Rama
Rama (; Sanskrit: राम, IAST: Rāma, Sanskrit: [ˈraːmɐ] ), also known as Ram, is a major deity in Hinduism, who is worshipped as one of the prominent avatars of Vishnu. Rama is considered an ideal man (maryāda puruṣottama) and is the heroic protagonist of the Hindu epic Ramayana. In Rama-centric Hindu traditions, he is considered the Supreme Being. Often respectfully referred to as Sri Rama, his life is celebrated through several festivals: birth on Rama Navami, victory in battle on Vijayadashami, and return to Ayodhya on Diwali, which is marked by lights and fireworks. Legends of Rama also feature in the texts of Jainism and Buddhism.
According to the Ramayana, Rama was born to Dasaratha and his first wife Kausalya in Ayodhya, the capital of the Kingdom of Kosala, on the ninth day of the bright half (Shukla Paksha) of the lunar cycle of Chaitra (March–April), the first month in the Hindu calendar. His siblings included Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna. He married Sita. Born into a royal family, Rama's life is described in Hindu texts as one marked by unexpected changes, including a 14-year exile in the forest. This period was filled with difficult circumstances and challenges of ethical questions and moral dilemmas. The most notable story involving Rama is the kidnapping of Sita by the demon-king Ravana, followed by Rama and Lakshmana's journey to rescue her.
The life story of Rama, Sita and their companions allegorically discusses duties, rights and social responsibilities of an individual. It illustrates dharma and dharmic living through model characters.
Rama is especially important to Vaishnavism, being the seventh avatar of Vishnu. He is the central figure in the ancient epic Ramayana, a text historically popular in the South Asian and Southeast Asian cultures. His ancient legends have attracted bhashya (commentaries) and extensive secondary literature and inspired performance arts. Two such texts, for example, are the Adhyatma Ramayana – a spiritual and theological treatise considered foundational by Ramanandi monasteries, and the Ramcharitmanas – a popular treatise that inspires thousands of Ramlila festival performances during autumn every year in India.
The texts of Jainism and Buddhism also recount several tales of Rama, though he is sometimes called Pauma or Padma in these texts, and their details vary significantly from the Hindu versions. Jain Texts also mention Rama as the eighth balabhadra among the 63 salakapurusas. In Sikhism, Rama is mentioned as twentieth of the twenty-four divine avatars of Vishnu in the Chaubis Avtar in Dasam Granth.
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