Ramayana is one of the two great epics of ancient India, the other being Mahabharata. It is believed to have been written by Sage Valmiki in Sanskrit language around 500 BCE. Ramayana tells the story of Lord Rama, who is considered to be the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu, and his quest to rescue his wife Sita from the clutches of the demon king Ravana.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
The Background
Ramayana is one of the two great epics of ancient India, the other being Mahabharata. It is believed to have been written by Sage Valmiki in Sanskrit language around 500 BCE. Ramayana tells the story of Lord Rama, who is considered to be the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu, and his quest to rescue his wife Sita from the clutches of the demon king Ravana.
The Importance of Geography in Ramayana
Geography plays a crucial role in Ramayana. The story spans across the Indian subcontinent, and the characters travel through various terrains such as forests, mountains, and rivers. The descriptions of these places give us insights into the geography of ancient India.
The Map of Ancient India During Ramayana
The map of ancient India during Ramayana can be divided into three regions - North, South, and Central. Let's take a look at each of these regions:
The North Region
The North region of ancient India during Ramayana consists of the present-day states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh. This region is also known as Kosala kingdom. The major cities of this region during Ramayana were Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama, and Mithila, the kingdom of Sita's father Janaka.
The South Region
The South region of ancient India during Ramayana consists of the present-day states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka. This region is also known as Dravida kingdom. The major cities of this region during Ramayana were Kishkindha, the kingdom of Lord Rama's ally Sugriva, and Lanka, the kingdom of demon king Ravana.
The Central Region
The Central region of ancient India during Ramayana consists of the present-day state of Chhattisgarh. This region is also known as Dandakaranya forest. This is the place where Lord Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana spent most of their exile period.
Question and Answer
Q: Why is geography important in Ramayana?
A: Geography plays a crucial role in Ramayana as the story spans across the Indian subcontinent, and the characters travel through various terrains such as forests, mountains, and rivers. The descriptions of these places give us insights into the geography of ancient India.
Q: What are the three regions of ancient India during Ramayana?
A: The three regions of ancient India during Ramayana are North, South, and Central. The North region consists of the present-day states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh. The South region consists of the present-day states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka. The Central region consists of the present-day state of Chhattisgarh.
Q: Which were the major cities of North region during Ramayana?
A: The major cities of North region during Ramayana were Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama, and Mithila, the kingdom of Sita's father Janaka.
Q: Which were the major cities of South region during Ramayana?
A: The major cities of South region during Ramayana were Kishkindha, the kingdom of Lord Rama's ally Sugriva, and Lanka, the kingdom of demon king Ravana.
Q: Which is the Central region of ancient India during Ramayana?
A: The Central region of ancient India during Ramayana consists of the present-day state of Chhattisgarh. This region is also known as Dandakaranya forest. This is the place where Lord Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana spent most of their exile period.
