramayanam.
What is the difference between Lord Vishnu’s Rama avatar and Krishna avatar killing demons? – In Rama avatar – Lord Sri Rama himself went to the asuras (demons) and killed all of them. E.g., Sri Rama went to Vali’s place and killed him, went to Ravana’s place and killed him etc.
In Krishna avatar – The asuras (demons) themselves came near Lord Sri Krishna and got killed. E.g., Putana, Shakatasura, Trinavarta, etc. etc. etc. all came to Lord Sri Krishna and got killed.
Even during the killing of Kamsa, Lord Sri Krishna didn’t went to Mathura, but instead he was asked by Kamsa to come there. In Shishupala, Dantavakra’s case also they themselves came to attack him, but instead got killed.
To know the “List of demons killed by Sri Rama, visit this link: List of demons killed by Sri Rama
To know the “List of demons killed by Sri Krishna, visit this link: List of demons killed by Sri Krishna
What is the correct story of Hanuman not recognizing Sanjivani plant (herb)? – Is Hanuman an ordinary Vanara (divine monkey) to not to recognize the ‘Sanjivani Moolika’?
We should note that in both ‘Moola Ramayana’ and ‘Valmini Ramaya’, it is very clearly written that Lord Sri Hanuman is the next Lord Sri Brahma Deva. If such is the case, then how come Hanuman was not able to recognize a plant?
The present Kalpa’s Lord Brahma Deva’s 51st year is running as per Satya Loka (Brahma Loka). After the present Lord Brahma Deva completes his 100 years as per the Satya Loka, a new Brahma will take over the ‘Brahma Deva’ position.
That new Lord Sri Brahma Deva is non other than our own Lord Sri Hanuman. Originally Hanuman (Treta Yuga) is an avatar of Lord Vayu. Other avatars of Lord Vayu are Bhima (Dvapara Yuga) and Sri Madhwacharya Ji (Kali Yuga).
More information is available from this link: What is the correct story of Hanuman not recognizing Sanjivani
Why Rama killed Vali secretly behind a tree? – Vali was an avatar of Lord Sri Indra Deva and was also a great devotee of Bhagavan Lord Sri Rama.
But sometimes, even great devotees make mistake. To rectify the mistake(s), Bhagavan Lord Sri Rama (Vishnu / Krishna) always puts forward one or more tests in front of us. Vali prostrated in front of Bhagavan Sri Rama and thus he was blessed and also his mistake was forgiven by Bhagavan Sri Rama.
Thus, even Vali had to undergo that test and he successfully passed this test. For this reason, he was reborn as Arjuna during the Mahabharata period and was blessed as we all are aware of.
To know more about this deep secret, visit this post link: Why Rama killed Vali secretly behind a tree?
For how many years did Bhagavan Sri Rama ruled Ayodhya (Became King)? – 11,000 years is the answer. Yes, Bhagavan Lord Sri Rama ruled Ayodhya for 11,000 years.
At this period there was nothing called ‘Adharma’ in Ramarajya. Everything was divine. Thus, during this juncture the period was known as ‘Ramarajya’ (The most prosperous country / world).
Who all have defeated Ravana? – Bhagavan Lord Sri Rama, Kartavirya Arjuna, Lord Hanuman, Vali, Lord Shiva, Lord (Sage) Kapila (An avatar of Lord Vishnu), Vamana (Trivikrama) (An avatar of Lord Vishnu), all of them all defeated Ravana.
Ravana was mere insect for all these greats. Ravana had some powers, just because of the blessings of Lord Sri Braham Deva. Otherwise, Ravana was nothing.
Who was the doctor among Vanaras (divine monkeys)? – “Sushena” was the doctor (vaidya) among all the Vanaras (Monkeys). In TV serials it is shown that he belongs to Ravana Kingdom, which is incorrect.
Sushena was very much part of the Vanara (Monkey) army in Ramayana. Sushena was the son and an avatar of Lord Sri Varuna Deva.
