In Ramayan’s 14 years of exile, why didn't Ram (and team) go north of Sapt Sindhu? Why did they go south of Ayodhya?

 The Supreme Rama who is dharma personified, did as he was instructed by Mata Kaikeyi.

He started out to dwell in the dandakaranya, literal meaning being “Forest of Punishment”, so called because it is a fearsome unsafe jungle region teeming with rakshasas and wild animals, ever ready and waiting to kill people travelling through the route.

It may be noted that when Raghunatha returned, it was Yudhajita Sahodari who was the most excited, happy and relieved.

After all, she was the one who told and retold countless bedtime stories to the God of Gods.

The relationship between the son and his mother (for Rama, all three Mother Queens were his mother) remained the same, a relationship of great love and affection.

You could go on and on about Shri Rama, what say.

So that is the answer.

Who was Pulastya in Ramayana?

Rishi Pulastya

Pulastya was son of Brahma and a great Brahmarishi. He lived in a Hermitage of Trnabindu on the slopes of Mt.Meru. The daughter of Rajrishi Trnabindu was wife of Pulastya. She was a devoted and very loyal wife and she gave birth to Vishrava.

Pulastya was a highly learned man and had the knowledge of all Vedas. His son Vishrava was a man of learning and education. Vishrava had two wives, Devavarnini (daughter of Sage Bharadwaj) who have birth to Vaishravana (Kubera) and Ogre Princess Kaikesi who gave birth to Dashgriva, Kumbhkarna , Vibhishana and Surpnakha.

Who was Vedavati in Ramayana?

Vedvati was a daughter of a Brahmrishi named Kushadhwaja in Kritayuga (Satyuga). This Kusadhwaja was a son of Brihaspati.

Vedvati was very beautiful and her hand was sought by everyone in marriage but her father gave her hand to no one because only Lord Vishnu was acceptable to him as his son in law. Due to this a Daitya named Shambhu became enraged and he killed her father while he was asleep in night. Her mother also died due to depression and grief on his funeral pyre. Due to this, Vedvati accepted only Vishnu as her husband in her heart.

When once Ravana was wandering in a forest in Himalayan region, he saw a beautiful female ascetic with matted hair and wearing black antelope skin.

He enquired about her family and praised her beauty. She told her entire story and he told her to stop penance as she was beautiful, young and should enjoy life and remarked that penance was for old and ugly ladies. He proposed her to be his wife which she denied.

She rebuked him for his proposal and angry he caught her hair. She now totally enraged cut her hair with her hand which remarkably became like a sword.

She immediately lighted fire and said she no longer desired to live being insulted in such a manner. She warned him that she would return as his doom and will be responsible for his death.

She says she would appear as Ayonija (not born from a womb) and as daughter of a pious man. She then entered the fire.

Suddenly celestial flowers started raining from heaven and she appeared again on a lotus with fragrance of a lotus.

Ravana took her and showed her to the ministers, seeing her features, ministers said if she stayed in your house, she will be your death.

Ravana angry by this threw her into the sea. She reached the shore and she came when Janaka was doing ritual ploughing for his Yajna, out of mother Earth.

So, Vedvati was reborn as Sita with the sole purpose of destruction and death of Ravana.

Source- Canto XVII, Uttar Kand, Valmiki Ramayana

Who are the sons of Luv Kush in Ramayana?

Devi Champika

Kusha was married to Champika, daughter of Maharaja Bhurikirti in a Swayamvar. Bhurikirti had sent the invitation of Swayamvar to Shri Ram and he had taken his sons to the Swyamvar. Champika chose Kusha and they got married. Kusha got daughters from Champika.

Rishi Agastya told Shri Ram that Champika would never get sons and when Shri Ram will got to heaven (Vaikuntha), Kusha will get married to Kumudvati and Kumudvati would get a son named Atithi and he will be taking the lineage forward.

In the Swayamvara, Sumati, sister of Champika chose Lava as her husband.

Later, Lava also married Kanjanana, another princess.

