1.

Raavan was an excellent player of Veena

Raavan was the king of all demons. As a child he was feared by all the people because of his ten heads. He was
a firm believer of Lord Shiva. Its a known thing that Ravana was also a very good scholar and studied the
Vedas, but the reason of having the instrument veena as a symbol in his flag is that he was also an excellent
player of veena. Though much of consideration was not given to this art in him, he liked playing this
instrument.
2. Lakshman also known as Gudakesh

It is believed that Lakshman did not sleep for the entire period of the exile of 14 years in order to protect his
brother and sister- in-law. Because of this he is called Gudakesh. When the goddess of sleep appeared before
him at the first night of the their exile to the forests and when Rama and Sita were asleep, Lakshman requested
the goddess to give him no sleep for the entire 14 years, so that he can be awake to protect his beloved brother
and Sita.

The goddess was impressed by this and granted the boon on a condition that someone else has to bear his sleep.
On Lakshman request the goddess visited his wife Urmila, sister of Sita. Urmila agreed to share her husband
loss of sleep, and thus slept for entire 14 years. Hence the reason she is not much in the story, but a strong
reason for helping Laksman to kill Ravana son Meghnad.
3.
Laksman Rekha episode not in Valmiki Ramayana
One of the most intriguing episodes of the entire Ramayana story is the Lakshman Rekha, in which Lakshman
draws a line circled their hut in the forest. When Sita requests to catch the deer, Rama follows it and tries to
kill when it takes the form of a demon Maricha. At the time of dying the Rakshasa cries out for Lakshmana
and Sita in the voice of Rama. So Sita urges Lakshmana to go and help his brother as he might be in some
trouble.
Though Lakshmana was reluctant at first to leave her alone in the forests, he agrees to go as he should obey
Sitas requests and help his brother if he is indeed in trouble. Hence to protect her he draws a line around the
hut, through which no one can enter inside, if so anyone enters, they burn to ashes and requests Sita not to step
out of it until his and Rama return. The unknown fact of this episode is that, the story is not a part of either
Valmikis version of Ramayan or Ramacharitamanas. But in the Lanka Kanda version of Ramacharitmanas,
its been mentioned by Mandodari wife of Ravana, when he boasts of his strength and his wife points out to him
that he could not even cross the line drawn by Lakshmana.
4.
Forest where Rama, Sita and Lakshmana stayed
We all know that the epic story of Ramayana is all about the Rama and Sita along with Lakshmana going to
the forest for 14 years and defeating the king of demons Ravana and their return back to the kingdom. Much
consideration was given that they spent many years in the forest but only a few know which was the forest or
its name. Dandakaranya is believed to be the forest in which Rama, Sita and Lakshmana spent their exile
years. It covers about 35,600 square miles of land which includes parts of Chattisgarh, Orissa, Maharashtra
and Andhapradesh. The forest is believed to be a home of most fearful demons then; hence its called
Dankaranya meaning Dandakas- punished and aranya- forest.

5.
Kumbhakarn slept because of Indra being jealous
Yet another interesting story of Ramayana is the mighty sleeper Kumbakarn. Kumbakarn, brother of Raavan
is one of the most monstrous size and one who had a hunger as no one other could ever have. Though he was a
rakshasas, he was believed to be a good character. Its known that Kumbakarn slept for six months
continuously and gets up only for a day to eat again.
But the truth to this is he was not like that always. While doing a yagna, Brahma appeared before him and was
about to grant a boon. Indra was jealous of this and was afraid, hence he requested Goddess Saraswati to hold
his tongue and Kumbakarn asked for Nidrasana instead of Indrasana. Most of us do not know this part of the
story and when Kumbakarn was against to fight Rama, and advised Raavan as its wrong. Though he fought, to
obey his brother and was killed in the battle by Rama.
6.
Raavan was killed by Rama only because of Vibhisan
The fight between Rama and Raavan ended by Rama killing Raavan, but it couldnt have happened if not for
Vibhisan support. When Raavan discussed about his war against Rama, all his ministers advised him to fight,
while his younger brother Vibhisan advised Raavan to set Sita free and ask for forgiveness from Rama. But
Vibhisan was sent away from the kingdom as Raavan was angry on him for taking sides of Rama. So Vibhisana
helped Rama at the time of war, and Raavan made Rama believe with illusions that Sita is dead.
When Rama fell fainted, it is Vibhisan who makes Rama understand the power of black magic of Raavan and
how he can be killed with the power of his ten heads and his boon of immortal of nectar drink. If not for
Vibhisan, the war could have ended differently. So Rama was able to defeat Raavan with the help of Vibhisan,
hence Rama makes him the king of Lanka, after the death of Raavan.
7.
NASA links the story of Ramayana and Adams Bridge
In the final stages of the story Rama and Lakshmana with the help of the army of all the monkeys (Gods in the
form of monkeys) constructed a bridge in connection to Lanka where his beloved wife Sita was abducted and
held. This story is believed to happen 1, 750, 000 years ago. NASA discovered one of the man-made ancient
bridge in the Palk Strait connecting Sri Lanka and India, and according to researchers and archaeologists it
dated back to the similar period as mentioned in the epic story of Ramayana. At present the pictures taken by
the NASAs space images, it is called as the Adams Bridge, which is made up of chains of shoals c.18 mi (30
km) long. Though most might think that the story can be a work of some olden times writer, this news from
NASA did give a thought that there was a bridge constructed and it seems as real as the entire epic of
Ramayana seems real too.
8.
Lord Shiva's bow in Sita Swayamvar is called as Pinaka
It is Lord Shivas bow used in the Swayamvar to wed Sita, all the prince from different places and dynasties
are suppose to lift the bow and tie the string. The bow is a divine one and is bestowed with special powers.
Hence all fail. Sita as a young child had lifted this bow and hence the king sets out to look for an equal partner
to her. Rama is the only prince who lifts the bow and in the pursuit of tying its string breaks it. This is a very
well-known story of the beginning of Ramayana and how Rama and Sita were wedded, but only few know the
name of this bow. Every bow of these brothers has a name as they are with special powers blessed by God, and
Lord Shivas bow is called as the Pinaka, when Lord is an Archer.
9.
Raavan knew he would be killed
According to the entire story, Raavan was pictured as a cruel, most monstrous demon, which disrespected all
the holy people. When he heard about Ramas attack because of kidnapping Sita, his brother advised him to
surrender. Being as adamant to his powers Raavan denied the fact that he will be killed, instead he stood his

