Rama: Encyclopedia - Rama

Rama

Rāma or Rama (rāma in IAST, राम (or Sri Rama: श्रीराम) in Devanagari) is the Seventh Avatara of Vishnu. His full name is Ramachandra, and he is reverently addressed as Sri Rama. He is the embodiment of the Absolute Brahman and Dharma. He is the Mariyada Purushottama or The Perfect Man.

The life and heroic deeds of Rama are related in the Sanskrit epic the Ramayana, which literally means The Journey of Rama. A great devotional work on him is the Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas, which builds on the Hindu bhakti movements of devotion and love of God.

Rama is the most famous and popular manifestation of the Supreme God for a vast majority of the 900 million Hindus across the world, including the nations of South East Asia such as Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Burma and Cambodia. He is recognized as the image, spirit and consciousness of Hinduism, the world's oldest organized religion, and of human civilization from the Indian perspective.

The spelling and pronunciation of Rama follows the original Sanskrit; it continues to be followed in several modern languages of India. In modern Indian vernaculars, however, it is sometimes pronounced as 'Ram'.

Rama - Origins

The name was originally an epitheton of the night, from a root ram "to stop, stay, rest, abide"; hence a meaning of "black, dark-coloured" in the Atharvaveda. Two Ramas are mentioned in the Vedas, with the patronymics Mārgaveya and Aupatasvini; another Rama with the patronymic Jāmadagnya is the supposed author of Rigveda 10.110. According to Monier-Williams, three Ramas were celebrated in post-Vedic times,

1. parashu-rāma ("Battle-axe-Rama"), the 6th Avatar of Vishnu, sometimes also referred to as Jāmadagnya, or as Bhārgava (descended from Bhrigu)
2. Rāma-candra ("Rama-moon"), son of Dasaratha, descended from Raghu
3. Bala-rāma ("the strong Rama"), also called Halāyudha, regarded as an elder brother of Krishna

According to Jainas, a Rama is enumerated among the nine white Balas. In in the Vāyu-Purana, a Rama is mentioned among the seven Rishis of the 8th Manvantara.

Rama - Prince of Ayodhya

Rama is born in the city of Ayodhya, which is the capital of the ancient kingdom of Kosala. The city and the area are located in the central region of the modern state of Uttar Pradesh in India.

King Dasaratha performs a putrakami yajna, a sacrifice to obtain offspring by pleasing the Gods. He gives the sacred, sacrificial nectar to his three wives according to their seniority: Kousalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi.

Rama is born the eldest son of Kousalya and Dasaratha. He is the prince of the Suryavanshi (Sun Dynasty) House of Ikshvaku, descendant of great monarchs like Ikshvaku, Raghu and Bhagiratha.

He is the eldest brother to Bharata, son of Kaikeyi, and the twin sons of Sumitra, Lakshmana and Shatrughna. The Ramayana describes their relationship as intensely loving and devotional, although Rama and Lakshmana share a special, inseparable bond, while Bharata is especially close to Shatrughna.

Rama and his brothers are trained by the Guru Vasishta in the Vedas, religion, philosophy and the sciences. Guru Vishwamitra is the preceptor of Rama and Lakshmana in the advanced military arts and advanced religion.

Rama - The Avatara

Upon his birth, only a few highly learned and experienced sages know of his true identity as the Avatara of the Supreme Lord Vishnu. Amongst them are Vasishta and Vishwamitra. Neither his parents, nor his brothers or any of the people of Kosala know who his true identity. Rama is born with a blueish skin color and effulgence, which denotes divinity.

Throughout the course of his life, Rama does not himself know of his true origin and mission. Despite his exceptional prowess as a warrior, he does not realize his true strength and mission in life.

Only after he completes his primary mission of slaying Ravana, the evil emperor of Lanka is he confronted by all the Gods and celestial sages, headed by Brahma and including Indra and Shiva, who explain his true identity.

His brother and close companion Lakshmana is considered a part of the Seventh Avatara, but in a secondary role to Rama, the prime form.

Rama - With Vishwamitra

When Rama is around 14-15 years old, he and his brother Lakshmana are taken by Vishwamitra to the forests, with the purpose of killing rakshasas who are wrecking the tapasya and sacrifices of brahmins.

