In this article, you will find the most inspiring stories from the Ramayan. Rishi Valmiki originally wrote these in Sanskrit around the 5th century BCE. Additionally, you will find the values that young readers can learn from Lord Ram and much more.
Ramayan Stories to Inspire Values, Motivate and Get Kids Thinking
Ramayan is a long poem or epic. One of the two Itihasas, Ramayan tells the story of the life and times of the Hindu god Lord Ram. Many signs and landmarks all over the Indian subcontinent show that Lord Ram indeed lived in his time.
Also read: Jataka tales in English
Which Inspiring Stories From the Ramayan Kids Will Love to Read and Listen To?
Indian children are frequently told stories of the Ramayan in childhood. Since it’s an epic, several smaller stories or events from the lengthy verses are interesting and inspiring.
These are translated into English and presented with colourful illustrations so that kids and people of all ages are fascinated to read these stories from the Ramayan.
As you read further, you will find the illustrated Ramayan books for kids. The entire Ramayan is inspiring and full of learning and devotion, yet let’s discuss which parts have inspired and fascinated children for ages.
If you have any favorites, then comment below in the comment box.
The Story of A Promise
The story of Lord Ram following his father’s promise is one of the most moving in the Ramayan. When Queen Kaikeyi told Lord Ram that he had to live in the forest for 14 years, he agreed right away.
Though he was to be sworn in as the successor, lord Ram said he would always keep his father’s promise, which shows kids the value of duty, integrity, honesty, and respect for authority and older people.
The Story of Friendship, Trust and Devotion Between Lord Ram and Hanuman
Stories about Hanuman’s devotion to lord Ram are popular. Hanuman’s generous help and loyalty show what real friendship is all about. He overcame many problems to serve Lord Ram.
This shows strength, conviction, loyalty, and faith which are important lessons for kids to learn about how to be good friends.
Also read: Regional Folktales of India
The Story of Sita’s Strength and Courage
The time when Sita was captured in Lanka shows how brave and strong she was despite being in danger. Even though she wasn’t with her family, she stayed strong and determined.
Children can learn from her unshakeable faith and her strength even when things are tough. Sita is a sign of strength and endurance, and she shows how to be graceful when things get tough. Her steadfast loyalty and bravery show how strong women can be.
Story of Unwavering Loyalty of Lakshman and Bharat
Lakshman’s choice to go with his brother Ram into exile is a sign of unwavering love and support. He was always there for his brother, Lord Ram, showing how important it is to be there for family and do what you’re supposed to do without complaining.
The bond between Ram, Lakshman, Bharat, and Shatrughan shows how brothers can love each other no matter what. Bharat’s refusal to take the throne after Ram was sent into exile and his leadership on Ram’s behalf show how honest and devoted he was to his family.
This story shows how hard it is for leaders to balance their feelings with what society expects of them. Kids and adults alike learn how to make tough but moral decisions.
How the Squirrel Made a Difference
The story of the squirrel helping to build the bridge to Lanka shows that even small efforts can make a big difference. Even though it was small, the squirrel’s determination to help shows that any input is welcome when working for a good cause.
Each task, no matter how trivial, deserves attention. This story of the squirrel in the Ramayan shows you to have self-confidence, keep going and be focused on your task and not what others think of you. Last but not least, trust God and have self-belief.
Also read: Best Fiction Books for Middle Graders
What We Can Learn from Ravana’s Fall
Even though Ravana was smart and strong, he lost because he was proud and greedy. His story shows kids that to be wise, you need to be humble, and that good always wins in the end.
The Rescue of Sugriva
At first, Sugriva didn’t want to help Ram, but he later showed bravery by leading the army against Ravana. Kids can learn from his change that it’s never too late to do the right thing and fight for justice.
Secondly, unjust power games within the family fuel the ego but can be destructive as shown by the unfair actions of Vali, Sugriva’s brother.
Values That Young Readers Can Learn From Lord Ram
The Ramayan is more than just a story about good vs. evil. It also has a lot of lessons about duty, relationships, loyalty, leadership, and moral problems. Besides the interesting stories, his life has important lessons about being a leader, having kindness, being humble, and being determined.
The great story of Ramayan can teach us many important lessons, and Lord Ram’s good qualities continue to inspire young minds. Let’s take a closer look at these traits to see how they can inspire and guide young readers.
1. Faith and Belief in Doing What Seems Difficult and Impossible
The story of how Lord Ram’s Vanar sena or troops built the bridge to Lanka is one of sheer determination. Even though making a bridge across the ocean seemed like an impossible task, Ram led his team with unwavering faith. What did you learn? When people work together and are dedicated, they can make difficult tasks possible. Have faith in yourself, do your best, and don’t give up on your goals.
2. How Working Together Can Help
It wasn’t just a strong vanar sena who helped build the bridge; a small animal like a squirrel also did their best. This shows how important it is to work together, and how every input, no matter how small or important, is important.
