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Ramayana: Tales from Ancient India

Ramayana: Tales from Ancient India

By Kathavani

Each episode/season will showcase a story from Indian literature - ancient and contemporary, whimsical and vedantic, long or short. I'm excited to share these stories here.
We will start the season with Valmiki's Ramayana an adi kavya, the first and most popular Indian epic, originally written as sanskrit verses.

#Ramayana #Mahabharata #Panchatantra
Valmiki Ramayana, Stories from Mahabharata, Panchatantra
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Currently playing episode

Ramayana - Episode 23 - Ayodhyakanta - Bharata Returns

Ramayana: Tales from Ancient IndiaMar 19, 2021

00:00
25:54
Ramayana - Episode 29 - recap of Balakanda and AyodhyaKanda

Ramayana - Episode 29 - recap of Balakanda and AyodhyaKanda

Brief recap of the first two books of Ramayana

Characters: Sage Valmiki, Sage Narada, King Dasaratha, Queens Kowsalya, Sumithra, Kaikeyi, Maharishi Vasishta, Vamadeva, Rajarishi Viswamithra, Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, Shatrugna, Sita, Guha, Bharadwaja, Atri, Anasuya

Places: Ayodhya, Chitrakuta, Dandakaranya

Jun 25, 202117:46
Ramayana - Ayodhya Kanda - Episode 28 - Maharishi Atri & Anasuya Devi

Ramayana - Ayodhya Kanda - Episode 28 - Maharishi Atri & Anasuya Devi

Rama decides to leave Chitrakuta mountains and meets with Maharishi Atri and his renowned wife Devi Anasuya

Anasuya Devi gives Sita divine clothes, garland that would never fade as well as ornaments, fragrance and cream to enhance Sita's beauty and bring more glory to Rama.

Key characters: Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Maharishi Atri and Devi Anasuya, Valmiki, Ramayana in Chitrakuta mountains by River Mandakini

May 27, 202122:37
Ramayana - Ayodhya Kanda - Episode 27 - Truth vs Right

Ramayana - Ayodhya Kanda - Episode 27 - Truth vs Right

Rama and Bharata discuss next steps about who is to be king.

Key characters: Rama, Bharata, Jabali, Vasishta, Dasaratha

Places: Chitrakuta mountains, Ayodhya, Prayagraj, Sringaberapura

Valimiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kanda

May 18, 202125:42
Ramayana - Ayodhya Kanda - Episode 26 - Grief in Chitrakuta

Ramayana - Ayodhya Kanda - Episode 26 - Grief in Chitrakuta

Bharata, Shatrughna and their companions reach Chitrakuta mountains. Rama learns of his father's demise and performs his last rites. Bharata asks Rama to return to Ayodhya to be king.

#Valmiki #Ramayana #Rama #Sita #Lakshmana #Bharata #Shatrughna #Vasishta #Guha #Sumatra #Kowsalya #Sumithra #Chitrakuta

Key characters: Valmiki Rama Sita Lakshmana Bharata Shatrughna Vasishta Guha Sumatra Kowsalya Sumithra 

Places of interest: Chitrakuta mountains, River Mandakini

May 10, 202122:44
Ramayana - Ayodhya Kanda - Episode 25 - Bharata reaches Prayag

Ramayana - Ayodhya Kanda - Episode 25 - Bharata reaches Prayag

Bharata, his kinsmen, army and tireless citizen followers arrive in Prayag and go beyond in search of Rama. 

#Bharata #Prayag #Chitrakuta #Sage Bharadwaja 

Apr 22, 202116:50
Ramayana - Episode 24 - Ayodhya Kanta - Bharata reacts, and then acts

Ramayana - Episode 24 - Ayodhya Kanta - Bharata reacts, and then acts

Bharata reacts to his mother's ploys and grieves his losses. After Dasaratha's funeral, Bharata sets out of Ayodhya again.

