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Ramayana Quiz


This series is more than a usual Ramayan Quiz. It is an attempt to understand some general aspects of the epic Ramayana.
  1. How many Kandas or Books are there in Ramayana?
  2. What is the title of the first Kanda?
  3. How many verses are there in Ramayana?
  4. In the first chapter of Ramayana, to which sage does Valmiki ask to name the best man on earth?
  5. To which lineage does Lord Rama belong?
  6. On which riverbank was Sage Valmiki standing when he saw a pair of birds and a hunter trying to kill it, which eventually led to writing of the epic Ramayana?
  7. Which bird was hunted down by the fowler in front of sage Valmiki?
  8. What are the first two words of the famous verse that Valmiki uttered on seeing the bird getting killed and which led to the composition of the Ramayana?
  9. Who among the Trimurti’s came to console Valmiki who was overwhelmed by the sorrow caused by the death of the bird?
  10. Did Sage Valmiki teach the Ramayana to Lav and Kush, the sons of Lord Ram and Sita?
  11. Is it true to say that the Ramayana we get to hear is the one actually recited by Lav and Kush to Lord Ram and the courtiers?

Answers 

How many Kandas or Books are there in Ramayana?

1) Six.

What is the title of the first Kanda or Book in Ramayana?

2) Bala Kanda

How many verses are there in Ramayana?

3) Ramayana contains 24,000 verses (slokas).

In the first chapter of Ramayana, to which sage does Valmiki ask to name the best man on earth?

4) Sage Narada. Sage Narada narrates the tale of Prince Ram and Valmiki later composes it into Ramayan.

To which lineage does Lord Rama belong?

5) Ikshváku

On which riverbank was Sage Valmiki standing when he saw a pair of birds?

6) River Tamasa, a tributary of River Jahnavai (Ganges).

Which bird was hunted down by the fowler in front of sage Valmiki?

7) Krouncha (heron). The hunter killed the male bird.

What are the first two words of the famous verse that Valmiki uttered on seeing the bird getting killed and which led to the composition of the Ramayana?

8) maa nishhaada

maa nishhaada pratiSThaamtva |
magamaH shaashvatiiH samaaH |
yat krau~Ncha mithunaat eka |
mavadhiiH kaama mohitam ||

Who among the Trimurti’s came to console Valmiki who was overwhelmed by the sorrow caused by the death of the bird?

9) Brahma.     

Did Sage Valmiki teach the Ramayana to Lav and Kush, the sons of Lord Ram and Sita?
           
10) Yes. The fourth chapter of Bala Kanda deals with it.

Is it true to say that the Ramayana we get to hear is the one actually recited by Lav and Kush to Lord Ram and the courtiers?


11) Yes. Valmiki Ramayan is written in such a way that in the fourth chapter of Bala Kanada, Lord Ram happens to hear Lav and Kush singing the Ramayana. He invites them to the court to recite it. And thus we get to hear the entire story of Ramayana.