Ramayana

Ramayana

PRESENTATION

Lesson Standards

(10) Composition: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking using multiple texts--genres. The student uses genre characteristics and craft to compose multiple texts that are meaningful. The student is expected to: (A) compose literary texts such as fiction and poetry using genre characteristics and craft; (2) Developing and sustaining foundational language skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking--vocabulary. The student uses newly acquired vocabulary expressively. The student is expected to: (B) analyze context to distinguish between the denotative and connotative meanings of words; (5) Response skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking using multiple texts. The student responds to an increasingly challenging variety of sources that are read, heard, or viewed. The student is expected to: (C) use text evidence and original commentary to support a comprehensive response;

Lesson Objectives

• Students will understand the cultural and literary significance of the Ramayana.
• Students will analyze key characters and themes in the Ramayana.
• Students will improve their reading comprehension and critical thinking skills.

Language Objective

I will use descriptive language to discuss and write about the Ramayana, focusing on its characters and themes.

Essential Questions

• What is the Ramayana, and why is it important in Indian culture?
• What are the central themes and moral lessons of the Ramayana?
• How do the characters in the Ramayana reflect the values of the culture in which it was written?

Success Criteria

• Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the key characters, events, and themes in the Ramayana.
• Students will be able to analyze and interpret passages from the Ramayana to support their understanding of the text.
• Students will be able to make connections between the Ramayana and other literary works or cultural traditions.

Warm Up

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Introduction

One of the great epics of India, the Rámáyana existed for years in oral tradition before the Hindu sage and poet Válmíki recorded the story in verse sometime around the 5th century BCE. A vast tale of intrigue, ferocious battles, and the triumph of good over evil, the Rámáyana serves as an integral part of the Hindu canon, and its many versions continue to shape cultures and societies worldwide. In the following excerpt, the poet Válmíki summarizes the general arc of the epic: from Ráma’s banishment at the hands of his father’s wife, Kaikeyi, to his battle with the demon Rávana and his ascension to the throne. *Watch StudySync Video

Key Characters

The son of King Dasaratha and Queen Kausalya, Rama is the prince of Ayodya. He is an avatara of Vishnu, the Blue God and the sustainer of worlds.

Sita's father, King Janak, found her lying in a furrow on sanctified ground and decided to raise her as his daughter. She marries Rama, and loves him so much that she follows him into exile. She is famed for her virtue and beauty, and is regarded as an avatara of the goddess Lakshmi, Vishnu's con

Ravana is a rakshasa (Hindu demon/goblin) who performed penance fofor the God Siva for many years, and in return received a great blessing from the God: he cannot be killed by any God, demon, or other divine being. His arrogance combined, with great intelligence and power, has led him to rule over much of the earth, spreading terrible evil everywhere he goes.

Lakshmana

Brother of Rama. He is deeply devoted to his brother, whom he follows through many dangerous adventures and quests. He is married to Sita's younger sister, Urmila.

Viswamitra

Viswamitra is a great sage and wise man who was once a king. Through long meditation, he gained a number of magical powers. He takes Rama on a quest to defeat a demon and to lift the bow of Siva, the first step in the future king's great journey.

King Dasaratha

King of Ayodhya, father of Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna. Of all his three sons, he loves Rama most deeply, and tries to shelter the boy from any danger. He is a good king: kind, just and well-liked by his people.

Kaikeyi

The third and youngest wife of King Dasaratha, and mother of Bharata. She is famed for her beauty. After she saved the life of Dasaratha in battle, he offered to grant anything she would ask of him. She later calls in this favor to have Bharata crowned king and Rama sent into the forest.

Manthara

An old maid of Kaikeyi's. She is a wicked woman, and gives Kaikeyi the idea to ask Dasaratha to exile Rama and crown Bharata king instead.

Ramayama

Rama symbolizes a model of reason, right action, and desirable virtues. Rama's name is a popular form of greeting among friends (“Ram! Ram!”), and Rama is the deity most invoked at death. No matter how bad the circumstances be in life, good will always prevail over evil.

Vocabulary

Emprise (noun)- an adventurous or daring undertaking Ire (noun)- intense anger, usually openly displayed Reverent (adjective)- showing deep respect for something or someone Sanctity (noun)- the quality or state of being holy or very valuable Strife (noun)- strong, angry disagreements between individuals or groups

Summary

In this excerpt, the Hindu sage Valmiki is visited by Narad, who tells him the story of Rama. After drinking water to cleanse himself for the ritual, Valmiki takes in the full story of Rama’s life, grasping the past, present, and future with his third eye. He learns that Rama was born a prince and was kind, heroic, patient, and loving. Later, Rama fought for Sita’s love by bending the bow 5,000 men before him failed to do. After their marriage, Rama and Sita were banished after Kaikeyi made Rama’s father honor two wishes that he owed to her. Kaikeyi’s son Bharat was made to rule, but he was also loyal to Rama and vowed to hold the throne until Rama returned. In the meantime, Rama experiences many trials and adventures before finding his way back to the throne.The narration Valmiki receives forms the base material that he later uses to retell the Rama story in the rest of the Ramayana.