Source- Ananda Ramayana

Mahadevi Kumudvati

Kusha while bathing in Sarayu river along with his wives lost his golden bracelet and he got angry. Suddenly Naga King Kumud along with his sister Kumudvati came from the river and he gave the bracelet and his sister's hand in marriage to Kusha. He gladly accepted and raised Kumudvati to the rank of Queen Consort. Later they had a son named Atithi who was jewel of both dynasties. Atithi married Princesses with his father's permission and later he was crowned as Prince Regent (Yuvaraj).

When Kusha died, Kumudvati followed him in death and Atithi became the next Raghukula King.

Source- Raghuvansh by Kalidas

What are some unknown stories about Luv and Kush from Ramayana?

Kusha and Lava were twin sons of Lord Ram and Mata Sita. When their mother was pregnant, she had to leave her seat as a queen and go, live in Great Sage Valmiki’s Ashram at banks of Tamasa river as people were not able to tolerate that their Queen was confined to pleasure garden of Ravana named Ashoka Vatika for one year.

She gave birth to Kusha and Lava in the Ashram and they were educated by Maharishi Valmiki. They became great warriors and singers at a very young age, proficient in all Vedas.

When Shri Ram was doing his Ashwamedha Yajna, Kusha and Lava were called as they were singing Ramayana on the streets. Shri Ram told Bharat that the story will not be a pleasant one to hear (due to his exile and Sita’s abduction).

While singing the epic, they revealed to the King that they were his sons. Shri Ram was overjoyed to see his sons and he called Maharishi and Mata Sita. Mata Sita preferred to go back to Mother Earth than returning as Queen. While others praised her, Lord Ram’s looked agitated and disturbed. His mind was never at peace. He kept ruling and always placed Sita’s golden idol everytime he did Yajnas. Surprisingly, Kusha and Lava’s reactions are not mentioned in the Valmiki Ramayana. Kusha was given Kushavati and Lava was given Sravasti to rule.

Source- Valmiki Ramayana

The story of Kusha and Lava fighting with their father and uncles is in Padma Purana and other versions of Ramayana. Original Valmiki Ramayana does not mention his sons fighting him and to be honest, Shri Ram of Valmiki Ramayana would never tolerate this rebellious nature. Shri Ram of Valmiki Ramayana is very different from Shri Ram of Ramcharitmans.

Kusha and Champika

While Shri Ram was ruling Ayodhya, he got invitation of Swayamvar of the daughters of Maharaja Bhurikirti (King of eastern lands) named Champika and Sumati. He took his sons along with his brothers and their sons to the Swayamvara.

Champika chose Kusha as her husband and both kings were overjoyed and the marriage happened with pomp and grandeur.

Kusha had daughters with Champika.

Source- Ananda Ramayana

Lava and Sumati

Then Sumati decided to marry Lava and she chose him as her husband and it gladdened their fathers.

Source- Ananda Ramayana

Kusha and Kumudvati

Long after Shri Ram had given up his body, one night goddess of Ayodhya visited Kusha and asked Kusha to rebuild Ayodhya to its former glory. Here is the only hint in any sources available of how Kusha felt on the death of her mother because he was reluctant to go there where his mother didn't get the life she deserved. But he eventually went there with his ministers and people and with absolute hard work , he rebuild the city.

One day, he went on a pleasure tour in Sarayu river with his wives and servants. They all looked happy playing in the water and he decided to join them. When he came out he saw one of his golden bracelets gifted to him by Shri Ram was missing. He got angry because it was memory of his father and it got lost. Suddenly Naga King Kumud along with his beautiful sister Kumudvati came out of water. She was timid, shy and held the bracelet in her hand.

Kumud said his sister got the bracelet and she was playing with it. He returns the bracelet and gives his sister’s hand in marriage to Kusha. Kusha gladly accepted her hand and they got married right there and devas blessed the union. Kumud got safety from Garuda, vahan of Vishnu due to this marriage alliance.

Kumudvati soon became his favourite queen and he raised her to the dignity of Queen Consort. They eventually got a son named Atithi who was jewel of both dynasties. Kusha made him Prince regent and arranged his marriage to princesses. When he left to fight a giant named Durjaya, he corwned him as Yuvraj officially. He killed the giant but got fatally injured. When he died, Kumudvati followed him in death. They reunited in heaven where he shared half of the throne with Indra and she with sachi.

