RAMAYANA - CURIOUS QUESTIONS

RAMAYANA - CURIOUS QUESTIONS by V.S.Gopalakrishnan 28 Jan 2024 We often have some curious questions about this epic story. Browsing the internet provides some answers. 1. Why was Ram asked to go on exile for 14 years and not soe other number? In TretaYuga the rule was that a king should quit thrne for 14 years in order to lose his kingdom. But the rule was 13 years in dwapara yugafor which the Pandavas got exiled. 2. When did Ramayana happen? Experts suggest 5th Century BC. As for Mahabharata, Krishna's year of death is reckoned as 3102 BC from when Kaliyuga starts. 3. When did Valmiki live? Actually he is stated to have narrated the epic to Lava and Kusha, (Imagine29,000 verses in Sanskrit!). 4.When did Tulsidas live? Tulsidas died aged 111 years on 31July 1623. 5.At what age did Ram and Sita marry? As per Valmiki, Sita was 6 and Ram was 13 when they married. But what is generally accepted is that Ram was 25 and Sita was 18. 6. At what age was Ram exiled? Different numbers areavailable depending on interpretations. But it sees that 39 is likely. 7. After how many years in exile wasSitaabducted? It would seem that the abduction took place in the tenth year of exile. 8. How did Sita die? Sita, who was born of earth, requested Mother Earth to take her away. Mother Earth split and Sita went into it. 9.How long did Ram rule Ayodhya? 30 yearsand 6 months. 10. How did Ram die? He died by walking into the river Saryu and taking jal samadhi. ========================================================================