Prasnothara Ramayana

Prasnothara  Ramayana

By

P.R.Ramachander

(I got this idea   from reading   a series of similar  question and answers   about Ramayana  in Malayalam. I feel this would help us to teach Ramayana in the modern way. To the audience we can ask questions from one onwards. Some one would answer, if not we can always help them. WE can also encourage  audience to ask sub questions. In this way of learning Ramayana  there would  be audience  participation.

  We can also    use this to conduct quiz programme   on Ramayana  -a modern method of poularising it )

1.Who  wrote  Ramayana?   Sage  VAlmiki

2.What  does Valmika  mean?  Ant hill

3.In Which Yuga   did Ramayana take place  ?  Treta  yuga

4.Who told  the  story of Ramayana  to Valmiki?  Sage  Narada

5.Who advises  Valmiki to write    Ramayana ? Lord Brahma

6. Did Valmiki   write  it? No he taught  it to Lava  And Kusa

7.How many verses  are there   in Valmiki Ramayana? 24000

8.Which  incident  made  Valmiki sad ?  Killing  of a Male bird by  a hunter

9,What is the first  verse  composed by Valmiki?

Maa Nishada Pratistham Tvamagamahsāsvati Samaa

Yat Kraunchamithunaadekam Avadhi Kaamamohitam

(Oh hunter , since  You have killed a Krouncha from the pair , when they were infatuated with love  , for that reason you would be denied  a pleasant life for a long time to come. )

10.How  many chapters(Khandams)   are there  in Ramayana?  Six

11.What are the chapters of Ramayana? Bala Khandam,.Ayodjya Khandam, Aranya Kandam,  

                                                       Kishkinda  Kandam,  Sundara  Khandam   and Yudha  Khandam

12.Who took incarnation as   Rama  and Sita?  Lord Vishnu   and Goddess  Lakshmi

13. In which kingdom was   Rama  born?  Kosala

14. In which city   Rama  was born? Ayodhya

15.Which was the river flowing   through Kosala? Sarayu

16. Which clan did Rama  belong?  Clan of the sun (Surya vamsa)

17.Who was  Sumanthra? He was the minister and Charioteer  of Dasaratha

18,What does  Sumanthra  mean? He who gives good advice

19.When Ravana  visited  Ayodhya   who was its king?Anaranya

20. Who was ruling  the country  of Anga?  King Roma Padha

21.Who was   santha?  SAntha was daughter of Dasaratha  and adopted   daughter of Romapada

22.When did Anga   get rain?  When the feet of Rishya Sringa   touched Anga

23. Who was  Santha’s  husband  ?  Sage  Rishya   Sringa

24.Who were  the three  chief queens  of Dasaratha?  Kausalya, Kaikeyi  , Sumithra

25.What Yaga   did  Dasaratha  conduct ? He conducted  Aswamedha  sacrifice

26. Who presided   over that ? Sage Rishya   Sringa

27,What yaga did the sage Advice him for getting sons?  Puthra kameshti

28.Which God came out of the fire   with Payasa ?  Agni

29.First to which queens Dasaratha  gave the Payasa ? Kausalya   and Kaikeyi

30.Who gave Payasa  to sumithra?  Kausalya   and Kaikeyi  gave  Payasa  to Sumithra

31.Which star was Rama  born? He was  born in Punar Vasu star

32.What does  Saumithri mean?  Son of Sumithra

33.Bhartha  was whose  incarnation?  Conch

34.Lakshmana  was whose incarnation ?  Adhi Sesha

35.SAthrugna   was whose  incarnation ? Sudarsana

36. What does the name  Rama mean? He who attracts

37.Who was  the Guru of Rama?  Vasishta

38.Why was king Kausika   called  Sage  Viswamithra? Because  he gave  Gayathri  Manthra  to the

                                                                                                World

39.Which Rakshasas   were   troubling Viswamithra? Thadaja, Mareecha   and Subahu

40,.What   Manthras   did  Viswamithra  teach  Rama and Lakshmana ? Bala   And Athibala

41.What was the use oF Bala  and athibala  Manthras? Not to get sleep   and hunger

42 Who was  the first person killed  by Rama?  Thadaka

43,Who was king of Videha ? Janaka

44,whar was the name of  the bow of Janaka ? Shiva Dhanus (Tryambaka)

35.Which laduy was cursed to become a stone? Ahalya

36.Who was Sadananda ? SAdananda   was Ahalya’s son  who became  minister to Janaka

