Indrajit completes the Nikumbhila Yajna and enters the battlefield. Would he have defeated everyone on Rama side alone? How would the battle be like in this scenario?

 No. He would never be able to defeat Hanuman. It's repeatedly proven many times.

In their first encounter, Hanuman used his speed and size manipulation to evade his arrows, while celestial weapons were useless against him due to Brahma's boon. Indrajit realised his invulnerability and used Brahmastra to capture him. Although He could've escaped, he chose not to to honour the weapons creator, Brahma.

In the second event, where he defeat Ram and Lakshman used Serpentine arrows, Ram sent 10 vanars to locate Indrajit among the skies, but his swiftness in traversing the sky and invisibility proved it difficult. He warded off all those vanars including Hanuman, and defeated Ram and Lakshman.

Further after death of four sons of Ravana, Indrajit used Brahmastra Again'st Ram's army and defeated everyone including Ram and Lakshman. Hanuman was either struck down or was left in despair upon witnessing the armys state. After Vibhishans encouragement speech, he stood up again and carried herbal mountain and revived all dead/ injured warriors including Ram and Lakshman.

In the next event, After Hanuman saw Indrajit slaying fake sita, he attacked indrajit(both with their armies) and the battle was inconclusive.

And in the finale, Hanuman became the vehicle for Lakshman for sometime during their duel, Indrajit attacked him with several arrows and weapons but he was unfazed..

Indrajit tried his best but was never able to convincingly defeat Hanuman. Except for him, others, even combined don't stand a chance against Indrajit especially after completing the sacrifice.

Ram, Lakshman and other vanaras combined too, weren't even an inconvenience for Indrajit at his full power.

What is the main reason behind Agni Pariksha of Sita in the Ramayana epic?

 What is the main reason behind Agni Pariksha of Sita in the Ramayana epic?

The Ramayana and the Mahabharata are magnificent epics; sages like Valmiki and Vyasa provided answers to many profound questions within them.

After the slaying of Ravana, when Rama asked for Sita to be brought to him, he specifically instructed that she be brought walking—escorted on foot.

There was a remarkable reason for this specific instruction.

Present there, alongside Rama, were not only the warriors of Lanka and Kishkindha but also numerous Vanara warriors from across Jambudvipa.

Sugriva had summoned all the kings of Jambudvipa along with their armies to search for Sita; they had all arrived and participated in the war.

None of them had ever seen Sita before; they had only heard of her but knew nothing specific about her. They had come and fought solely because Sugriva had called upon them.

When we visit another town for an event and return home, what do we do? We share everything that happened there with others. Similarly, what would these warriors say upon returning to their own kingdoms about Sitamma?

Rama wanted to ensure that no one would ever cast aspersions on Sita—who had spent a year in a foreign land—in the future. That is why he insisted she be brought on foot in full view of everyone and undergo the Agni Pravesha (ordeal by fire); subsequently, Agni Deva (the Fire God) brought her safely back and entrusted her to Rama.

Rama’s desire was for everyone present to witness this extraordinary process, greatness of Sitamma and convey it to their people upon their return. He believed that only then would the entire world come to know of Sita’s purity. He did not act merely as Rama the individual, but as an ideal king. A king's conduct must not show even a hint of impropriety; otherwise, generations will have to suffer the consequences.

Kavisamrat Sri Viswanatha Satyanarayana described Sitamma as " Anindhanagni " (Fire that requires no fuel). After all, a stick or oil is usually needed to produce a flame, isn't it? Yet, Sitamma requires no fuel; one must understand that she is an eternally blazing fire.

When a doubt regarding Dharma arises, one should examine whether there is any subtle point of Dharma involved.

Sri Rama is the one who brings bliss to the entire universe.

Subhamastu

According to Ramayana, how old was Hanuman ji, while he is also mentioned in the Mahabharata?

 Hanumanji was also of Lord Ram’s age in Ramayan which happened in Treta Yug.

The story of Lord Hanuman is as under:-

As per Ananda Ramayana, the “payasam” which the wives of Dasharatha had eaten to bear children, some part was carried away by Vayudev (the Wind god) and Anjana consumed it, thereby giving birth to Hanuman. So Lord Hanuman is about the same age of Lord Ram.

( please note that there are different stories of how Lord Hanuman was born)

As Lord Hanuman is Chiranjeevi, he is there in all the Yugas. In Mahabharat, Lord Hanuman’s age was as below:-

As per scriptures

Lord Hanuman was born in the 24th Treta Yuga ( at the end of Treta Yuga).