3. Faith Is Strong
The story of the stones with Lord Ram’s name written on them moving on water shows how powerful faith can be. Young readers can learn that having faith in a greater power than themselves and having self-belief in achieving their goals can help them be successful and strong.
4. Being humble as a leader
Even after defeating Ravana, Ram said he felt bad about it because he saw how smart and devoted Ravana was, despite his bad actions. This humility shows that even when you win, you should stay humble and see the good in other people. A real leader stays humble and treats everyone with respect, even those they don’t agree with.
5. Looking for the best in other people
A deep lesson can be learnt from Ram’s ability to see Ravana’s good traits despite his flaws. Like how a rose plant is valued for its beauty even though it has thorns, everyone has something good in them. Don’t quickly rate other people. Try to see the good in everyone.
6. Taking the Lead
Ram was called “Purva Bhashi,” which means someone who starts a talk without waiting for others to do so. This simple habit shows how important it is to talk to people and break down walls to connect with them. Be the first to offer help, make links, and find solutions.
7. Listening to what the team says
When Ravana’s brother Vibhishan came to Ram for help, Ram talked to his team to decide if he should take Vibhishan in. Even though his team had different ideas, Ram respected them while making the final choice.
This shows that great leaders want people to work together and agree on things, but they are also sure of their own decisions. Pay attention to what other people say, but stay true to your own beliefs.
Life Lessons from Ramayan
The Ramayan imparts important life lessons that are ageless and fascinating. It demonstrates that having integrity means doing what is right, even when it is tough. Compassion means understanding and appreciating other people’s points of view.
Determination motivates us to keep going, no matter how difficult the task may appear. Humility teaches us to recognize and be grateful for the contributions of others. Faith teaches us to believe in ourselves and focus on our goals.
These lessons not only make the books more interesting, but they also help young readers acquire strong morals. Now, let’s look at a gorgeously illustrated Ramayana books that children of all ages will enjoy reading!
Children’s Illustrated Storybooks on the Ramayan
Nowadays, we get attractive, illustrated and fascinating storybooks. Here are two wonderful books on the Ramayan, that children will love to read and learn from these stories.
Six-Part Ramayan Series for Children
- Author: Harini Gopalswami Srinivasan
- Illustrators: Zoheb Momin, Sabu Sarasan, Sundarlal, Durgesh Velhal, and Arijit Dutta Chowdhury
- Publisher: Amar Chitra Katha
- Pages: Total of 960
- Reader’s Age group: 8 years and above, storytelling below 8 years
- Stars: 4.5 out of 5 stars
The ACK Ramayana, a six-volume set with beautiful illustrations and in-depth study, brings the characters of the world’s greatest epic to life. There are 6 Kands or eventful parts of the epic in this series: Bala Kand, Ayodhya Kand, Aranya Kand, Kishkindha Kand, Sunder Kand, and Yuddha Kand.
This six-part set of Amar Chitra Katha has great details. Mangala Kumari, an expert on the Ramayana, has read and approved the script. Children above eight years can read this book series independently while you can do storytelling and picture talk to kids below eight years.
Illustrated Ramayan For Children
- Author: Shubha Vilas
- Publisher: Wonder House Books
- Illustrators: Ishan
- Pages: 232
- Reader’s Age Group: 8 years above, storytelling below 8 years
- Stars: 4.5 out of 5
A colorful illustrated book for children’s reading above eight to nine years and use for storytelling for younger kids. This is an actual representation of Valmiki’s ancient epic Ramayana, following Lord Rama’s courage and Sita’s resilience and devotion. Flying chariots, magical weaponry, and a blazing war come to life in this timeless retelling by Shubha Vilas, which will transport young readers on an enthralling adventure while also instilling crucial values. This book, filled with bright pictures by award-winning cartoonist Ishan, is a clear narrative of virtue triumphing over evil.
Discover the Magic of the Ramayana in this book that expands knowledge of Indian culture, has captivating visuals, teaches life lessons, offers essential ideals and insights of India’s greatest epics.
In conclusion
These moving stories from the Ramayan teach kids timeless values like duty, honesty, bravery, and love. Kids can build strong morals for life by learning from the Ramayan.
Lord Ram’s life is a shining lighthouse of hope, wisdom, and motivation. By learning from his example, young readers can develop qualities that will shape them into compassionate, strong, and principled human beings. These are part of Indian Itihasa and not just stories as they are mentioned in the Puranas such as the Bhagavata Purana and the Vishnu Purana.
The beauty of the Ramayan is that anyone can get inspired by it. The epic has lessons that can be used for a long time by anyone who wants to improve their life, keep the peace in their family, or gain spiritual knowledge. It makes people think about their actions and ideals, which leads to a more balanced and moral life.
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