Source- Raghuvansh by Kalidas

Kalidas always exaggerated his stories but he was remarkably faithful to the names of the people, so history wise, quite accurate even if he added mythical, supernatural and romantic elements.

What were the various curses given to Ravana in the Ramayana?

 Throughout his life, Ravana went on collecting curses in his kitty. But he was still not ready to improvise, considering the vanity he carried because of the boon he received from Brahma.

So here is the list of curses he received in Ramayana

Ravana is cursed by Nandi –

After defeating Kubera, Ravana proceeds towards the Kailash. He meet Nandishwar, who asks him to take his vehicle back as Lord Shiva was sporting on the hill. He tells Ravana that the mountain is inaccessible even to Suparnas, serpents, Yakshasa, gods, Gandharvas, and Rakshasas.

At this point, Ravana begins to mock Nandi for his appearance, whose head resembled a monkey and started to laugh loudly. This is when he got a curse:

“O Dashanana, since deriding me in my monkey form, you burst into a loud laughter resembling a stroke of lightning. Therefore, monkeys will be born to destroy your race. They will have claws and teeth for their weapons; they will have the speed of the mind; they will be frantic in the fight; they will be proud of their might; they will look like moving mountains, O cruel one! Gathering together, they will take away your excessive arrogance and pride of physical superiority along with that of your ministers and sons. O Rakshasas, I can kill you even now; but you shall not be killed inasmuch as you are already killed by your misdeeds.”

Canto 16, Uttara Kanda, Valmiki Ramayana

Ravana cursed by Vedavati

After passing through the Kailash mountain, Ravana, during his journey, sees Vedavati and instantly has his lust sparked for her. He asks her who she is and Vedavati responds, stating she is the daughter of Kushadhwaj and she is performing tapas to get Lord Vishnu as her husband.

Herein, Ravana tries to persuade her to choose him instead of Lord Vishnu. When Vedavati declines, he catches her by her hair. Humiliated, Vedavati transforms her hand into a sword and cuts off her hair touched by Ravana. She self-immolates herself and promises to be reborn to bring his downfall.

Insulted by you, O ignoble man, I no longer desire to live. I will, therefore, enter the fire before your very eyes, O ogre! As I have been insulted in this forest by you, O sinner, therefore, I will be born again for your destruction. It is not possible for a woman to kill a man of sinful resolve. And if I have pronounced a curse on you, my Tapas will be lost. If I have done anything meritorious or have given gifts or tended the sacred fire, I will surely appear as Ayonija, the pious daughter of a virtuous man.

She was reborn as Sita to Janaka for the destruction of Ravana.

Canto 17, Uttara Kanda, Valmiki Ramayana

Ravana receives a curse from Anaranya

Anaranya was the monarch of Ayodhya who was considered equal to Indra. Ravana reaches the place and asks the monarch to either give a fight or be defeated. Hereby, Anaranya agrees to fight with the ogre. He comes out of his kingdom gathering a battalion of ten thousand elephants, many foot soldiers and lakhs of horses. Ravana goes on to defeat the entire army.

Then Anaranya faces Ravana and defeats his ministers, namely – Maricha, Sarana, Shuka and Prahasta who runs off from the battlefield. The ogre’s arrow hit the king and he falls from his chariot.

The king curses Ravana during his death that since he insulted the Ikshwaku race, Shri Ram will be born into the race of Ikshwakus, who will take his life.

Since you have insulted the race of Ikshwaku, I shall pronounce a curse, O ogre! If a gift has ever been bestowed, an oblation has ever been poured into the sacred fire, and austerities have been practised well and if the people have been well protected by me, let my words prove to be true. Indeed in the race of high-souled Ikshwakus will be born a son of Dasharatha, Shri Ram by name; He will take your life.

Canto 19, Uttara Kanda, Valmiki Ramayana

Ravana gets cursed by the celestial nymph Rambha

Ravana sees Rambha and is instantly taken over by lust. He approaches Rambha and asks her to accept him. She declines, stating that she is his daughter-in-law as she is the lawful wife of Ravana’s half-brother - Kuber’s son Nalakuber. However, Ravana forces himself upon Rambha and violates her modesty.

