the ornament of virtuous persons is their conduct. Some Vaishnava Hindus visit a temple, others pray within their home, and some participate in a bhajan or kirtan with music as a part of puja and aarti. Rama and Sita live happily together in Ayodhya, have twin sons named Luv and Kush, in the Ramayana and other major texts. : Who is GOD? It mentions that Ayodhya was not the capital in the time of Rama's son named Kusha, but that he later returned to it and made it the capital again. [73][74], The text represents Rama as the Brahman (metaphysical reality), mapping all attributes and aspects of Rama to abstract virtues and spiritual ideals. Whereas Krishna is adored for his mischievous pranks and amorous dalliances, Rama is conceived as a model of reason, right action, and desirable virtues. Rama’s name is a popular form of greeting among friends (“Ram! Rama or Ram (/ˈrɑːmə/;[2] Sanskrit: राम, IAST: Rāma, [ˈraːmɐ] ) also known as Ramachandra (रामचन्द्र, Rāmacandra), is a major deity of Hinduism. Like major epics and religious stories around the world, it has been of vital relevance because it "tells the culture what it is". [105], Rama Navami is a spring festival that celebrates the birthday of Rama. [140] The discussion of Rama and Krishna avatars is the most extensive in this section of the secondary Sikh scripture. A noble soul will ever exercise compassion Rama - avatar of Vishnu whose name is synonymous with God; any of three incarnations: Ramachandra or Parashurama or Balarama; "in Hindu folklore Rama is the epitome of chivalry and courage and obedience to sacred law" Rama (or Ramacandra) is the seventh avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. It never has more than two hands, he holds (or has nearby) a bana (arrow) in his right hand, while he holds the dhanus (bow) in his left. Rama, one of the most widely worshipped Hindu deities, the embodiment of chivalry and virtue. [131][132] Rama, Lakshmana and evil Ravana are the eighth triad, with Rama being the reborn Baladeva, and Lakshmana as the reborn Vasudeva. In the Hindu religion, Rama is an avatar (‘descent’ from God) of the god Visnu. No mention is found of a god or king named Rama (although there were already lists of hundreds of Hindu gods ). According to Hasmukh Dhirajlal Sankalia, an Indian archaeologist, who specialised in Proto- and Ancient Indian history, this is all "pure speculation". Just like Vijayadashmi, Diwali is celebrated by different communities across India to commemorate different events in addition to Rama's return to Ayodhya. In some instances, Hanuman is also included either near them or in the temple premises. [127][128] Thai kings, continuing into the contemporary era, have been called Rama, a name inspired by Rama of Ramakien – the local version of Sanskrit Ramayana, according to Constance Jones and James Ryan. [129], In Jainism, the earliest known version of Rama story is variously dated from the 1st to 5th century CE. The primary source of the life of Rama is the Sanskrit epic Ramayana composed by Rishi Valmiki. She does, and passes the test. The region has numerous Rama temples and is an important Vaishnava pilgrimage site. [146][148], Temples dedicated to Rama are found all over India and in places where Indian migrant communities have resided. Rama’s popularity was increased greatly by the retelling of the Sanskrit epics in the vernaculars, such as Tulsidas’s celebrated Hindi version, the Ramcharitmanas (“Sacred Lake of the Acts of Rama”), and the Tamil Ramayana by Kampan as well as innumerable oral variants and dance dramas. The Rama story in the Jainism tradition also show variation by author and region, in details, in implied ethical prescriptions and even in names – the older versions using the name Padma instead of Rama, while the later Jain texts just use Rama. [citation needed], Versions of the Ramayana exist in most major Indian languages; examples that elaborate on the life, deeds and divine philosophies of Rama include the epic poem Ramavataram, and the following vernacular versions of Rama's life story:[69], The epic is found across India, in different languages and cultural traditions. [53] Similarly the versions vary on many other specific situations and closure such as how Rama, Sita and Lakshmana die. [97], Another historically and chronologically important text is Raghuvamsa authored by Kalidasa.

[7] Of all their travails, the most notable is the kidnapping of Sita by demon-king Ravana, followed by the determined and epic efforts of Rama and Lakshmana to gain her freedom and destroy the evil Ravana against great odds. [32], Dasharatha was the king of Kosala, and a part of the solar dynasty of Iksvakus. [citation needed], The Ramayana is a Sanskrit text, while Ramacharitamanasa retells the Ramayana in a vernacular dialect of Hindi language,[76] commonly understood in northern India. In most temples, the iconography of Rama is accompanied by that of his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana. These features suggest that this text has ancient roots. [77][78][79] Ramacharitamanasa was composed in the 16th century by Tulsidas.