Why only Vanaras (Monkeys) got life with the “Sanjivani” and not Rakshasas (demons)? – As per Valmiki Ramayana, there are two main reasons for this as given below:
a. As soon as the rakshasas (demons) were killed, they all were immediately thrown into the sea, so as to avoid loss of confidence in other living rakshasas (demons).
b. As per the nature of rakshasas (demons), they never believed in divine actions. Thus they never had the faith in Sanjivani. Our Hindu Shastras says that, if one doesn’t has the faith, nothing works.
(Even today we can hear about this. A group of people don’t believe in Ayurvedic medicines which are prescribed by Ayurvedic Doctors. Similarly, many people are against Yoga.)
Who loved Rama the most : Lord Rama was most loved by Goddess Sri Sita Devi followed by Lord Hanuman, Lakshmana, Bharata, Shatrughna, Dhasharatha, Kausalya, Sumitra, Kaikeyi, etc. Similarly he was also loved by many like Maharishi Vasishtha, Maharishi Vishwamitra, etc.
What caste is Rama born into? : In Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) there is no caste. There are four varnas known as Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra. Lord Sri Rama was born (took avatar) in the Kshatriya Varna. We should remember that caste policy was started by British in India.
Which caste was Sita? : As said above Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) has no caste, we have Varna. Goddess Sri Sita Devi was born (took avatar) in the Kshatriya varna. Her parents names are King Janaka (Seeradhwaja) (father) and Sunayana (mother).
Who is the biggest enemy of Ravana? : Ravana himself was the biggest enemy of himself. He was not at all listening to others. Only because of the boon of Lord Sri Brahma Deva he was able to survive, otherwise he was nothing, he was mere an insect.
Lord Sri Rama, Lord Hanuman, Kartavirya Arjuna, Vali, Lord (Sage) Kapila, Lord Vamana (Trivikrama) easily defeated Ravana. Inside Ravana there was two beings namely Jaya (Vaikuntha gatekeeper) and Hiranyakashipu (Hiranyakashyap).
After Lord Sri Rama killed Ravana, Jaya went to Vaikuntha and Hiranyakashipu (Hiranyakashyap) was sent to ‘tamas’ (तमस्) (More difficult place than the most hazardous Narakas). Ravana will stay in this ‘tamas’ until the infinite period because of all his heinous deeds.
What did Sita called Ram? – Goddess Sita Devi was calling Lord Sri Rama as ‘Natha / Nath’ (नाथ / nātha / nāth). This is evident from this Valmiki Ramayana sloka (shloka / hymn) as given below:
रामाय रामभद्राय रामचंद्राय वेधसे | रघुनाथाय नाथाय सीतायाः पतये नमः || ರಾಮಾಯ ರಾಮಭದ್ರಾಯ ರಾಮಚಂದ್ರಾಯ ವೇಧಸೇ | ರಘುನಾಥಾಯ ನಾಥಾಯ ಸೀತಾಯಃ ಪತಯೇ ನಮಃ || rāmāya rāmabhadrāya rāmacaṃdrāya vedhase | raghunāthāya nāthāya sītāyāḥ pataye namaḥ ||
King Dasharatha was calling Lord Sri Rama as ‘RĀMA’. Kausalya Devi was calling Lord Sri Rama as ‘RĀMABHADRA’. Kaikeyi Devi was calling Lord Sri Rama as ‘RAMACHANDRA’. Maharishi Vasishtha was calling Lord Sri Rama as ‘VEDASE’.
Other Rishis were calling Lord Sri Rama as ‘RAGHUNATHA’. Goddess Sri Sita Devi was calling Lord Sri Rama as ‘NATHA’. King Janaka (Seeradhwaja) was calling Lord Sri Rama as ‘SEETAPATI’. This sloka is taken from Balakanda, Sarga 1 and sloka number 13.