When Nalakubera learns about this violation, he curses Ravana that if he ever touches any woman without her permission, his head will split into seven pieces.

Holding the water in his hand and sprinkling all his sense-organs with due ceremony, he pronounced on that occasion the following terrible curse on Ravana – “Since, O blessed lady, you stand violated by him perforce, unwilling as you were he shall no longer be able to approach any other young woman who is unwilling to accept him. When stricken with love, he will violate a woman who is unwilling to approach him; his head will actually be split into seven pieces at that very moment.

Canto 26, Uttara Kanda, Valmiki Ramayan

Ravana even confirmed this in Yuddha Kanda, where Mahaparshwa asks Ravana to force himself on Sita; he states that having violated celestial nymphs like Punjakasthala, Vedavati and Rambha, he was cursed by Brahma that his head will split into pieces if he touches any woman against her will.

Why can't Ravana be able to lift the foot of Angad if he had lifted Kailash so easily?

 To tell the truth Angad's foot had more weight than the whole of Kailaash and Bhagwan Shiv, AT THE MOMENT.

Think what would have happened if Angad's foot had been uplifted. What would had happened?

As Angad was a great devotee of Sri Raam if Angad's foot had been uplifted, The name of Shri Vishnu and the trust of the name would have been considered false. As Raam ji's name can never be false and Moksha giving as true as death, no one in the court of Raavan was able to lift Angad's foot. It wasn't just the weight of the foot it had the weight of all existence. No one can except Sri Raam himself can uplift the weight of the Brahmaanda itself.

As Raavan was a param devotee of Bhagwan Vishnu in reality if he would have uplifted Angad's foot it would have meant that Shri Ram's name is false.

And, if Raavan would have not uplifted it it would have been a black mark on devotion. It would have been an insult to Prabhu Bhakti, the basis of God and his devotees himself, the basis of the universe. Thus, Sri Raam didn't made Raavan even try to uplift Angad's foot. Angad himself retreated his foot and asked him to touch Sri Raam's foot not his.

What are the top ten warriors in Ramayana?

 1.) Lord Ram :

The complete manifestation of Vishnu who killed powerful demons like Tarakasura, Viradha, Kabandha, Maricha and Subhahu in Dandaka forest with support of Lakshmana. Killed Khara, Dhoosana along with 14000 rakshasas in Janasthana single handedly. He possessed the power to annihilate armes of any size single handedly. Defeated and killed the greatest threat to the gods Ravana and Kumbhkarana. Defeated Ravana thrice before killing him in the fourth attempt. Killed Vali with a single arrow.

2.) Lord Hanuman :

Like Rama he too had the power to obliterate armies of any scale. He was the incarnation of Shiva and was immune to all celestial weapons due to Brahma,’ s boon. He had the unique power to choose the time of his death. Defeated Ravana with a single punch. Broke the mighty spike of Kumbhkarana by which he defeated Indra and Yama and overpowered him heavily making him flee from the fight. Infalliable Brahmashirastra of Meghnad which killed 67 crore vanaras had no effect on Hanuman.

3.) Lakshmanji :

He was the complete incarnation of Sheshnag who is also regarded as a form of Vishnu. He killed demons like Indrajit and Atikaya in combat and aided Rama in killing thousands of demons capable of invoking deadly illusions. Overpowered Ravana twice in plain archery once even with his Brahma armour. He tormented Kumbhkarana with his arrows who was unscathed even by Indra,’ s Vajra. Could have killed Ravana, Indrajit and the entire rakshasa army using Brahmastra had Rama not stopped him.

4. Bhagwan Parshurama :

He was the partial incarnation of Vishnu who had bested Kartavirya Arjuna in combat. He was the direct pupil of Mahadev and recieved all celestial weapons from him including Trishul and weapons of Trinity i.e Pashupatastra, Vaishnavastra and Narayanastra. Wiped the kshatriyas clean of earth 21 times with his Vijaya bow. With his invincible axe, Parshurama eliminated literally 100 "Akṣauhiṇis" soldiers who were guarding Kartivirya Arjuna.

