Stories Of Ramayana

  

Stories of Ramayana: An Adventure of Heroes and Monsters!

 

One fun-filled day, as I was packing books into the cupboard, my curious little granddaughter Sahasra peered at the towering stack of big books. With her eyes wide like saucers, she asked, "Why are these books so big and so many, Grandpa?"

 Chuckling, I replied, "Well, my dear, these are the nine books of Sri Ramayana!"

 "Ramayana? What's that?" she asked, her face beaming with curiosity.

I held up the Ramayana Mandaram written by Sri Andhra  Valmiki and said, "This is an amazing story about Lord Rama, a brave prince who lived long, long ago. It has nine fantastic books, and it's so exciting!"

Sahasra's eyes sparkled with wonder as she inquired, "Are these books for your office, Grandpa?"

I shook my head and said, "No, sweetheart. These books are all about Lord Rama's incredible adventures!"

"Adventures? Tell me more!" she pleaded, eager to hear the thrilling tales.

"Okay, here's a glimpse: There was a fierce monster who kidnapped a beautiful princess, Sita. But our brave hero, Prince Rama, fearlessly fought the monster and saved his princess!" I said with enthusiasm.

Excitedly, Sahasra pointed to another book and asked, "What's this one, Grandpa?"

"That's the Bhagavatam," I said, "and it's all about the amazing stories of little Krishna!"

A smile spread across her face as she remembered the animated Little Krishna movie we watched together on TV. "I love little Krishna's adventures! Can you please tell me these stories, Grandpa?"

"Of course, my dear," I promised, "We'll have a special storytime when we go to bed tonight. But for now, I need to finish packing all these wonderful books."

 As I busied myself with the task, Sahasra couldn't wait for bedtime to hear the magical tales. She knew that these stories were not only thrilling but also important, as they carried the wisdom and traditions of our ancient Puranas and Itihasas, passed down through generations.

And so, as the day turned into night, Sahasra's imagination soared with anticipation for the adventures that awaited her in the world of Stories of Ramayana and the enchanting tales of little Krishna. For in those stories, she would find heroes, villains, lessons of bravery, love, and wisdom—all wrapped in playful language, just perfect for kids like her!

That night, as Sahasra nestled beside me, she gently rubbed my cheek with her little hand and asked, Grandpa, tell me a story!"

I chuckled at her eagerness and replied, "Alright, my dear, which story shall I share? The one about the brave prince who saves the princess or the enchanting adventures of Little Krishna?"

Sahasra thought for a moment, her eyes gleaming with excitement, "Tell me the prince's story! I want to know how the brave prince saves the princess."

And so, I began the tale of Lord Rama's epic journey, his battles with the fearsome demon king Ravana, and how he valiantly rescued his beloved princess, Sita. Sahasra listened with rapt attention, her imagination whisked away to a world of heroes and adventures.

As I narrated the story, memories of my own childhood flooded back. I reminisced about the nights when my dear grandmother Kamalamma garu would lull me to sleep with captivating tales from the Ramayana and Bhagavata. I also recalled my grandfather Durgaraju Lakshminarayana garu, who made it a ritual to recite the Ramayana daily. The vision of the resplendent Ramalaya temple and the soul-stirring Rama bhajans echoed in my mind like a cherished flashback.

In that moment, I realized how fortunate we were to have been surrounded by the wisdom of our ancestors. I felt a tinge of regret that, with the changes in our city life and the passing of my grandparents and parents, our children couldn't experience the same abundance of legendary stories and tales.

But as I looked at Sahasra, eager to absorb every word of the story, a determination stirred within me. I knew I had to bridge that gap and pass on the legacy to the next generation. Our children deserved to know and cherish these timeless tales, just like we did.

And so, with renewed resolve, I decided that I would share the Ramayana and other cherished legends with Sahasra and her friends. Our little ones should never miss the joy and wisdom these stories carry, and I would do my part to ensure that our heritage lived on.

As I continued to narrate the epic saga of Lord Rama, I knew that this was just the beginning of a beautiful journey of storytelling and bonding with my granddaughter, Sahasra, and the coming generations. Our hearts would forever be intertwined with the magic of Katha Ramayana, just like the generations before us, passing on the torch of wisdom, love, and culture for all the children to come.