He also states that he brought back to China two replicas of the Buddha, one of the Kosala icon of Udayana and another the Prasenajit icon of Prasenajit. [137][note 4] The 2nd-century BCE stone relief carvings on Bharhut stupa, as told in the Dasaratha-Jataka, is the earliest known non-textual evidence of Rama story being prevalent in ancient India.

[118] After the enactment of the legendary war between Good and Evil, the Ramlila celebrations climax in the Dussehra (Dasara, Vijayadashami) night festivities where the giant grotesque effigies of Evil such as of demon Ravana are burnt, typically with fireworks. The King, very concerned about the immense disappointment of his son, seeks consolation among various sages until he reaches the sage Vasistha; He replies that Rama’s dispassion is a sign that the prince was ready to achieve spiritual enlightenment, since he has begun to understand the spiritual truths that are the cause of his confusion and for which he needs confirmation. It is also significant because Kalidasa has been dated to between the 4th and 5th century CE, suggesting that the Ramayana legend was well established by the time of Kalidasa. Rama's life is more complex than the Western template for the battle between the good and the evil, where there is a clear distinction between immortal powerful gods or heroes and mortal struggling humans. [66], Rama's life and comments emphasise that one must pursue and live life fully, that all three life aims are equally important: virtue (dharma), desires (kama), and legitimate acquisition of wealth (artha). [140][141], In Assam, Boro people call themselves Ramsa, which means Children of Ram. Rama responds to public gossip by renouncing his wife, and asking her to undergo a test before Agni (fire). [37][39], Rama and Lakshmana discover the kidnapping, worry about Sita's safety, despair at the loss and their lack of resources to take on Ravana. [85], The Ramacharitmanas is notable for being the Rama-based play commonly performed every year in autumn, during the weeklong performance arts festival of Ramlila. She – epitome of the chaste wife who is burned in the incineration of her husband – unable to live without Rama is swallowed up by the Earth. uccha samstheshu: high position; Updates? Richard Gombrich suggests that the Jataka tales were composed by the 3rd century BCE. [45][46] In these revisions, the death of Sita leads Rama to drown himself. This Jaina text credited to Vimalasuri shows no signs of distinction between Digambara-Svetambara (sects of Jainism), and is in a combination of Marathi and Sauraseni languages.

[49][50] The versions vary by region reflecting local preoccupations and histories, and these cannot be called "divergences or different tellings" from the "real" version, rather all the versions of Rama story are real and true in their own meanings to the local cultural tradition, according to scholars such as Richman and Ramanujan. According to the Jain version, Lakshmana (Vasudeva) is the one who kills Ravana (Prativasudeva). Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Rathayatras, the chariot processions, also known as Shobha yatras of Rama, Sita, his brother Lakshmana and Hanuman, are taken out at several places. [68] The story of Rama and people in his life raises questions such as "is it appropriate to use evil to respond to evil?

The Rama of Jainism has numerous wives as does Lakshmana, unlike the virtue of monogamy given to Rama in the Hindu texts. He talks about his decision with his wife and tells everyone that time passes quickly.

His story is told briefly in the Mahabharata (“Great Epic of the Bharata Dynasty”) and at great length in the Ramayana (“Rama’s Journey”). [59], The composition of Rama's epic story, the Ramayana, in its current form is usually dated between 7th and 4th century BCE. The followers of Madhvacharya believe that an older version of the Ramayana, the Mula-Ramayana, previously existed.
In painting, he is depicted dark in colour (indicating his affinity with Vishnu), with princely adornments and the kirita-makuta (tall conical cap) on his head indicating his royal status. [43][44] It is believed by many that when Rama returned people celebrated their happiness with fireworks, and the festival of Diwali is connected with Rama's return.
Why should I believe in God ? According to the ancient Garuda-purana text (4th century n. E.), Rama is the seventh avatar of Vishnu , but seven centuries later, the Bhagavata-purana of Vopadeva (11th century) claimed that Rama is the eighteenth avatar. For example, like other Hindu poet-saints of the Bhakti movement before the 16th century, Tulsidas in. [90], The Yoga Vasistha text consists of six books. [75] This was also translated by Thunchath Ezhuthachan to Malayalam, which lead the foundation of the language itself. tataj cha: that too; I have sung this [hymn] to Dujsima, Prithavana, [the rishi] Vena, the [rishi] Rama, the asuras [‘noble’], and the king. [1] The extant manuscripts of the text describes their education and training as young princes, but this is brief.