Canto III. The Argument The hermit thus with watchful heed Received the poem’s pregnant seed, And looked with eager thought around If fuller knowledge might be found. His lips with water first bedewed, He sate, in reverent attitude On holy grass, the points all bent Together toward the orient; And thus in meditation he Entered the path of poesy. Then clearly, through his virtue’s might, All lay discovered to his sight, Whate’er befell, through all their life, Ráma, his brother, and his wife: And Das’aratha and each queen At every time, in every scene: His people too, of every sort; The nobles of his princely court: Whate’er was said, whate’er decreed, Each time they sate each plan and deed: For holy thought and fervent rite Had so refined his keener sight That by his sanctity his view

The present, past, and future knew, And he with mental eye could grasp, Like fruit within his fingers clasp, The life of Ráma, great and good, Roaming with Sítá in the wood. He told, with secret-piercing eyes, The tale of Ráma’s high emprise, Each listening ear that shall entice, A sea of pearls of highest price. Thus good Válmíki, sage divine, Rehearsed the tale of Raghu’s line, As Nárad, heavenly saint, before Had traced the story’s outline o’er. He sang of Ráma’s princely birth, His kindness and heroic worth; His love for all, his patient youth, His gentleness and constant truth, And many a tale and legend old By holy Vis'vámitra told. How Janak’s child he wooed and won, And broke the bow that bent to none. How he with every virtue fraught His namesake Ráma met and fought.

The choice of Ráma for the throne; The malice by Kaikeyí shown, Whose evil counsel marred the plan And drove him forth a banished man. How the king grieved and groaned, and cried, And swooned away and pining died. The subjects’ woe when thus bereft; And how the following crowds he left: With Guha talked, and firmly stern Ordered his driver to return. How Gangá’s farther shore he gained; By Bharadvája entertained, By whose advice he journeyed still And came to Chitrakúta’s hill. How there he dwelt and built a cot; How Bharat journeyed to the spot; His earnest supplication made; Drink-offerings to their father paid; The sandals given by Ráma’s hand, As emblems of his right, to stand: How from his presence Bharat went And years in Nandigráma spent. How Ráma entered Dandak wood

And in Sutíkhna’s presence stood. The favour Anasúyá showed, The wondrous balsam she bestowed. How Sárabhangá’s dwelling-place They sought; saw Indra face to face; The meeting with Agastya gained; The heavenly bow from him obtained. How Ráma with Virádha met; Their home in Panchavata set. How S’úrpanakhá underwent The mockery and disfigurement. Of Trígirá’s and Khara’s fall, Of Rávana roused at vengeance call, Márícha doomed, without escape; The fair Videhan lady’s rape. How Ráma wept and raved in vain, And how the Vulture-king was slain. How Ráma fierce Kabandha slew; Then to the side of Pampá drew, Met Hanumán, and her whose vows Were kept beneath the greenwood boughs. How Raghu’s son, the lofty-souled, On Pampá’s bank wept uncontrolled,

Then journeyed, Rishyamúk to reach, And of Sugríva then had speech. The friendship made, which both had sought: How Báli and Sugríva fought. How Báli in the strife was slain, And how Sugríva came to reign. The treaty, Tára’s wild lament; The rainy nights in watching spent. The wrath of Raghu’s lion son; The gathering of the hosts in one. The sending of the spies about, And all the regions pointed out. The ring by Ráma’s hand bestowed; The cave wherein the bear abode. The fast proposed, their lives to end; Sampati gained to be their friend. The scaling of the hill, the leap Of Hanumán across the deep. Ocean’s command that bade them seek Maináka of the lofty peak. The death of Sinhiká, the sight Of Lanká with her palace bright How Hanumán stole in at eve;

How Hanumán stole in at eve; His plan the giants to deceive. How through the square he made his way To chambers where the women lay, Within the Aśoka garden came And there found Ráma’s captive dame. His colloquy with her he sought, And giving of the ring he brought. How Sítá gave a gem o’erjoyed; How Hanumán the grove destroyed. How giantesses trembling fled, And servant fiends were smitten dead. How Hanumán was seized; their ire When Lanká blazed with hostile fire. His leap across the sea once more; The eating of the honey store. How Ráma he consoled, and how He showed the gem from Sítá’s brow. With Ocean, Ráma’s interview; The bridge that Nala o’er it threw. The crossing, and the sitting down At night round Lanká’s royal town.

The treaty with Vibhíshan made: The plan for Rávana’s slaughter laid. How Kumbhakarna in his pride And Meghanáda fought and died. How Rávana in the fight was slain, And captive Sítá brought again. Vibhíshan set upon the throne; The flying chariot Pushpak shown. How Brahmá and the Gods appeared, And Sítá’s doubted honour cleared. How in the flying car they rode To Bharadvája’s cabin abode. The Wind-God’s son sent on afar; How Bharat met the flying car. How Ráma then was king ordained; The legions their discharge obtained. How Ráma cast his queen away; How grew the people’s love each day. Thus did the saint Válmíki tell Whate’er in Ráma’s life befell, And in the closing verses all That yet to come will once befall.

A Summary

Discuss

• Why does the king grieve?
• Who is the speaker?
• What are the main themes or messages conveyed in the Ramayana?
• What are the major conflicts faced by the characters in the Ramayana, and how are they resolved?