37 What is Sitham? Plough channel

38.Name of Laakshmana’s wife  ? Urmila

39.Name of Bharatha’s wife ? Sruthakeerthi

40,Who prevented Rama  going back to ayodhya  after marriage? Parasurama

41. Who was  Mandhara? She was a servant of Kaikeyi given by her father

42.What were  the 2 boons asked by Kaikeyi?Bharatha  should be made king and Rama   should go to forest for 14 years

43.What word was  given by dasaratha  to Kaikeyi’s father?He would make her son as  the next king

44.Who cursed Dasaratha  that he should part with his son? A vaisya sage in the forest

45.Who gave wooden hide to Rama  to wear ?Kaikeyi

46.Did Sita  also wear  wodden hide?No

47.Who drove Rama to the  forest ?Sumanthra

48.who  heled them cross  river  Ganges? Guha

49.Who was the first  saint met by Rama  and Sita in forest ?  Bharadwaja

50.In which place  they started staying ?Chithra  Kuta

51,Which river did they cross  to reach Chithra  Kuta? Kalindi

52.Who informed  Rama of his father’s death  ? Vasishta

53.Who ruled Ayodhya  when Rama  was in forest? His slippers

54.Who was  Ravana’s mother? Kaikasi

55,who was  father  of Kaikasi? Malyavan

56.Who was  Ravana’s father? Visravas

57.How was  Visravas  related  o God Brahma? He was grandson of Brhama

58.Who was  the half brother of Ravana?Khubera

59.Whiy Ravana  cannot be killed by non humans?By boon of Brahma

60.Who was   the wife of Ravana, who gave her to him?Mandodhari  given by Parvathi

61.Who was Mandodhari’s father? Maya, the architect of asuras

62.Who cursed Ravana  that his death would be due to a lady? Vedavathi

63.Ravana’s grand father  and Rama;s guru were  ib one group , which one? Saptha  rishis

64.Who curses that  city of Lanka would be destroyed by Monkeys? Nandi

65How many people can ride  in Pushpaka Vimana?Any number, it can expand as per need

66.Who tied Ravana  by his tail? King Bali

67.Who gave  Sita ornaments in the forest? Anasuya

68.Rama killed which asura  in Danaka  forest ?Viradha

69.Who gave KOdanda bow and magical quiver  to Rama? Sage Agasthya

70.Which was the second place  where  Rama  and Sita lived? Pancha vati

71.Which friend of Dasaratha  was living nearby? Bird Jatayu who was a hawk

72.When Ravana prevented flow of a river, which king defeated him? Kartha  Veeryarjuna

73.Who was the golden deer? Marreecha, uncle of Ravana

74. Tell names of two sons of Ramava? Indrajith,Akshaya  kumara

75. In form did Ravanna  come to abduct Sita? As a Brahmin Sanyasi

76.What did Marrecha shout while dying? Hey Lakshmana

77.What is the protective line left by Lakshmana   to protect Sita? Lakshmana  Rekha

78.Who fought with Ravana to save Sita? Jatayu

79.Where did Sita drop her ornaments?  Kishkinda

80.Where was Sita kept in prison? Asoka Vana

81.Which  rakshasa  with only head  was killed by  Rama?Kabandha

82.What special fruit  SAbari gave to Rama?  Her tasted fruit

83.Who told Rama  that Sita was taken to Lanka? SAbari

84. Which is the mountain where Bali cannot  climb? Rishyamukha

85.Which saint cursed Bali  and made him not enter Rishya Muka?  Sage Mathanga

86.Which monkey first met Rama? Hanuman

87.What did Rama promise  Sugreeva? That he will kill Bali

88.What did Sugreeva promise Rama? He will search  for Sita and help to recover her

89.What is special power of Bali? Half the strength of his enemy  would come to him