ground to fight in order to get moksha/mukthi from Ramas hands and reach back to Lord Vishnu. He said if
Rama and Lakshmana are two normal humans, than I will carry Sita and win over the humans, but if they are
Gods, then I will die in their hands with arrows and will attain Moksha.
10.
Rama leaves Earth in Sarayu River
It is believed that Rama left the earth by taking the jala samadhi in the Sarayu River, when Sita is taken back
by her mother earth Bhoodevi. When Sita could not bear yet another test to her innocence, while living in the
forest, she requests the Goddess of earth to take her back. The Goddess parts the earth into two and Sita is
taken back, while her son Kush tries to hold his mother. Later Kush being disappointed with losing his mother
also follows her. Rama feels it unbearable to lose his beloved wife he ends his human life on the earth and
reaches Lord Vishnu in Sarayu River.

#1. King Dashratha had one more child. And heres how Ram and his brothers were born.
Before Ram and his brothers were born, King Dashratha and his first wife Kaushalya had a daughter named
Shanta. Kaushalyas elder sister Vershini and her husband Raja Rompad (who was a great friend of Raja
Dashratha as they studied in same Ashram) had no offspring. Once, when Vershini was in Ayodhya, she joked
around asking for a child, to which Dashratha promised her she can adopt his daughter, Shanta. As the
promise of Raghukul had to be kept, Shanta was adopted by Raja Rompad, the king of Angdesh.
One fine day, when Shanta was grown up to be an adult and was now a very beautiful woman, she was in a
conversation with Raja Rompad. At this time, a Brahmin came to visit King Rompad requesting help for
cultivation during the monsoon. Busy in the conversation with his adopted daughter Shanta, Raja Rompad
ignored the Brahmin who left the kingdom. Lord Indra, the God of rains, was offended because a Brahmin
devotee of his was insulted. Lord Indra decided to punish Rompad and hence, it did not rain in the coming
monsoon.
To get free from this curse, Raja Rompad called a Rishi, Rishi Rishyasringa, to perform a Yagna asking the
Lords for rains, which succeeded. To pay honour to the Rishi, King Dashratha and King Rompad decided to
marry-off Shanta to Rishyasringa.
As Dahsratha had no heir yet, he then called Rishyasringa to perform a Yagna for him too, after which the God
of Fire gave a dessert to Dashratha for his wives to consume, eating which: Ram and his brothers were born.
#2. The interesting story behind the 10 heads of Ravan: who in fact was an extraordinary Veena Player and a
staunch devotee of Lord Shiva.
Considered the antagonist of the epic, Ravan, factually, was a great follower of Shiva, an inordinate scholar, an
excellent ruler and a maestro of Veena. Attaining education, Ravan underwent a colossal penance to please
Lord Shiva on the banks of river Narmada. Willing to please the Lord, Ravan axed his head. Each time that
happened, the head grew back, which continued 10 times, pleasing Shiva. Shiva thus granted 10 heads to
Ravan that he sacrificed. These 10 heads indicate the six shastras and the four vedas that Ravan mastered.
After winning over Lanka, Ravan again went to meet Shiva in Kailash, where he was denied entry by NandiShivas gatekeeper. Annoyed, Ravan teased him and hence a furious Nandi cursed him that his Lanka would
be destroyed by a monkey! To prove his devotedness to Shiva, Ravan tried to lift Kailash. Angry Shiva placed a
toe on the hill and Ravans hand crushed beneath it, so painfully that his cry shook the world.
To please Shiva now, Ravan plucked out his nerves and played Shivas praise to which Shiva released him and
gifted him a sword and gave him the name Ravan, which means the one with terrifying roar.