राम, IAST: Rāma // also known as Ramachandra, is a major deity
of Hinduism. He is 7th avatar of the God Vishnu, one of his most popular incarnations along with Krishna, Parshurama, and Gautama Buddha.
Rama was born to Kaushalya and Dasharatha in Ayodhya, the ruler of the Kingdom of Kosala. His siblings included Lakshmana, Bharata,
and Shatrughna. He married Sita.
Though born in a royal family, their life is described in the Hindu texts as
one challenged by unexpected changes such as an exile into impoverished and
difficult circumstances, ethical questions and moral dilemmas.[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. The entire 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. He is the central figure of the ancient
Hindu epic Ramayana, a
text historically popular in the South Asian and Southeast Asian cultures. His
ancient legends have attracted bhasya (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.
Rāma is a Vedic Sanskrit word
with two contextual meanings. In one context as found in Atharva Veda, as stated by Monier Monier-Williams,
means "dark, dark-colored, black" and is related to the term ratri which
means night. In another context as found in other Vedic texts, the word means
"pleasing, delightful, charming, beautiful, lovely".[18][19] The word is sometimes used as a
suffix in different Indian languages and religions, such as Pali in Buddhist
texts, where -rama adds the sense of "pleasing to the mind,
lovely" to the composite word.[20]
Rama as a first name appears in
the Vedic literature, associated with two patronymic names – Margaveya and
Aupatasvini – representing different individuals. A third individual
named Rama Jamadagnya is the purported author of hymn 10.110 of
the Rigveda in the Hindu tradition.[18] The word Rama appears in
ancient literature in reverential terms for three individuals:[18]
1.
Parashu-rama, as the sixth avatar of
Vishnu. He is linked to the Rama Jamadagnya of the Rigveda fame.
2.
Rama-chandra, as the seventh avatar of
Vishnu and of the ancient Ramayana fame.
3.
Bala-rama, also called Halayudha,
as the elder brother of Krishna both
of whom appear in the legends of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.
Rama was born on the ninth day of the lunar month Chaitra (March–April), a day celebrated across India as Ram Navami. ... The ancient epic Ramayana states in the Balakhanda that Rama and his brothers were born to Kaushalya and Dasharatha in Ayodhya, a city on the banks of Sarayu River.
Rama had three brothers Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna. While Rama and his brothers were away, Kaikeyi, the mother of Bharata and the second wife of King Dasharatha, reminds the king that he had promised long ago to comply with one thing she asks, anything. Dasharatha remembers and agrees to do so. She demands that Rama be exiled for fourteen years to Dandaka forest.[36] Dasharatha grieves at her request. Her son Bharata, and other family members become upset at her demand. Rama states that his father should keep his word, adds that he does not crave for earthly or heavenly material pleasures, neither seeks power nor anything else. He talks about his decision with his wife and tells everyone that time passes quickly. Sita leaves with him to live in the forest, the brother Lakshmana joins them in their exile as the caring close brother.
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