Ramayana

Front 1

Vedas

Back 1

• Not of human composition, “sruti” that which is heard. Rishis are believed to have heard these eternal vibrations and wrote them down.
• Composed between 1500-600 BCE
• 4 Vedas:
o Rg-Veda – Hymns
o Sama-Veda – Songs
o Yajur-Veda – Rituals
o Atharva-Veda – includes material considered non-Aryan. Incantations and remedies to ward off sickness and evil spirits.

Front 2

Purana

Back 2

• Composed by Vyasa at the end of Dvapara Yuga.
• Stories about different gods.

Front 3

Dharma

Back 3

• good and righteous conduct in performing your life's roles
• performing your role correctly given a certain situation

Front 4

Rishi

Back 4

• A Hindu saint or sage.
• In the Vedas, the word denotes a singer of sacred hymns, an inspired poet or sage, or any person who alone or with others invokes the deities in rhythmical speech or song of a sacred character. In particular, it refers to the authors of the hymns of the Rigveda.

Front 5

Rakshasa

Back 5

• A demon that can shape-shift
• According to the Ramayana Rakshasas were created from Brahma's foot
• Rakshasas were man-eaters
• A demon or unrighteous spirit in Hindu mythology