Rāma

Rāma, also Rāmacandra. The hero of the major Hindu epic, Rāmāyaṇa. The initial core of the epic portrays Rāma as a courageous prince following the example of his ancestor Raghu (hence his epithet Rāghava). But in the full epic and the Purāṇas, Rāma is an avatāra (manifestation) of Viṣṇu, the seventh and almost equal in importance to Kṛṣṇa. Rāma and his wife Sītā are the model spouses for Hindus. Vālmīki traces the spiritual path of Rāma in Yoga-vasiṣtha, and to him also is ascribed the central part of Rāmāyaṇa. The present work is in seven kāndas, sections, of which (ii)–(vi) tell of Rāma's birth (celebrated in the festival Rāma Navami) and childhood; his life in Ayodhyā and his banishment; his life in the forest and Sītā's abduction by Rāvaṇa; Rāma's life with his monkey allies; his crossing over the bridge to Śri Lankā; the battle, the defeat of Rāvaṇa (celebrated in the festival of Daśarā) and the rescue of Sītā; his life in Ayodhyā, Sītā's banishment and return, their death and ascent to heaven. (i) and (vii) contextualize the narrative by glorifying Rāma as an avatāra of Viṣṇu. To read the epic is to be associated with Rāma. The same is effected by repeating Rāma's name in the ear of a dying person. Rām as a mantra is held, especially by Vaiṣṇavites, to contain the universe, and from that mantra all languages have emerged.