What is the first word (sloka / hymn) of Ramayana (What is the first shloka of Valmiki Ramayana)? : The first word (sloka / hymn) of Ramayana is as given below –
तपस्स्वाध्यायनिरतं तपस्वी वाग्विदां वरम् । नारदं परिपप्रच्छ वाल्मीकिर्मुनिपुङ्गवम् || ತಪಸ್ಸ್ವಾಧ್ಯಾಯನಿರತಂ ತಪಸ್ವೀ ವಾಗ್ವಿದಾಂ ವರಮ್ | ನಾರದಂ ಪರಿಪಪ್ರಚ್ಛ ವಾಲ್ಮೀಕಿರ್ಮುನಿಪುಙ್ಗವಮ್ || Tapas’svādhyāyanirataṁ tapasvī vāgvidāṁ varam | nāradaṁ paripapraccha vālmīkirmunipuṅgavam || 1.1.1 ||
Meaning of the above sloka : Rishi (Sage) Valmiki requested Devarishi Narada to tell about the pre-eminent among the sages ever engaged in the practice of Dharmi (Sanatana Dharma) austerities or study of the Vedas and best among the eloquent.
Who wrote Ramayana first : The original or first or Moola Ramayana was written by Lord Sri Vishnu himself in his another form called Lord Sri Hayagriva. Lord Sri Hayagriya preaches this Moola Ramayana to Lord Sri Brahma Deva.
Lord Sri Brahma Deva preaches Moola Ramayana to Devarishi Narada. Devarishi (Maharishi) Narada preaches the Moola Ramayana to Rishi Valmiki.
Later during the Vaivasvata Manvantara, 28th Mahayuga, in Treta Yuga, Rishi Valmiki composed the Ramayana called ‘Valmiki Ramayana’ which has 24,000 slokas. The Moola Ramayana has 100 Crore Slokas.
Who asked Valmiki to write Ramayana? : In Vaivasvata Manvantara (present Manvantara), 28th Mahayuga, in Treta Yuga, Lord Sri Brahma Deva appeared in front of Rishi Valmiki and instructed him to write ‘Valmiki Ramayana’.
Later, Devarishi (Maharishi) Narada preaches the Moola Ramayana to Rishi Valmiki. Based on the inputs of Devarishi (Maharishi) Narada, Rishi Valmiki composed the ‘Valmiki Ramayana’ which has 24,000 slokas.
The original or Moola or first Ramayana has 100 Crore slokas. Since in the modern times Rishi Valmiki composed Valmiki Ramayana, he is also called as ‘Adi Kavi’ (First Poet).
When was Ram born (When is Rama Navami celebrated)? – It is on Chaitra Shudda (Shukla Paksha) (Waxing Moon), Navami Tithi (Ninth Day), in Vaivasvata Manvantara, 28th Mahayuga, in Treta Yuga Lord Sri Rama was born.
Actually Lord Sri Vishnu or any of his avatars doesn’t take birth like ordinary humans (Explanation given below). Lord Sri Rama took avatar (born) in Punarvasu Nakshatra (Star) and in Karkataka Rashi (Cancer Zodiac).
King Dasharatha did not had male child with any his wives. Thus, as directed by Maharishi Vasistha, King Dasharatha did the ‘Putra Kaamesti yagna’ under the ‘pourohitya’ (priestly presence) of Rishi Rishyashringa (He is the son-in-law of King Dasharatha and husband of Shanta).
Then the Demigod called ‘Yagna Purusha’ came with the golden vessel carrying the prasadam (payasam / kheer) of the homa (yagna). King Dasharatha distributed the same to his three wives.
First half of the prasadam King Dasharatha gave to Kausalya, half of the remaining, he gave it to Sumitra. Then out of the remaining quarter portion, King Dasharatha disgributed to Sumitra and Kaikeyi.
As such, Kausalya and Kaikeyi got one portion of the prasadam, whereas Sumitra got two portions. Lord Sri Rama was born (took avatar) with chakra, shankha, gada and padma and also wearing peetaambara dress.
Similarly, Lord Sri Rama also was wearing kireeta (crown), kundala (earrings). As soon as Kausalya saw him, he appeared as if a small baby.