5. Kartavirya Arjuna :

He was the incarnation of Sudharsana chakra and disciple of Dattatreya. He remained an undefeated warrior before facing Parshurama. Kartavirya Arjuna had defeated Indra and the 33 gods riding on a single chariot. He had defeated Indra and humiliated him in front of his wife Sachi devi. He had boon of all time invincibility except Vishnu. Kartavirya,’ s greatest achievement was defeating and capturing Ravana. He was strong enough to stop the flow of river Narmada using his arms.

6. Indrajeet :

The eldest son of Ravana and a master of scorcery and black magic. No one can defeat Indrajit once he finishes Nikumbhala sacrifice. He after completing Nikumbhala sacrifice single handedly knocked out Rama, Lakshmana and the entire vanara army unconscious and killed 67 crore vanaras using infalliable Brahmashirastra. Defeated and captured Indra in battle hence was named Indrajit. Fought a terrific battle with Lakshman for three days. During the final stages of the battle between Indrajit and Lakshmana , Indra along with all the celestial gods protected Lakshmana.

It needed aindrastra with the name of lord Rama to defeat and kill indrajit.

7. Ravana :

The mighty king of Lanka who defeated Indra and 33 gods in group attack and tanked Indra’s vajra and Vishnu’s disc. Overpowered Hanuman in direct combat and In the war with Ram, he defeated Sugriva and other vanaras like Nila. He was a marksman of every divine missile and possessed Brahma armour, Pashupatastra, Brahma shakti etc. Overall he was the most powerful demon if we consider both physical strength and weapons but Indrajit,’s boons give him the edge. He was stronger than Lord Lakshmana and could defeat him if you remove divine nature of Lord Lakshmana.

8. Atikaya :

Atikaya was the son of Ravana and an excellent archer and warrior who inflicted terror among vanaras by his mere presence. He was extremely destructive in battlefield. Atikaya countered Indra’s Vajra and Varunapasha with his ordinary arrows. He put up a good might with Laxmana. He was invulnerable to all of Laxmana’s arrows as he gained the Brahma Kavach and even made Laxmana unconscious with a snake arrow.

9. Kumbhkarana :

Physically Kumbhkarana was the strongest rakshasa from Ravana,’ s sid. He vanquished Indra by his brute strength and crushed him. Defeated Yamraj and other gods by his mighty spike. He struck Hanuman with his spike and made him vomit blood. Crushed both Angad and Sugriv in battle. The arrow which killed Vali didn’t harm Kumbhkarna at all. It took Rama four celestial weapons including Roudrastra, 2 Aindrastra and Vayavyastra back to back to kill Kumbhkarana. Roudrastra of Rama had no effect on him.

10. Vali :

He was the son of Indra and a very powerful vanara empowered by Brahma,’ s boon who had bested Sugriva in wrestling combat. Defeated Ravana and dragged him across four oceans by holding him in his armpits. Killed powerful demons like Mayavi and Dundhubi who was even feared by Varun deva and Himavat mountain.

What are some lesser-known stories from the Ramayana that are not typically depicted in television shows and movies?

 Everyone knows about ‘Lanka Dahan’ in Sundara Kanda where Hanuman set fire to the city of Lanka. But most people don't know that there is a ‘second Lanka Dahan’ in Yuddha Kanda. Here all the Vanaras attacked the city with torches and set fire to it.

Second Lanka Dahan

Sugriva, the immensely energetic lord of the apes, addressed the immensely strong Hanumat, indicating the subsequent course of action. ‘Kumbhakarna and the four princes have been killed. Therefore, it is not possible for Ravana to undertake any action now. There are apes who are extremely strong and dexterous. Let those bulls among apes swiftly take torches and attack Lanka.’

The sun had set and it was the start of a terrible night. The bulls among apes headed for Lanka, with torches in their hands. With torches in their hands, large numbers of apes attacked it from all sides. The guards, with malformed eyes, suddenly ran away. Cheerfully, they set fire to the turrets, floors of mansions, many roads and palaces. The fire burnt down and consumed thousands of houses and all the residences of rakshasas, who loved their homes.