TRETA YUGA: 1,296,000 yrs (thrice of Kalyug)

1296000\24 ( there were 24 periods in Treta Yug) =54,000 yrs for one period

As Lord Hanuman was born in the last period (24 th period )of Treta Yug he was about 54,000 yrs old at the end of Treta Yug).

Dwapar Yug : 864,000 years ( twice of Kalyug)

Dwapar Yug ends when Lord Krishna left this world . Lord Hanuman was there in Dwapar Yug.

54,000 ( period of the 24th Treta Yug)+ 864000 ( period of full dwapar yug)=9,18,000 yrs . Hamumanji was 9,18,000 yrs old at the end of Dwapar Yug.

Kalyug : 432,000 years

Kalyug in 2022 has about 426,877 years left . Therefore, we are living in the 5123 yr of Kalyug.

So in 2022 Lord Hanuman who is still living in Kalyug is about 9,23,123 yrs old ( as per the calculation below)

54,000 ( period of the 24th Treta Yug)+ 864000 ( period of full Dwapar Yug) + ( 432,000- 426877 +5123)+5123 = 9,23,123 yrs old.

(All the aforesaid are assumed as per the figures mentioned in the scriptures and all are approximate figures)

Sadhana

How has Lord Shiva been glorified in different versions of Ramayana?

 Mahadeva had consumed Halahala poison as if it were ambrosia.

And Vishnu smilingly spoke to wielder of trident Rudra, 'oh, god the best, whatever element that has emerged from the churning of Milk Ocean by gods, that shall belong to you, isn't it. By virtue of your position as the foremost god among gods, oh, omnicompetent god Shiva, you please accept this poison applying yourself to that position of foremost god, and deeming this poison, haalahala, as a foremost oblation to your godhood'.

Saying so Vishnu, the best one among gods, has disappeared then and there only. And on observing the scare of gods and also on paying heed to the words of the Wielder of Bow called shaar~Nga, namely Vishnu, god Shiva gulped that lethal poison, haalaahala , as if it is ambrosia.

Source : Valmiki Ramayana Bala Kanda Sarga 45

Maharishi Vishwamitra prayed to Mahadeva and obtained all the weapons from him and he also learnt the science of Dhanurveda from Mahadeva.

On going to the mountainsides of Himalayas, whereat it is adored by kinnaraa-s and uragaa-s, the nymphs and nymphean serpents, he that great practiser of ascesis, Vishvamitra, undertook an austere ascesis for the sake of beneficence of the Great God, Shiva.

After a long lost time, Shiva, the God of Gods whose flag bears the sign of Holy Bull, has shown himself to that great-saint Vishvamitra, for He is a ready boon-giver.

'Oh, king, for which purpose you undertook this ascesis that you may tell me. What is it really intended by you and what boon you seek that be made known to me for I am the boon-giver.' Shiva said so to Vishvamitra.

Thus said by God Shiva to Vishvamitra of great ascesis, Vishvamitra on reverencing that Great God Shiva said this way.

Oh! Mahadeva, the Impeccable Great God... providing that you are gladdened by my ascetic devotion, dhanurveda, the Holy Writ of Archery, with its complemental and supplemental Writs, and along with its summational Upanishad-s , together with its preternatural doctrines... they may kindly be bestowed upon me...

' Oh, Exquisite God, whichever missile is there either with gods, or fiends, gandharva-s, yaksha-s, and demons, let it dawn upon me. For you alone are the God of Gods your blessings alone can fulfil my aspiration.' Thus Vishvamitra entreated God Shiva.

So be it!' On sanctifying Vishvamitra and his aspiration thus, the God of Gods, Shiva disappeared.

Source : Valmiki Ramayana Bala Kanda Sarga 55

King Janaka, father of Mata Sita, narrated the story of the bow of Mahadeva.

Oh, godly sage, there was a king renowned as Devaraata, sixth one from Nimi, [the originator of our lineage,] and this bow was handed down to him for custodial care by the Sublime Soul, Shiva...

Once, during the devastation of the Vedic-ritual of Daksha Prajapati, the mettlesome god Rudra, rancorously outstretching the bowstring of this bow, said this to all gods, superciliously..

'Oh, gods, whereby you have not apportioned my portion [of oblations in Vedic-ritual s, as I am also the] desirer of such portion, [thereby] I will shred the highly revered heads of yours with this bow...' [So said Shiva to gods.]

Then, oh, best saint Vishvamitra, all gods are truly dismayed, and on their supplicating, Bhava, namely Shiva, the God of Gods is gladdened...

