THE RAMAYANA IS ONE OF THE MOST REVERED EPICS IN HINDUISM, ATTRIBUTED TO THE SAGE VALMIKI. IT TELLS THE STORY OF LORD RAMA, THE PRINCE OF AYODHYA, WHO EMBODIES DHARMA AND RIGHEOUSNESS. THE EPIC EXPLORES THEMES OF DUTY, LOYALTY, AND THE ETERNAL BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL. IT IS A TIMELESS CLASSIC THAT HAS INSPIRED COUNTLESS ADAPTATIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS ACROSS CULTURES AND CENTURIES.
HERE ARE THE TOP 20 SHOCKING FACTS ABOUT VALMIKI RAMAYANA:
1. *RAMA'S AGE DURING EXILE*: LORD RAMA WAS 27 YEARS OLD WHEN HE WENT TO EXILE.
2. *LAKSHMANA'S ANGER*: LAKSHMANA WAS VERY ANGRY WHEN HE LEARNT ABOUT RAMA'S EXILE AND EVEN ASKED RAMA TO FIGHT WITH HIS FATHER AND WIN THE THRONE.
3. *RAVAAN'S CHARACTER*: RAVAN WAS PICTURED AS A CRUEL AND MOST MONSTROUS DEMON WHO DISRESPECTED ALL HOLY PEOPLE.
4. *CONSTRUCTION OF THE BRIDGE*: IT TOOK ONLY 5 DAYS TO CONSTRUCT A BRIDGE OVER THE OCEAN WITH THE HELP OF THE VANARA ARMY.
5. *KUMBAKARNA'S CURSE*: A DEMON NAMED KUMBHAKARNA WAS CURSED AND LATER KILLED BY RAMA AND LAKSHMANA WHILE THEY WERE SEARCHING FOR SITA.
6. *VALI'S WIFE*: VALI USURPED RUMA, SUGRIVA'S WIFE, IN SPITE OF TARAA'S PLEADINGS.
7. *RAVAAN'S DEATH*: INDRADHVAJA SENT HIS MAGICAL CART FOR RAMA, AND SITTING IN THAT CART, RAMA KILLED RAVAN.
8. *RAVAAN'S PAST*: RAVAN HAD LIVED IN LANKA, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY RULED BY HIS ELDER BROTHER KUBER.
9. *GODDESS PARVATI'S CURSE*: WHEN RAVAN HAD LIFTED MOUNT KAILASH TO IMPRESS LORD SHIVA, GODDESS PARVATI CURSED HIM THAT HE WILL DIE BECAUSE OF A WOMAN.
10. *NANDI'S CURSE*: WHEN RAVAN WENT TO KAILASH MOUNTAIN TO MEET LORD SHIVA, HE MADE FUN OF NANDI, WHO CURSED HIM THAT A MONKEY WILL BECOME THE REASON FOR HIS DESTRUCTION.
11. *LAKSHMANA'S SACRIFICE*: LAKSHMANA CHOSE TO GIVE UP SLEEP FOR 14 YEARS TO PROTECT RAMA AND SITA DURING THEIR EXILE.
12. *SITA'S SWAYAMVAR*: IN VALMIKI RAMAYANA, WHEN LORD RAMA WAS RETURNING TO AYODHYA AFTER MARRYING SITA, PARASHURAM HAD COME.
13. *VIBHISHAN'S ROLE*: VIBHISHAN HELPED RAMA DURING THE WAR AND PROVIDED VALUABLE INSIGHTS TO DEFEAT RAVAN.
14. *RAMA'S JUSTICE*: RAMA BANISHED SITA TO PROTECT THE HONOR OF THE IKSWAKU RACE AND TO SET AN EXAMPLE IN DHARMA.
15. *KUMBHAKARNA'S DEATH*: KUMBHAKARNA, RAVAN'S GIANT BROTHER, WAS KILLED IN THE BATTLEFIELD.
16. *SHAMBUK'S DEATH*: RAMA KILLED SHAMBUK, A SUDRA ASCETIC, FOR PRACTICING SEVERE AUSTERITIES, WHICH WAS NOT ALLOWED FOR HIS VARN.
17. *RAMA'S DEPARTURE*: RAMA LEFT THE EARTH BY TAKING JALA SAMADHI IN THE SARAYU RIVER.
18. *SITA'S DEPARTURE*: SITA ABANDONED HER BODY AFTER BEING ABSORBED INTO THE EARTH.
19. *LAKSHMANA'S DEPARTURE*: LAKSHMANA ALSO TOOK JALA SAMADHI.
20. *HANUMAN'S DEVOTION*: HANUMAN WAS SO DEVOTED TO RAMA THAT HE TOOK A VOW TO REMAIN ON EARTH TILL THE END OF TIME TO SERVE RAMA'S DEVOTEES .