This is the difference between Lord Sri Vishnu avatars and others birth. Bharata (Bharat) was born to Kaikeyi in Pushya nakshatra. Sumitra got Lakshmana and Shatrughna in Ashlesha nakshatra.
Who gave Rama his name? : Maharishi Vasishtha gave the name Rama to Rama. In reality King Dasharatha was worshipping the Moola Rama (Original Rama) deity along with Moola Sita deity in his palace.
Rama’s name is not just an avatar’s name. Rama name is present since the unknown timeframe just like Vishnu name. King Dasharatha wanted a son like Rama and thus King Dasharatha gave his elder son Rama as Rama.
Lord Sri Vishnu has taken Lord Sri Rama’s avatar in infinite times. In every Lord Sri Brahma’s day, Lord Sri Vishnu once takes the avatars of both Lord Sri Rama and Lord Sri Krishna.
Who killed Ravana? : Indeed Lord Sri Rama killed the demon King Ravana in the Lanka battle. But the most astonishing fact is that, Ravana first mentally died with fear when he first heard the name of ‘Sri Rama’. Secondly, Ravana died when Lord Sri Rama crossed the ocean.
Did Ravana kidnap (steal) Sita? : Not at all. Ravana was never able to even touch Goddess Sri Sita Devi. When Ravana came to abduct Sita Devi, she made her own pratikriti (प्रतिकृति) (portrait / replica). Ravana took this portrait and not the original Goddess Sri Sita Devi.
All the Hindu Texts are written for three types of people. First for the ‘adhama jeevi’ (ill-minded beings) – These people will always understand Hindu Texts in the incorrect way and will go to different lower planets like Narakas or even to Tamas (The most hardest Naraka).
Secondly for the ‘madhyama jeevi’ (middle minded beings) – These people are always not sure about the reality. They usually depend on different unrealistic Babas or Swamys to know the meaning of the Hindu Texts and thus they will always be in the Sansar (Samsara) (Will always struggle in this world).
Thirdly for the ‘uttama jeevi’ (Divine minded beings) – These people will always learn the Hindu Texts under the guidance of correct ‘Vaishnava Guru’.
This Guru must have come in the right ‘Vaishnava Guru Parampara’ (lineage). This Guru Parampara’s first Guru should be Lord Sri Vishnu himself. These people will go to Vaikuntha and other higher planets.
Who gave Ravana 10 heads (Why is Ravana 10 heads) (How many heads does Ravana had during birth) : During the birth itself Ravana was born with ten heads and thus he was called as Dashagriva (Person with 10 necks).
Please note that Ravan’s original name is Dashagriva and not Ravana. Ravana got the name Ravana from Lord Shiva. When Ravana tried to lift the Mount Kailash mountain, he was not able to do so and his hands got stuck under the mountain and Ravana started to shout in pain.
Ravana was shouting (yelling / screaming) continuously for 1000 years. Later Ravana started to pray to Lord Shiva and thus Lord Shiva blessed Ravana with the new name called Ravana.
In Sanskrit Ravana means something who was shouting, yelling, screaming in huge pain. Nothing great about Ravana.
Who is Guru of Ram? : Lord Sri Rama learned (vidambana / drama / pastime) about different Hindu Texts from Maharishi Vasishtha and Maharishi Vishwamitra.
But, we should always remember that Lord Sri Vishnu or any of his avatars is full of knowledge and he doesn’t need anyone’s support or teachings for anything including knowledge. This was just a vidambana / drama / pastime done by Lord Sri Rama to teach us lessons.
Who sent Lord Rama for 14 years (to forest exile)? : King Dasharatha’s third wife Kaikeyi sent Lord Rama to forest exile for 14 years. She did so, because, 14 years is a long time and thus she thought after 14 years everything will be forgotten.
Along with this (forest exile) Kaikeyi had also asked that her son Bharata (Bharat) should become the King of Ayodhya. For this, Bharata did not accept the proposal at all and actually yelled at his mother after hearing the situation of Sri Rama going into forest exile.
Continue reading about Lord Rama and Ramayana from here : Lord Rama and Ramayana information, facts, significance, importance, etc.
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