#ValmikiRamayana 

#Valmiki #Ramayana

#Bharata #Shatrugna #Dasaratha #Kowsalya #Kaikeyi #Sumithra #Vasishta #Sumatra #Guha #Bharadwaja 

Apr 11, 202132:12
Short story - A sparrow's tale in English

Short story - A sparrow's tale in English

A whimsical story about a sparrow's day, translated from original "kuruvi kadai". A sparrow found a grain of rice in the dirt and hauled it around so it could enjoy payasa, a sweet rice pudding.

Mar 29, 202106:49
Short story in Tamil - A sparrow's day

Short story in Tamil - A sparrow's day

This is a story in Tamil about a kuruvi, a sparrow that found a grain of rice and wanted to eat payasa, rice pudding. 

Mar 27, 202104:31
Ramayana - Episode 23 - Ayodhyakanta - Bharata Returns

Ramayana - Episode 23 - Ayodhyakanta - Bharata Returns

Ayodhya's Ministers & elders fear anarchy in Ayodhya and Kosala. Bharata is summoned and returns to Ayodhya right away. Kaikeyi meets Bharata


#ValmikiRamayana

#Valmiki #Ramayana

#Vasishta #Sumatra #Bharata #Shatrugna #Kaikeyi

Mar 19, 202125:54
Ramayana - Episode 22 - Dasaratha's fatal mistake

Ramayana - Episode 22 - Dasaratha's fatal mistake

Dasaratha narrates an incident from his youth, and a curse from the past. 


Feb 25, 202119:09
Ramayana - Episode 21 - Royal Weddings

Ramayana - Episode 21 - Royal Weddings

Background stories about Dasaratha's past, Sage Vibandaka and his son Rshyashrnga

Feb 02, 202114:15
Ramayana - Episode 20 - Peace and Grief

Ramayana - Episode 20 - Peace and Grief

Sage Bharadwaja's gifts; Rama, Sita and Lakshmana's journey to scenic Chitrakuta; Sumatra returns to Ayodhya and witnesses King Dasarata and Queen Kowsalya's unbearable grief

Jan 16, 202124:43
Ramayana - Episode 19 - AK - Crossing the river

Ramayana - Episode 19 - AK - Crossing the river

Farewells, crossings and new meetings.

Key characters: Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, Guha, Sumatra, Sage Bharadwaja

Dec 31, 202023:31
Ramayana - Episode 18 - AK - Finding comfort with loyal friends

Ramayana - Episode 18 - AK - Finding comfort with loyal friends

Rama leaves Ayodhya trailed by a band of determined followers; Guha welcomes Rama

Dec 27, 202019:03
Ramayana - Episode 17 - A bereft couple

Ramayana - Episode 17 - A bereft couple

Sita reasons with Rama to accompany him during his exile. Rama leaves Ayodhya, with his parents blessings, to start his 14 years long exile in the forest.


Nov 28, 202023:19
Ramayana - Episode 16 Ayodhya Kanta - Rama's Dharma & Decision

Ramayana - Episode 16 Ayodhya Kanta - Rama's Dharma & Decision

Rama meets with King Dasaratha and Queen Kaikeyi and reaches a decision about his coronation. He informs Queen Kowsalya and his beloved Sita about his decision. 

Nov 08, 202025:31
Ramayana - Episode 15 - Dasaratha's sleepless night

Ramayana - Episode 15 - Dasaratha's sleepless night

Dasaratha and Kaikeyi spend the eve of Rama's coronation discussing Kaikeyi's demands

Oct 30, 202019:27
Ramayana - Episode 14 - Queen Kaikeyi

Ramayana - Episode 14 - Queen Kaikeyi

Queen Kaikeyi hears about Rama's coronation from her old attendant Mantra.

Oct 08, 202022:12
Ramayana - Episode 13 - Ayodhya Kanta 1 - Rama's coronation

Ramayana - Episode 13 - Ayodhya Kanta 1 - Rama's coronation

Rama qualifies to be Yuvaraj

Oct 06, 202018:51
Ramayana - Episode 12 - Parasurama

Ramayana - Episode 12 - Parasurama

Dasaratha's Rama meets Parasurama and wields the divine Vishnu bow. 

