Glossary
- Ayodhya (EYE-’YODE’-YA)
Capital city of Kosala which was ruled by Dasaratha, later by Rama. - Asoka (AH-’SHOW’-KA)
Garden in Lanka where Ravana kept Sita captive. - Avatar (AH-VAH-’TAR’)
The incarnation of a god into another form. The incarnation of Vishnu on earth is Rama. - Bharata (BAH-’HRA’-TA)
Son of Queen Kaikeyi and the half brother of Rama. - Boon
A promise or reward - Brahma (‘BRAH’-MA)
The creator god of the Hindu triad of gods which includes Shiva and Vishnu. - Chitrakoot (CHEE-TRAH-’KOOT’)
A beautiful forest where Rama, Sita and Lakshmana lived. - Dandaka (‘DAHN’-DA-KA)
Great forest which Rama, Sita and Lakshmana traveled through for ten years of their exile. - Dasaratha (DAH-SHAH-’RAH’-TA)
King of Kosala and Rama's earthly father - Dharma (‘DAR’-MA)
Laws, duties and obligations - Dushan (‘DOO-SHUN)
Brother of Ravana and Surpurnakha. - Ganges (‘GAHN’-JEEZ)
The river considered sacred by Hindus. - Garuda (GAH-’ROO’-DA)
King of winged creatures - Godavari (GO-’DAH’-VA-REE)
River Rama, Sita and Lakshmana cross to get to Panchavati. - Hanuman (‘HUN’-YOU-MUN)
Monkey warrior who became Rama's devoted friend and servant. - Indrajit (IN-’DRAH’-JIT)
Ravana's favorite son who fought Rama with magical weapons. - Jambuvan(‘JAM’-BUH-VAHN)
Leader of the bears who found Sita. - Janaka (‘JAH’-NA-KA)
King of Mithila who found Sita in a furrow. - Jatayu (JA-’TIE’-YOO)
The great bird who tried to rescue Sita and was killed by Ravana. - Kaikeyi(KYE-’KAY’-YEE)
Dasaratha's youngest queen and the mother of Bharata. She called for Rama's exile. - Kailasa (KYE-’LAH’-SA)
Mountain where Hanuman found the medicinal herbs. - Kausalya (COW-’SAL’-YA)
Dasaratha's queen and Rama's mother. - Khar (CAR)- Brother of Ravana and Surpurnakha.
- Kiskindha (KISH-’KIN’-DA)
The monkey kingdom ruled by Sugriva. - Kosala (KOH-’SAH’-LA)
The kingdom ruled by Dasaratha. - Kush (COOSH)
Sita and Rama's son, twin of Lava. - Lakshmana (LAKS-’SHMA’-NA)
Queen Sumitra's son and devoted half-brother of Rama. - Lanka (‘LAHNG’-KA)
Island kingdom ruled by Ravana - Lava (‘LAH’-VA)
Sita and Rama's son, twin of Kush. - Lotus (‘LOW’-TUSS)
Flower; Hindu symbol of beauty, purity & good fortune - Manthara (‘MAHN’-TA-RA)
Maid servant who convinced Kaikeyi to have Rama exiled and make Bharata king. - Mantra (‘MAHN’-TRA)
Hindu prayers or incantations. - Mareech (MUH-’REACH’)
The magician who helped Ravana capture Sita. - Nala (‘NAH’-LA)
Son of the great builder who helped Rama construct the bridge to Lanka. - Panchavati (PUN-CHA-’VAH’-TEE)
Rama, Sita and Lakshmana’s abode in the forest. - Payasam (‘PYE’-EH-SUM)
A mixture of rice pudding, milk and sugar. - Rakshasas (‘RAHK’-SHA-SHASS)
Warrior-demons. - Ravana (‘RAH’-VA-NA)
King of Lanka who kidnaped Sita and was defeated by Rama. - Sanyasi (SUN-’YAH’-SEE)
A religious man who lives in a forest, a hermit. - Sarayu (SAH-’RYE’-YOO)
The river that runs alongside Ayodhya. - Sari (‘SAH’-REE)
A garment of yards of cloth draped to form a skirt and head or shoulder covering. - Sat-purusa (SAHT-POO-’ROO’-SHA)
The ideal Hindu man. - Shiva (‘SHIV’-AH)
The deity whose bow Rama lifted to win Sita's hand in marriage. - Surpanakha (SHURE-’PAH’-NAH-KA)
Ravana's demon sister. - Sita (‘SEE’-TA)
Daughter of King Janaka, wife of Rama; name literally means “furrow.” - Sugriva (SOO-’GREE’-VA)
Monkey king of Kiskindha who helped Rama get Sita back. - Sumantra (SOO-’MAHN’-TRA)
Charioteer of Kosala. - Sumitra (SOO-’MEE’-TRA)
One of Dasaratha's queens and mother of twin sons Shatrughna and Lakshmana. - Tataka (‘TAH’-TA-KA)
Demoness who was killed by Rama. - Valmiki (VAHL-’MEE’-KEE)
Poet and author of the Ramayana who helps Sita and her twin sons. - Vasistha (VAH-’SEESH’-TA)
Priest to King Dasaratha. - Vibhishana (VEE-’BEE’SHA-NA)
Ravana's brother who leaves Lanka to join Rama. - Vishnu (‘VISH’-NOO)
God who came to earth in the form of Rama to rid the world of demons. - Vishwamitra (VISH-WAH-’MEE’TRA)
Religious man; went to forest with Rama to kill the demons that were bothering him.