And that Sublime Soul Shiva gladly gave that bow to all of the great souled gods, and oh, godly saint, then those great souled gods gave this gem of a bow of Shiva, the God of Gods, to our ancestor [Devaraata,] for custodial care...

Source : Valmiki Ramayana Bala Kanda Sarga 66

Bhagwan Parshurama called Mahadeva as the destroyer of Tripura.

Oh, best one among men, out of the two longbows gods gave one to restive Trymbaka, God Shiva for a combat with demon Tripura, and oh, Kakutstha, that bow alone is the annihilator of Tripura, the demon... and you have broken that alone...

Source : Valmiki Ramayana Bala Kanda Sarga 75

Bhagwan Sri Ram had worshipped himself and Mahadeva before entering into the house made by Lakshman ji during their exile.

Having taken bath in the river as prescribed Rama offered oblations to Lord Rudra and Lord Vishnu after offereing tributes to Vaisvadeva. He performed benedictions relating to the purification of house and also a silent prayer as per prescribed rites. He finally offered excellent tributes to the deities, for removing sins.

Source : Valmiki Ramayana Ayodhya Kanda Sarga 56

Mahadeva had come to congratulate Bhagwan Sri Ram after he had killed Ravana and he also informed him about his father Dasaratha.

Hearing the auspicious words thus spoken by Rama, Lord Shiva the Supreme Lord thereupon delivered the following still more beautiful speech:

"O lotus-eyed, long-armed, broad-chested, annihilator of enemies and excellent among those upholding the cause of virtue! Thank heaven! You accomplished this task."

"Fortunately has the fear born of Ravana - which increased the severe darkness on the entire world has been removed by you, on the battle-field, O Rama!"

"You are fit to go to the heaven, by comforting the depressed Bharata and the illustrious Kausalya as well as seeing Kaikeyi and Sumitra, the mother of Lakshmana having got the sovereignty of Ayodhya, bringing delight to your friends, stabilizing the back-bone in the race of Ikshvaku, getting excellent glory by performing a horse-sacrifice and by granting riches to Brahmanas."

Source : Valmiki Ramayana Yuddha Kanda Sarga 119

Bhagwan Sri Ram tells Mata Sita how Mahadeva blessed him and his army before battle.

See this island, located in the middle of the ocean, where my troops were stationed. At this place, the lord Shiva (the supreme deity) formerly bestowed his grace on me

Source : Valmiki Ramayana Yuddha Kanda Sarga 123

JAI SIYA RAM !

HAR HAR MAHADEV !

What are the names of Shatrughan’s son in Ramayana?

Shatrughna and Shrutkirti’s sons were named Subahu and Shatrughati/Shrutsena (Yupaketu in Ananda Ramayana).

Shatrughna had defeated Lavanasura of Madhura (Mathura) and established region of Shurasena. His son Subahu got the region of Mathura to rule while Shatrughati/Shrutsena/Yupaketu got the region of Vidisha to rule as it's King.

Years later, Shri Krishna and Shri Bal Ram (Shri Ram and Shri Laxmana reincarnated ) were born in Vrishni Kula in Mathura and was taken to Gokul by their father Vasudev to save their lives from Kans and gave them to Nand Rai, another Vrishni leader and relative of Vasudev.

Subahu married Naga Princess Kamla and Gandharva Princess Achala.

Shatrughati married Naga Princess Malti and Princess Madansundari, daughter of King Kambhukantha of Shivkantipuri through Rakshasa Vivah. Shatrughati (Yupaketu) had fought with Madansundari’s father to marry her. She also consented to become his consort.

Who is the son of Raja Bharat of Ramayana?

 

Pushkala and Taksha were the sons of Bharat and Mandavi in Valmiki Ramayana. They were grandsons of Kaikeyi and great grandson of Ashwapati (father of Kaikeyi). In original Valmiki Ramayana, Kaikeya’s imperial palace was in Balkha (in modern day Afghanistan) but in Mahajanpada era, Kaikeya was in modern day Pakistani Punjab.

Bharat defeated Gandhara and the established two cities Pushkalavati and Takshashila and made his sons the Kings of the cities.

In Ananda Ramayana, Naga Princess Kalavati and Gandharva Princess Chanchala were married to Pushkala. Naga Princess Kalika and Gandharva Princess Chapla were married to Taksha.

Who are some lesser-known characters of Ramayana?

