South Asian C142 Final

Front 1

Angada

Back 1

Nephew of Sugriva, sent as a messenger to Ravana in order to give him the final warning before war

Front 2

Ahalya

Back 2

Wife of Sage Gautama, who committed adultery with Indra and was cursed to turn to stone as a result. Later became free as a result of Ram's touch

Front 3

Ayohdya

Back 3

Capital of Kosala, court of King Dasaratha. Birthplace of Lord Ram

Front 4

Bharata

Back 4

Son of Kaikeyi, given the throne by her manipulations. Refused to rule in place of Ram and placed Ram's sandals on the throne while he ruled as a regent.

Front 5

Dasaratha

Back 5

Father of Ram, Emperor of the Kosala Kingdom. Ideal monarch, destroyed by Kaikeyi's boon requests to install Bharata as king in place of Ram.

Front 6

Hanuman

Back 6

Son of the wind God Vayu, Vanara and servant of Lord Ram. Uses his ability to fly and adjust size to cross the ocean to Lanka and discover Sita's whereabouts and condition.

Front 7

Isvaku

Back 7

Dynastic king of Lord Rama's lineage, who sometimes gives his name to their lineage. Son of Manu

Front 8

Indrajit

Back 8

Son of Ravana, wielder of the divine Bramhastra weapon. Bound Ram and Lakshman by serpents during the war; ultimately killed by Lakshman as he (Indrajit) attempted to perform a sacrifice that would ensure his invincibility

Front 9

Jambavan

Back 9

Venerable old monkey who helps Lord Ram find his wife Sita. Helps Hanuman realize his immense capabilities and encourages him to fly across the ocean to search for Sita in Lanka.

Front 10

Janaka

Back 10

Saintly King and father of Sita. Proposed the ultimate test of stringing Shiva's bow to find Sita's suitor.

Front 11

Jatayus

Back 11

Demi-god with form of a vulture, attempted to save Sita as Ravana carried her off. Found with his wing cut off, by Ram and Lakshman, and instructs them that Ravana has taken Sita south.

Front 12

Kabandha

Back 12

Monstrous Rakshasa destroyed by Ram. Before being killed, asks Ram to burn his body. Afterwards, he comes out of the fire in his true form, a Gandharva, and counsels Ram in the war against Ravana.

Front 13

Kaikeyi

Back 13

Youngest of Dasaratha's three wives, mother of Bharata. Given two boons by Dasaratha and uses them to have Ram exiled and her son installed as King

Front 14

Karunarasa

Back 14

Pity/compassion/sorrow, the main emotive mood of the Ramayana

Front 15

Kausalya

Back 15

Eldest of the three queens and mother of Lord Ram. Destroyed by Ram's exile and wishes to accompany him to the forest. Ram instructs her to remain with his father, for it is the foremost duty of a wife to care for her husband.

Front 16

Kishkindha

Back 16

Capital of the vanara kingdom. Ruled by Vali who had usurped it from Sugriva, and is given back to Sugriva after he forms an alliance with Ram.

Front 17

Kosala

Back 17

Ancient empire which Dasaratha rules from his capital, Ayodhya. Kingdom of the Raghuvamsa dynasty of rulers.

Front 18

Kumbhakarna

Back 18

Brother of Ravana, cursed to sleep for six months at a time. Forcefully awaken by Ravana to fight in the war.

Front 19

Kusa

Back 19

One of the twin sons of Lord Rama and Sita, disciple of Valmiki

Front 20

Lanka

Back 20

The island kingdom of Ravana where Sita was being held, reached as a result of the great efforts of the Vanaras to build a bridge.

Front 21

Lakshman

Back 21

Twin brother of Shatrughuna, and closest companion of Rama. One of the three to accompany him into exile and a great hero of the epic himself, killing many formidable enemies including Ravana's powerful son Indrajit.

Front 22

Lava

Back 22

One of the twin sons of Lord Rama and Sita, disciple of Valmiki

Front 23

Marica

Back 23

After having his mother (a rakshasha) killed by Ram, Marica attacks Ram but is thrown far far away into the sea by one of Ram’s divine weapons. Later, he is forcefully enlisted by Ravana to change shape into a deer and attract Sita, in line with his plan to capture her

Front 24

Mandodari

Back 24

Wife of Ravana, chief among the others and mother of Indrajit

Front 25

Narada

Back 25

Celestial bard. Tells story of Rama to Valmiki

Front 26

Nisada

Back 26

Forest tribe, Valmiki sees a Nisada hunter kill a male crane making love to its mate after having just heard the story of the Ramayana from Narada, and anguished at the pain of the crane, Valmiki curses the Nisada and as he speaks, he speaks poetry from his grief…thus poetry is born

Front 27

Ravana

Back 27

Rakshasa king of Lanka who kidnaps Sita. Granted a boon from Lord Brahma after thousands of years of tapasya. Ultimately defeated by Ram

Front 28

Rsyasrnga

Back 28

Virtuous celebate sage who is born with the horns of a deer, and is summoned to perform the horse sacrifice

Front 29

Sampati

Back 29

Brother of Jatayus, who used to compete with one another in seeing who could fly higher, helps Ram

Front 30

Sugriva

Back 30

Banished from his kingdom after quarreling with his brother Vali who ousts him and steals his wife. Allies with Ram and defeats Vali to regain his kingdom.

Front 31

Sumitra

Back 31

Second wife of Dasaratha, mother of Lakshmana and Shatrughna

Front 32

Shabadi

Back 32

Lower caste woman who invites Ram to her ashrama and feeds him only the sweetest fruits; example of Ram's compassion to even his lowest devotees.

Front 33

Sambukha

Back 33

Sudra who is performing penance, and therefore violating his dharma. Decapitated by Ram

Front 34

Satrughna

Back 34

Twin brother of Lakshmana, son of Sumitra, and youngest of the sons of Dasaratha, closest with Bharata, kills Lavanasura

Front 35

Sloka

Back 35

Specific meter of Sankrit used by Valmiki, has come to refer to any sanskrit verse and sometimes even poetry itself. Comes from word soka (grief)

Front 36

Soka

Back 36

Feeling of grief, felt by Valmiki when he saw the Nishada kill the mating crane, which led him to curse the hunter and recite poetry.

Front 37

Surpanakha

Back 37

Ravana's sister who falls in love with Ram and is humiliated. Attacks Sita and is therefore attacked by Lakshman in his rage. Flees to Ravana and begs for his assistance for revenge.

Front 38

Tataka

Back 38

First of the rakshasi’s slayed by Ram when he is only 15 years old, presents moral dilemma to him because she is a female but ultimately he must kill her

Front 39

Trijata

Back 39

One of the friendly rakshasa women who was sympathetic to Sita

Front 40

Valmiki

Back 40

The composer of the Ramayana, gives shelter to Sita after her banishment from Ayodhya

Front 41

Vibhisana

Back 41

Brother of Ravana who was of noble character, instructed Ravana to release Sita but when Ravana refused he defected to Rama’s side, and was coronated as the king of Lanka upon Ravana’s defeat

Front 42

Viradha

Back 42

Horrible rakshasa who attempted to seize Sita in the forest, and who is ultimately buried alive by Ram and Lakshman.

Front 43

Visvamitra

Back 43

Great sage who comes to Ayodhya asking for Ram and Lakshman’s help in killing some demons who were disturbing him. Teaches Ram divine weapons and knowledge in return for his assistance

Front 44

Valin

Back 44

Elder brother of Sugriva who had taken the kingdom from Sugriva after the two had quarreled, and is killed by Ram once Ram allies with Sugriva