With their beloveds, they were lying down on extremely expensive beds. They swiftly grabbed their sons and fled in different directions. Thousands of houses of the residents of Lanka were burnt by the fire and blazed repeatedly. There were extremely firm and extremely expensive houses, with deep qualities. They were made out of gold, in shapes of the moon and the half-moon. They were excellent and with many floors, shining like the moon. There were colourful windows and couches everywhere. Decorated with jewels and coral, they seemed to touch the sun. There was the sound of herons and peacocks and the jingling of ornaments. Those houses that were like mountains were burnt by the fire. Surrounded by the fire, the turrets looked like masses of clouds tinged by lightning, when summer is over. Beautiful women who were asleep in mansions were burnt. Throwing aside all their ornaments, they lamented, ‘Alas!’ Surrounded by the fire, the houses fell down. They were like the shattered summits of mountains, struck by the vajra of the wielder of the vajra. From a distance, as they were burnt, the houses resembled the summits of the Himalayas, blazing with groves of herbs. The tops of the mansions were burnt and blazed, engulfed in flames. In the night, Lanka seemed to be full of flowering kimshukas. The keepers of elephants set the elephants free. The keepers of horses set the horses free. Lanka was like the turbulent ocean at the time of the end of the worlds. On seeing a freed horse, an elephant was scared and retreated. On seeing a frightened elephant, a horse was scared and retreated. In a short while, the city was burnt by the apes. It seemed as if the earth was ablaze at the time of the terrible destruction of the worlds. From ten yojanas away, one could hear the sounds of the women screaming, as they were burnt and scorched and enveloped in smoke.

With their bodies burnt by the fire, the enemy rakshasas emerged. Desiring to fight, the apes attacked them violently. The sound emitted by the apes and the rakshasas resounded in the ten directions, the ocean and the earth. The great-souled Rama and Lakshmana had been freed of their wounds. With excellent bows in their hands, they fearlessly advanced. Rama twanged his excellent bow and this created a tumultuous sound that caused fear to the rakshasas. Stretching his giant bow, Rama was as radiant as the illustrious and enraged Bhava stretching a bow made out of the Vedas. The sound created by the apes, the roar of the rakshasas and the sound of Rama twanging his bow —these three pervaded the ten directions. Because of the arrows released from his bow, the main turrent of the city, resembling Kailasa’s peak, was shattered and fell down on the ground.

• Sarga 62, Yuddha Kanda, Valmiki Ramayana, CE.

Who are the underrated and overrated warriors in Ramayana?

 1)Sugreeva:— Most Underrated Character imo.. Badly Injured Kumbhakarna whom even Indra's Vajra Couldn't Scratch…

2)Lakshman:— He Could've easily Killed Ravana If Not For The Brahma's Spear.. If Rama Didn't Intervened He would've Demolished The Entire Army Of Ravana…

3)Jatayu:— Ravana Was Absolutely Helpless Against Him Without His divine Sword(Chandrahas)..

4)Kumbhakarna:— The Only Warrior Who Stomped Devas Without Offensive Or Defensive Boon..

5)Khara:— Best Archer From Rakshasa Side.. WHY?

Then Khara, in his chariot blazing like the sun, drew near to Rama, as a moth approaches a flame and, displaying his skill, severed Rama’s bow at the point where he held it, thereafter loosing seven mace-like shafts resembling Indra’s thunderbolts, which shattered the armour of his adversary resplendent as the sun itself, so that it fell on the earth. Roaring like a lion, he let loose a thousand arrows, wounding Rama of unparalleled might, and in that conflict Khara set up a mighty shout

None Of The Other Overhyped Rakshasas Come Close To khara In Archery. Even Without Any Sort Of Protection/Boon He Stood Against Rama. And Even After All Of His Weapons Were Destroyed He Didn't Run Like Ravana Or Indrajit.

Overrated

1)INDRAJIT:—It's An Undeniable Fact That Indrajit Is The Most Overrated Warrior Is Ramayana. Most Of His Victories Were Based On His Boon Like ILLUSIOn , Infallible Weapons.

2) Ravana:— Even Though He Was Protected From Devas and Asuras Still Needed Brahma's Invincible Armor And Infallible Weapons To Defeat Devas and Demons. His Performance Without his Armor Is Really Pathetic Compared To What People Say About Him….