90.From where  did Rama kill Bali? FRom hiding

91.Who was the wife of Bali? Tara

92. Who is son of Bali? Angadha

93.Who consecrated  Sugreeva as king? Lakshmana

94.Who was father  in law of Ravana ? Maya

95.Who explained the way to different directions? Sugreeva

96.Who was the leader  to southern side ?Angadha

97.Who was Sambathi? Elder brother of Jatayu

98.Who was Jambhavan? He was a bear and son of Brahma

99.Who hit baby Hanuman with Vajrayudha ?  Indra

100.who was the mother  of Hanuman? Anjana

101.Who encouraged Hanuman? Jambhavan

102.Which mountain    rose from middle of sea? Mainaka

103.Who was sent by  devas to test Hanuman? Surasa

104.Which Raksgasi dragged   the shadow  of Hanuman?Simhika

105.On   which mountain is Lanka  located? TRikuta

106.At what time  did Hanuman reacj Lanka?  Dusk

107.Who is Lankini or Lanka  Lakshmi? Watch women of Lanka

109.When Brahma’s curse was re,oved from Lankini?When Hanuman hit her

110.Who is youngest son of Ravana? Akshaya  Kumara

111. Who killed  Akshaya  Kumara? Hanuman

112.Who told Ravana  that killing Hanuman is wrong? Vibheeshana

113.Who ordered to lit Hanuman’s tail? Ravana

114.Who was guard of Asoka Vana? Dadhi Mukha

115.When did Rama   start for war? Hastham star

116. Who was the commander of monkey army?Neela

117.Whom did Rama   entrust to superwise the army?  Lakshmana    amd Angadha

118.Who told Ravana that Rama is Vishnu  himself?  Kumbhakarna

119,Who told Ravana   to release Sita and beg for Rama’s pardon?  Vibheeshana

120.Who was chief minister of Ravana  ?Prahastha

121.Why did Vibheeshana  leave Ravana? He did  not agree to his advise

122.Refusing protection to one who surrenders  is equal to what sin? Brahma  Hathya

123.Who consecrated  Vibheeshana as king of Lanka ? Rama

124.What did Sukha the spy say to Sugreeva?  To leave Rama and join with Ravana

125.What is the name of Rama’s bow?  Kodhanda

126.Who was entrusted   to build bridge across the sea? Nala

127.How many days it took to complete  the Bridge? five and half days

128.Which Rakshasi had pity with Sita  in Asoka vana?  Trijata

129.Who jumped towards Ravana   when he came to see Rama’s army? Sugreeva

130.Who was   the emissary sent by Rama to Ravana? Angadha

131.What did Soorpanakha advice Rama?   To give back Sita

132.What happened during   first day war with Ravana  and Rama? Ravana   was defeated

133.What will happen if Kumbhakarna is woken up before six months slrrp? He will die

134.Who killed  Kumbhakarna  ? Rama

125.When Indrajit sent Nagastrhra and made Lakshmana fall, who saves him? Garuda

126.When Indrajit killed everybody by Brahmastra   which three  people were alive? Hanuman, Jambhavan    and Vibheeshana

127.Where did Jambhavan sent Hanuman to bring  Sanjivini to make them alive?  Himalayas

128.Who tried to prevent Hanuman on the way? Kala Nemi

129.Who gave warning to Hanuman about it ? Dhanyamala

130.Why did Hanuman bring  the mountain instead of drug? He could not recognize

131.What Yaga  Indrajit wanted to  perform to win in the war? Nikumbila

132.Who can only kill Indrajith?   His father in law

133.Who were the daughters of Adhi sesha? Wife of  Indrajith

134.What other qualitywas needed to kill indrajith?  He should not have eaten or slept for 14 years

135 . Who was Lakshmana?  Incarnation of Adhi Sesha

136.Did he take food or sleep for 14 years ? No

137.How was it possible? Due to Bala and Athibala  manthras taught by  Viswamithra

138.Who killed  Indrajith?  Lakshmana

139.Who killed Dhommraksha ?  Hanuman

140.Who killed Vajra Damshta ? Angadha

141.Who killed Kumba and Nikumba  ? sugreeva

142.Who sent Charriot to Rama  to fight with  Ravana? Indra

143.Why was Rama not able to slay  Ravana?  Every time  his head is cut a new  head will come

144.Why did Ravana   get this power? Because he swallowed   the pot of Nectar

145. Who  taught  Rama the manthra to kill Ravana? Agasthya

146.What manthra   was it?Adithya Hrudaya

147.By what Asthra did Rama kill Ravana?  Brahmasthra

148.Who conducted Coronation of  Vibheeshana?Lakshmana

149.Why did Rama  did not conduct?Rama cannot enter a city for 14 years

150 Why did  Rama ask Sita to enter fire?to avoid bad name

151.By what means did Rama travel back to Ayodhya?  By Puspaka  Vimana

152.What was   the first stop of this Vimana?  Kishkinda  to take family  members of monkeys

153.What was  the second stop of the Vimana?  Hermitage of Bhardwaja

154.Why did Rama   send Hanuman urgently to Nandi Grama? To prevent suicide  of Bharatha

155.On which star was Rama’s coronationconducted? Pushya/Poosam

156.  Which sage conducted the coronation? Sage Vasishta

                   I am stopping here   and not dealing with Uthara  Ramayana