Short Story:- Balakanda - Sri Ramayana

Once upon a time in the magnificent city of Ayodhya, there lived a wise and kind king named Dasharatha Maharaja. Despite his age, he was blessed with three devoted queens - Kausalya, Sumitra, and Kaikeyi. Together, they had four wonderful children: Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatraghna.

One eventful day, a revered sage named Vishvamitra arrived at the royal court and made a special request to Dasharatha. "Please send Rama and Lakshmana with me," he said, "They shall protect me from demons and assist in my sacred mission of bettering the universe."

Though hesitant to part with his beloved sons, Dasharatha sought counsel from the wise Guru Vashishtha, who assured him of the greater good that would come from this journey. Trusting in the words of the revered sage, Dasharatha agreed to send Rama and Lakshmana.

Rama and Lakshmana embarked on their adventure, accompanying Vishvamitra to his ashram. Along their way, they encountered the fierce monster Tataki, who threatened to swallow them. Fearless and brave, Rama swiftly defeated and killed Tataki, ensuring their safe passage.

Upon reaching the ashram, they found themselves amidst another perilous situation. A group of demons attacked during a sacred Yagna (worship), but Rama valiantly protected the ashram and defeated the demons. With strength and determination, he swiftly defeated Subahu, and with a powerful Astra, he vanquished Maricha, hitting him and sending him far away from the battlefield.

Having completed the Yagna, Vishvamitra led Rama and Lakshmana to the city of Mithila. Along the journey, they encountered the unfortunate Ahalya, who was estranged from her husband, Gautama. With Rama's compassion and wisdom, they reunited the couple, bringing joy and harmony to their lives.

 In the city of Mithila, an awe-inspiring Swayamvaram (a ceremony where a princess chooses her groom) was held. Rama showcased his extraordinary strength and skill by breaking Shiva's divine bow, winning the heart of the beautiful and virtuous princess, Sita Devi.

The joyous occasion also saw Rama's brothers finding their life partners - Lakshmana married Urmila, Bharata found his match in Mandavi, and Shatraghna married Shrutakirti.

 As time passed, everyone in Ayodhya found comfort and happiness. Rama, the embodiment of virtue and righteousness, continued to embrace his destiny with grace and courage, paving the way for the extraordinary adventures that lay ahead in the Ramayana.

 And so, the tale of Ramayana began, with Balakanda setting the stage for the epic journey of heroes, love, and valor - a timeless story that continues to captivate hearts and minds, inspiring generations to come.

I continued further into the Ayodhya Khanda, but my granddaughter Sahasra couldn't contain her curiosity.

"Wait, grandfather, wait!" she exclaimed.

 "What is it, dear?" I asked, amused by her inquisitiveness.

Sahasra had some questions, "How can Dasharatha, being old, have such young children? And if Rama and Lakshmana were small, why did Vishwamitra take them to face big demons? How did they defeat those powerful demons, being so young themselves?"

She had more questions, "What is Swayamvara? Why did Rama break Shiva's bow to marry Sita? And how did the other three brothers get married without breaking anything? If only Rama and Lakshmana went with Vishwamitra, how did Bharata and Shatraghna came to Mithila and get married?"

Sahasra wanted all the details and clarity, "Grandfather, please don't tell the story without explaining everything. I want to understand it clearly."

I smiled and reassured her, "Alright, my dear. Let's get a good night's sleep for now, and from tomorrow, I promise to tell you the whole story clearly with all the details."

But this little conversation made me realize that reading the Ramayana to tell Sahasra in its original form might be a bit overwhelming for her.

So, I decided. Firstly, I wanted to read the Ramayana again and narrate it to Sahasra in its exact form and sequence.

In my heart, I knew that sharing the Ramayana in its authentic form would be a meaningful experience for Sahasra. As she listened to the epic tale with all its nuances, she would immerse herself in the world of Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, and all the beloved characters that have captured the hearts of countless generations.

So, I began my journey once more through the pages of Sri Madandhra Valmiki Ramayanam (Mandaram), absorbing every detail and emotion as I read. The epic unfolded before my eyes, and with each chapter, I envisioned the excitement and wonder it would bring to Sahasra's innocent heart.