Kumudvati, Chief Queen of Kusha (son of Shri Ram) was a Naga Princess of Sarayu river and her father was killed by Garuda. Naga King Kumud offered her to Kusha in peace alliance when Kusha had almost annihilated the Nagas when Kumudvati took his golden arm- bracelet mistakenly. Kusha married her and she gave birth to his eight sons and a daughter named Champakmalini. Her son Atithi was heir to the throne and when Kusha died, Kumudvati followed him in death like moonshine follows the moon. Her mention is in Raghuvansh and Ananda Ramayana not in Valmiki Ramayana. She was really beautiful, timid and shy and was a young maiden (kanya) when she married Kusha. Kusha had built Nageshwarnath Temple for her near Sarayu river so that she could worship Lord Shiva.

Champika

Champika was the first wife of Kusha and she had chosen Kusha as her husband in her Swayamvara. She was daughter of Maharaja Bhurikirti, King of the lands East of Ayodhya. Rishi Agastya prophesized about her to Shri Ram that she won't be having any sons but daughters. She eventually gave nine daughters to Kusha and their eldest daughter Hema was married to Prince Chitrangad of Avanti after her Swayamvara and a war after which Chitrangad and his son father Ugrabahu were pardoned by Shri Ram. Her reaction to her husband's marriage with Kumudvati is not mentioned but she seems like to enjoy her previous status as the seniormost Queen (Pattmahishi) despite Kumudvati being Chief Queen (Agramahishi or Mahadevi). She was respected in the royal house. Her sister Sumati was married to Kusha’s twin brother Lava.

Kumbhinasi

Kumbhinasi was daughter of Anala, Kaikesi’s younger sister and Vishvavasu. When she was staying in Antahpura of Ravana in Lanka and she was protected as a sister and enjoyed luxuries but she was daringly abducted by a demon named Madhu when others were not around in the palace. When Ravana got to know about this, he got really angry despite himself abducting many women. He went with his warriors to Madhura (Mathura) to kill him but Kumbhinasi pleaded him to not kill her husband. Then Ravana pardoned Madhu and made him his ally. She was mother of Lavanasura who later was defeated by Shatrughna. Shatrughna named the city Surasena after conquering it and the same land became the birth place of Shri Krishna years later.

There are many other characters in Valmiki Ramayana and other renditions which are lesser known like Mahaparshva, Sushena, Vidyutjhiva (husband of Surpankha), Prahasta, Kabandha, Yupaketu (son of Shatrughna in Ananda Ramayana) , Madansundari (princess of Shivkantipuri with whom Yupaketu did Rakshasa Vivah), Kanjanayana (Naga Princess whom Lava married) , etc.

Are there any incidents of Sati practice in the Ramayana?

Vedvati

The Queens of Dashrath when got widowed did not do Sati, so, Sati was not in vogue at that time. Even in Mahabharata, the Ambika and Ambalika got children through Niyoga instead of doing Sati.

Vedvati who was a daughter of Sage Kushadhwaja in Kritayuga was approached by Ravana and he proposed her but she rejected him. Angry Ravana grabbed her hair to take her away but through the power of her penance she cut her hair with her hand. She entered fire vowing to come back and destroy Ravana. She was eventually reborn on a lotus and Ravana took the baby but his ministers told him she would be reason of his destruction so he threw the baby in river and she was taken by the river to Mithila where Janaka was ritual ploughing and found the baby in line of a ploughed land and adopted her and called her Sita.

There is also said in retellings that Sulochana, wife of Meghanad and Kumudvati, wife of Kusha did Sati as they couldn't live without their husbands but these stories are not in Valmiki Ramayana but in much later retellings. Sulochana and Kumudvati both were Naga Princesses, Sulochana was daughter of Sheshnaga (Laxmana) and Kumudvati was sister of Naga King Kumud and daughter of Nagas of Sarayu. Both Queens were deeply loved by their husbands.

So, Sati was not encouraged at all, ever in ancient India. Just like how when invaders attacked and women in desperation to save their honour chose fire so that even their dead body won't be molested, so some incidents were just like that. The widows of Dashrath, Ravana and Vali were alive and even moved on with their lives and did their duties. Probably that's why Vedvati chose fire, so that her dead body won't be dishonored by Ravana.

Who was Suparnakha's husband in the Ramayana?

 

Surpanakha and Vidyutjhiva

Surpanakha was married to a Vidhytjhivha, son of Kalaka. After the marriage, Ravana, his brothers and his men went to a forest for celebrations where he met demon Maya and his daughter Mandodari and got married to her when given her hand by her father. Later, during a war with Kalkeyas, Ravana killed Vidyutjhiva which pained Surpanakha. She lamented in front of Ravana who said that he didn't recognise him in warrior fury and failed to save Vidyutjhiva and then he gave some gifts to Surpanakha and sent her to live with Khara in Dandakaranya.