Sep 19, 202023:14
Ramayana - Episode 11 - New Alliances

Ramayana - Episode 11 - New Alliances

Sita's wedding in Mithila

Sep 16, 202016:04
Ramayana - Episode 10 - Sita's Swayamvara

Ramayana - Episode 10 - Sita's Swayamvara

This episode covers Rama's travel to Mithila, King Janaka's capital city via Vishala kingdom and a desolate ashram. Rama proves his worthiness and strength.

Sep 09, 202024:51
Ramayana - Episode 9 - Bhageeratha Prayatna, Bhageerathean efforts

Ramayana - Episode 9 - Bhageeratha Prayatna, Bhageerathean efforts

This episode covers the legend of River Ganga, aka River Bhageerathi in the higher reaches of Himalayas and a few of Rama's illustrious ancestors that came after King Harischandra and King Rohita.

Sep 02, 202025:15
Ramayana - Episode 8 - Rama restores Tatakavana

Ramayana - Episode 8 - Rama restores Tatakavana

Rama fights Tataka, Maricha and Subahu. Viswamitra narrates stories of Lord Vishnu's ancient incarnations.

Aug 21, 202034:04
Ramayana - Episode 7 - Viswamitra asks Dasaratha a favor

Ramayana - Episode 7 - Viswamitra asks Dasaratha a favor

Viswamitra's welcome in Ayodhya, followed by his request. Dasaratha's dilemma, a favor granted. Sights and sounds of Sarayu.

Aug 11, 202019:58
Ramayana - Episode 6 - Becoming a Brahmarishi

Ramayana - Episode 6 - Becoming a Brahmarishi

In this episode we hear stories about the creation of Trisanku's swarga, Shunashepa's champion, birth of Shakuntala, an apsara becoming a rock and Viswamitra meeting Vasishta again.

Jul 30, 202026:36
Ramayana - Episode 5 - Rajarishi Vishwamitra

Ramayana - Episode 5 - Rajarishi Vishwamitra

Who is  Vishwamitra?

Jul 25, 202020:34
Ramayana - Episode 4 - Brahmarishi Vasishta

Ramayana - Episode 4 - Brahmarishi Vasishta

This episode covers the story of Vasishta and the 4 princes' Gurukul education

Jul 16, 202016:31
Ramayana - Episode 3 - Background Tales

Ramayana - Episode 3 - Background Tales

In this episode, we start at the very beginning of cosmic creation, Vedas, Saptarishis and the lineage of Manu leading to Dasaratha's Rama.

Jul 11, 202018:42
Ramayana - Episode 2 Balakanta - Birth of Rama

Ramayana - Episode 2 Balakanta - Birth of Rama

This episode starts with introduction to the Rama's Solar Dynasty and its kings and goes on to describe Dasaratha's despair and his successful efforts to conceive a son, an heir to the throne of Ayodhya.

Jun 27, 202015:20
Ramayana: Episode 1: Valmiki, a curse and blessing, Ramayana

Ramayana: Episode 1: Valmiki, a curse and blessing, Ramayana

Who is Maharishi Valmiki? What's his story? What's the origin story of Ramayana?

Jun 20, 202008:46
Stories from Ramayana

Stories from Ramayana

Ramayana is the story of Prince Rama of Ayodhya, his excellent wife Seetha Devi, princess of Mithila. Ramayana was composed by the wise sage Valmiki in 24,000 verses/slokas and 7 cantos. This magnum opus of Maharishi Valmiki is also considered to be the adikavya, the first poem in Sanskrit. It’s packed with adventures and many lessons to live an honest life fulfilling one’s Dharma, doing the right thing always despite hardships and ordeals.

Jun 20, 202006:32
Tales of Ancient India

Tales of Ancient India

Tales from Ancient India narrated by Storyteller Kathavani Aachi; stories from Ramayana, Mahabarata, Panchatantra, Jataka, Bhagavatam, Upanishads and Vedanta. Welcome to fantastic times and fabulous stories!

Jun 20, 202000:33