Untold Stories from Ramayana

Posted on 20/09/2016 I by: AstroSaathi

Ramayana has been repeated and shown to us several times from several perspectives since childhood. But there is more to the surfaced faces of Lord Rama, Sita, Lakshman, Hanuman and Ravana. One of the core foundations of the Hindu culture, Ramayana imparts lessons on being an ideal human being. We have all heard about Ram’s exile of 14 years and the Great War, but this so much more to this legendary epic.

Here are a few untold stories from Ramayana.

Laxman didn’t sleep during the 14 years of exile. His wife Urmila slept for 14 years instead to complete both her own and Laxman’s share of sleep. Laxman would never have been able to slay Meghnath as he was granted a boon that he could only be killed by Gudakesh, the one who defeated sleep.

While Lord Rama was an avatar of Lord Vishnu, Laxman is considered to be an avatar of Sheeshnaag. Bharat and Shatrughan are considered to be his Sudarshan Chakra and Conch Shell.

Ravana was an inordinate scholar, excellent ruler, a maestro of Veena and a great follower of Lord Shiva. Willing to please the Lord Ravan axed his head 10 times as each time he axed the head grew back. Shiva thus granted 10 heads to Ravan that he sacrificed. The heads indicate the six shastras and the four vedas that Ravan mastered.

Sita had broken the Shiv Dhanush during her childhood. This was the main reason why King Janak insisted on the condition of breaking the bow at Sita’s swayamvar. 

Hanuman became Bajrangbali for a reason. Once when Sita was applying vermilion curious Hanumam asked her the reason. Sita explained that it was a ritual that would result in longer and a healthier life for Ram. Devotee Hanuman went on and covered his entire body with kumkum and turned completely orange (Bajrang). Thus the name Bajrang Bali.

The Lord of Wealth, Kuber was the actual ruler of Lanka and the stepbrother of Ravana. Ravana fought with Kuber and conquered Lanka.

Squirrels helped the monkeys headed by Nal and Neel to create the bridge to get to Lanka. Seeing squirrel carry beach sand for the Setu some monkeys started laughing at it. Rama acknowledging the small creature’s dedication cuddled its back. And ever since they carry white stripes as the finger signs of Ram.

The first letter of every 1000th Shloka of the Ramayana together makes up the Gayatri Mantra. There are 24 letters in the Gayatri Mantra and there are 24,000 Shlokas in the Valmiki Ramayana.