Later Surpanakha fell for the looks of Shri Ram and Laxmana and proposed to them and when her dimwit head couldn't get they were just jesting with her, she thought they were rejecting her due to Mata Sita and therefore tried to kill her and then Shri Ram got angry and told Laxmana to punish her and he cut her nose and ears. She was left alive for being a woman.

In Ramayana, who was Manthara? What was her contribution to the great epic of Ramayana?

 Ramayana, the greatest epic as you rightly said, has a number of characters.

The character of Mata Kaikayi stands to be the most important one as the story of Ramayana has revolved around her cunningness.

Even though a majority considers Mata Kaikayi as the reason of Sita Ram leaving for vanvas along with Lakshman, and it is true also, there's no doubt in that, still Manthra is the actual reason why Mata Kaikayi even made a demand like that.

Manthra was just another sevak at the Rajmahal of Raja dashrath who was very close to Mata Kaikayi.

When Maharaj Dashrath decided to coronate Shri Ram as the next King of Ayodhya, Mata Kaikayi was very happy.

She ecstatically ran around the entire kingdom helping in the preparations of the coronation but as soon as she gave the good news to manthra, manthra played her part.

She manipulated Mata Kaikayi by saying that Raja dashrath has always favoured Ram more than your son Bharat and that Bharat is more deserving of the crown.

Mata Kaikayi did try to hold back but when the question of her son comes, a mother is not capable of distinguishing between what is right and what is wrong.

Mata Kaikayi fell into the clutches of Manthra's evil mind and decided to get Bharat coronated in place of Shri Ram.

Mata Kaikayi had once been given two boons by Raja Dashrath, one of them she had already availed by asking Raja Dashrath as her husband, the other one she had said that she would ask for some other time.

When the time came, Mata Kaikayi rushed to Raja Dashrath and asked her to send Ram to the forest for 14 years and coronate Bharat in place of him as her second vardaan.

Raja Dashrath wouldn't have conceeded to the woman's demand but

Raghukul reeti sada chali aayi

Praan jaayi par vachan na jaayi

He was a man of his word and so had to send bhagwan Ram to the forest as vanvaas for 14 years.

Mata Sita and Lakshman after hearing this requested Lord Ram to take them along with him and that is how Sita Ram Lakshman sahit had to leave for the forest.

Mata Kaikayi, very happy by this, went to Bharat and told him about the incident. She thought that her son would be happy if he gets to become the king but instead he despised his mother for her act and left home saying he won't come back until his brother with Mata Sita and Lakshman comes back to dwell in Ayodhya.

It was then that mata Kaikayi realised what she'd done was wrong and hated Manthra for getting into her head.

This is how Manthra is an important character when talking about her contribution.

The rest is Ramayana!

I hope the answer was sufficient to clear your doubt, if there is something else, you can post or check my previous answers on Ramayana and Mahabharata for more information.

Siya-var Ramchandra ki Jai! ❤️

Please chant

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Ram Hare Ram

Ram Ram Hare Hare.

What are some unknown facts about Kaikeyi (Ramayana)?

Rajkumari Kaikeyi

The most interesting fact people actually don't know is that Kaikeyi was actually Bactrian because Valmiki Ramayana mentions Kaikeya Kingdom existed beyond Sudama Mountain in Bahlika (Balkha in modern day Afghanistan) region.

In Mahajanpada era, Kaikeya shrank to a small region in modern day Pakistani Punjab.

Kaikeyi was very beautiful and she was beloved wife of Dashrath. Her influence was so much so that Mata Kaushalya said to Shri Ram that even servants of Kaikeyi had more importance than her who was seniormost Queen.

Kaikeyi although had no problem with Shri Ram being the new King, she couldn't tolerate when Manthara said Kaushalya would behave with her exactly how Kaikeyi behaves with her and every other queen of Dashrath. Kaikeyi was not abusive or disrespectful but she had a sense of haughty proud and superiority complex and she got very insecure with Manthara’s words that she decided to use her boons to exile Shri Ram.

Kaikeyi was a warrior princess and she was an excellent warrior and even saved Dashrath's life once in a war due to which she got her boons. Her father's name was Ashwapati (Lord of Horses) which makes sense the region she came from was Bahlika (Balkha).

Source- Valmiki Ramayana