The Ramayana
The Ramayana: A Summary of the Seven Kandas
The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India — the timeless story of Lord Rama, his devoted wife Sita, and the perfect devotee Hanuman. It is traditionally divided into seven books, or kandas. This is a short summary of all seven kandas of the Ramayana, with a link to each. For the wider story, see our guide to the Ramayana.
- The Book of Childhood: the birth and youth of Rama, and his marriage to Sita.
- The Book of Ayodhya: Rama’s renunciation of the throne and his exile to the forest.
- The Book of the Forest: life in the forest and the abduction of Sita by Ravana.
- The Book of Kishkindha: the alliance with Hanuman and the vanara king Sugriva.
- The Book of Beauty: Hanuman’s mighty leap to Lanka and his discovery of Sita.
- The Book of War: the great battle against Ravana and the rescue of Sita.
- The Book of the Aftermath: the later years of Rama’s reign and the close of the story.
Through exile, devotion and the triumph of good over evil, the Ramayana remains a luminous teaching on dharma, love and faith — and Hanuman’s unwavering devotion is its shining heart.