Once upon a time, in a world far, far away, where heroes and villains clashed in epic battles, there was a story waiting to be told - the legendary tale of Ramayana! No matter who picks up the quill to pen this epic saga, you can bet your last cookie that it'll be filled with a colorful cast of characters.

Now, let's talk about our dastardly villain - Ravana, the ultimate master of mischief and mayhem! This guy was so strong, he could probably arm-wrestle an elephant and win. He had a wicked plan to make good people cry and cause chaos all around. Watch out, he's got a thing for chasing after damsels in distress, and his ambition was to take over the entire world and keep it hush-hush. Just imagine, Bhallaladeva from Baahubali, Thanos from Avengers, and Adhira from KGF combined into one colossal baddie, and then multiply that by a gazillion - that's Ravana for you! Seriously, this dude could give nightmares to other villains! 

Now, let's shift gears and focus on our protagonist - the embodiment of all things virtuous and awesome. Wait, hold on a second! The protagonist we're talking about here is not the one shown in the movies, nope! The real hero of our story is none other than our beloved Lord Rama himself! The one and only hero we have is our Sri Rama! But guess what? His wife, Sita Devi, steals the spotlight as the true protagonist of this incredible tale. 

The Ramayana is the captivating story of their lives - their love, their struggles, and their unwavering dedication to righteousness. It's a tale that has inspired generations and continues to do so to this day. 

But before we dive into this mesmerizing narrative, let's take a moment to offer our prayers to Lord Ganapati, the remover of obstacles, and Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, for their blessings. And of course, let's seek the divine blessings of Sri Ramachandra himself. With their guidance and grace, we hope that this  Stories of Ramayana Sankalpa, lovingly started for my granddaughter, will flow seamlessly and without hindrance. 

So, get ready to embark on an extraordinary journey filled with heroics, valor, and undying love! The Ramayana awaits, and it's going to be one thrilling ride. Are you excited? Because I absolutely am! Let the enchanting adventure begin!

Introduction of Characters in Balakanda

Valmiki - The wise sage who authored the epic Sri Ramayana.

Narada - The son of Brahma, who narrated the Ramayana to Valmiki.

Brahma - The creator and the source of all creation according to Puranic legends, instructed    Valmiki to write Ramayana Kavya.

Sri Rama - The valiant 7th Avatar of Sri Maha Vishnu, who serves as the protagonist of the    epic. Dharmasvarupa - A man who is embodiment of dharma, behavior and showed the world how to live, while Ravana emerged as his adversary.

Sita Devi - Sri Mahalakshmi herself, who incarnated as Sita Devi to accompany Lord Vishnu in his Rama Avatara, and she takes the role of the heroine in the story.

Bharata - The son of Kaikeyi, born after Sri Rama.

Lakshmana - The son of Sumitra, born after Bharata, and a loyal companion who never left Sri Rama's side.

Shatraghna - The 4th son of Dasharatha, also the son of Sumitra and twin brother of Lakshmana. He was always by Bharata's side.

Dasharatha - The father of Sri Rama and the illustrious King of Ayodhya.

Kausalya - The loving mother of Sri Rama.

Sumitra - The caring mother of Lakshmana and Shatraghnu.

Kaikeyi - The mother of Bharata.

Vasistha - The esteemed Guru and advisor to the king of Ayodhya.

Vishwamitra - The great sage who bestowed divine weapons upon Rama, Lakshman and played a crucial role in their marriage.

Tataki - A fearsome demoness who was defeated by Rama and lakshmana.

Marichudu - A Rakshasa and the son of Tataka.

Subaha - Another formidable demon and the son of Tataka.

Gautama - A revered sage and the husband of Ahalya.

Ahalya - Gautama's virtuous wife.

Janaka - The benevolent King of Mithilanagara and the father of Sita Devi and Urmila.

Kusadhwaja - Janaka's younger brother and the father of Mandavi and Shrutakirti.

Urmila - The other daughter of Janaka and the devoted wife of Lakshmana.

Mandavi - The daughter of Kushadhwaja.

Shrutakirti - Another daughter of Kusadhwaja.

Satananda - The priest of Janaka Maharaja and the son of Gautama.

Parasurama - The powerful sixth incarnation of Mahavishnu and the son of sage Jamadagni.