If you are an avid reader of classics and epics, sage Valmiki’s Ramayana would most definitely be your go-to one. Written in approximately 200 BCE, according to the Asia Society, Ramayana is the classic which narrates Lord Rama’s exile away from home and his quest to save his wife Sita by defeating Ravana.
In general, Ramayana is famously accepted in Southeast Asia for its teachings that encapsulate lessons related to the importance of righteousness, the significance of Dharma, the strength of love, the triumph of good over evil and the ramifications of ego and arrogance in human nature.
Ramayana has been one of the most loved TV contents as well and this marks a high content consumption among the audience. Directed by Ramanand Sagar, it was first telecasted in 1987 and has been viewed by 650mn viewers as per data given by BBC.
The repeat telecast was aired on 20 different channels in 17 countries on all the five continents at different times.
Later, in the lockdown when Ramayana was on air again in 2020 after 33 years, it gathered an audience of 77mn on 16th April 2020 and broke several global records for single day viewership including that of Game of Thrones and Seinfeld.
The power within the core characters of Ramayana
Ramayana’s core lies in the innate qualities of Lord Rama. he is considered to be the most loyal and forgiving character in the Hindu epics, hence, is also named as ‘Satpurush’. His persona speaks volumes about the goodness that he has and the way he balances out his married life along with his duties as a son and as a king. Being a follower of dharma and truth, he was also referred to be ‘Satyadharmaparayana’.
Rama is believed to be the only incarnation of Lord Vishnu who was a normal human being with no supernatural powers but extraordinary beliefs of living life.
Rama’s brother Lakshmana is the ideal brother one can look up to. His intent of never leaving his brother’s side shows how selfless, sacrificing, dutiful, devotional, and dedicated one can become when it comes to family. Leaving his marital life at home, he sets off into exile to accompany Rama and Sita and tasks care of them all through the years.
It is even accepted that Lakshman had never taken a single bite without first offering it to his brother Rama. Hence, he is clearly the utmost figure of deep respect and devotion.
The dedication and loyalty of Lord Rama’s wife Devi Sita is the most looked up to in Hindu mythology, she stands as a symbol of grace, beauty, purity, and sacrifice. Not very vocal about her capabilities, she is considered to be the silent driving force behind Rama’s strength during the trials and tribulations they faced while in exile.
It is believed that Sita reflects all the socio-cultural aspects of life that an Indian woman should imbibe. Owing to her high wisdom and insights, Sita remains a symbol of women empowerment.
Untold Ramayana: Unravelling hidden chronicles
Ramayana has many stories beyond the quest and defeat that would make people be left in awe.
- One such story is that of the Rama-Lakshman duo. The bond that they shared was so strong that in order to take care of Rama and Sita during the exile, Lakshman had paid a visit to the goddess of sleep requesting her to grant him no sleep throughout the exile period. This showcases Lakshman’s quality of self-control and thereby, being a master of his own senses.
- Another lesser known yet very interesting story is about how the squirrel had joined the army in rescuing Sita. When Rama saw the dedication and interest the squirrel had, he took it in his palms and ran his finger on its back appreciating her hard work. This is how the squirrel is known to have stripes on its back.
- Ram Setu, famously known as the Adam’s Bridge is believed to be constructed by Lord Rama with the help of the “vanara sena” in order to rescue Sita from Sri Lanka. It is a part of many untold aspects and has become a mystery, often leaving people in a dilemma as to how a bridge over a sea could be made back then. As per the studies, the bridge is estimated to be 7000 years old which tally with the carbon dating of beaches near Dhanushkodi and Mannar island with the supposed date of Ramayana.
- The greatest untold side of Ramayana is the actual hidden fact beyond Ravana’s existence. The supreme antagonist, the great and invincible warrior of the epic Ramayana was born to sage Vishravan and Asuras’ mother Kaikashi who had disguised herself as a Devi in order to fulfil the desires of revenge. This is why Ravana is famously called half Asura and half Brahmin.
- On discussing a few unheard tales about Ravana, we cannot let go of the story of how Lanka came into the picture. As it is mostly assumed, Lanka wasn’t actually created by Ravana; rather it was built by two Daitya brothers who decorated the island with gold. But the island became the reason for a war between the Devs and Asuras. Years later, Kuber got ownership of the island through his father. Ravana, Kuber’s stepbrother, fought with him and won Lanka with the help of Asuras.
The uniqueness of the Show
Ramayana is the representation of various life lessons that reflect human behaviour at par. Headfone — an audio drama platform has reflected the importance of various unheard aspects from Ramayana. The audio drama named ‘Untold Ramayana’ is carried in such a way that it suits listeners from all age groups and communities, referring to the Hindu mythological elements.
The detailing of the stories and the language used is mythological yet easy to understand as the episodes present different situational conversations among the characters. The untouched parts of the regular Ramayana that nobody knows about makes the show stand apart from the rest.
Headfone’s endeavour aims to unite enthusiasts of the classics, allowing them to experience the essence of Indian mythology with a simple tap on their mobile device screens. In order to feel what Indian classics sound like, tune into the world of Ramayana on the Headfone app.