Rama and Lakshmana are taught the advanced military arts and given the knowledge of all celestial weapons by Vishwamitra. Rama proceeds to slay Tataka, a cursed demoness. When asked to slay the yaksha demon, Rama demurrs, considering it sinful to kill a woman. But Vishwamitra explains to him that evil has no gender. The killing of Tataka liberates the yaksha soul who was cursed for a sin, and had to adopt a rakshasa's body. It restores the purity of the sacrifices of the brahmins who live nearby, and protects the animals who live in the forest, and travelers.

The main purpose of Vishwamitra's exursion is to conduct his yagna without interruption from two evil demons, Maricha and Subahu. Rama and Lakshmana guard the sacrifice, and when the two demons appear, Rama fires a missile that carries Maricha across the lands and into the ocean, but does not kill him. Rama and his brother then proceed to kill Subahu and accompanying demons.

Rama explains to Lakshmana that leaving Maricha alive was an act of compassion, but the others did not heed the point and chose to attack.

Rama - Marriage to Sita

Sita Devi is the Avatara of the Goddess Lakshmi, who is the eternal consort and female form of Vishnu. Just as Rama is the manifestation of perfect manhood, Sita idealizes the Perfect Woman through her performance of her duties to religion, as a wife to her husband and as a mother to her children, and collectively as a woman in human society. Sita is the adopted daughter of king Janaka, and the daughter of Goddess Bhumidevi, or Earth.

When he is approximately 15 years of age, his Guru Vishwamitra takes the two princes to the Swayamvara ceremony for Sita. The challenge is to string the bow of Siva, and shoot an arrow with it. This task is considered impossible for any ordinary king or living being, as this is the personal weapon of Siva, more powerful, holy and of divine creation than conceivable.

While attempting to string the bow, Rama breaks it into two. This feat of unbelievable strength, to have broken the personal weapon of Siva, spreads his fame across the worlds and seals his marriage to Sita.

Rama - Rama's Arrow

After Rama weds Sita and the entire royal family and the Ayodhya army begin their journey back, the great rishi Parashurama Bhargava appears before them, having descended from his mountainous hermitage.

Parashurama is an extremely powerful rishi, responsible for killing all of the world's warriors and kings 21 times. He was formerly the sixth Avatara of Vishnu, and finds it unbelievable that anybody could break the bow of Siva. Considering himself to still be the most powerful warrior-rishi on earth, he brings with them the bow of Vishnu, and intends to challenge Rama to prove his strength by stringing it, and then fighting a battle with him to prove superiority.

Although the entire Ayodhya army is dazzled by his mystical aura, and the king Dasaratha begs Parashurama not to hurt Rama, Rama is himself angered. He respectfully bows to Parashurama, and within a twinkling of an eyelid snatches the bow of Vishnu, strings it, places an arrow and points it straight at the challenger's heart. Rama asks Parashurama what he will give as a target to the arrow in return for his life?

At this point, Parashurama feels himself devoid of the tremendous mystical energy he possessed for so long. He realizes that Rama is Vishnu incarnate, his successor and definitely his superior. He accepts Rama's superiority, devotes his tapasya to him, pays homage to Rama and promises to return to his hermitage and not return to the world of men.

Rama then fires the arrow up into the sky with Vishnu's bow, performing a feat true to his Supreme nature and with his natural weapon. His overpowering Parashurama and using the supreme weapon with incredible ease and perfection dazzle the spectators and his relatives, but no one save Parashurama and Vasishta associate this with his true identity.

It is said that the Rama's arrow is still flying across space, across time and across all of the universe. The day it will return to earth, it is said, it will bring the end of the world.

Rama - Banishment to the Forest

Rama - The Destruction of Khara

Rama is asked to help and protect the rishis of the forest who were being terrorized by Khara, a powerful half-brother of Ravana, who had been assigned to rule this area by Ravana. Khara and his demonic legions would kill rishis, disrupt their sacrifices, undertake sinful activities, and oppress the people.

According to the Valmiki Ramayana, an area of the forest was under Surpanaka, sister of Ravana, and he was passing by Panchawati. She witnesses Rama, Sita and Lakshmana passing, and tries to flatter and seduce Rama. Rama tells her that he is married and committed to Sita, but if she wishes she can go ask Lakshmana, his younger brother. Lakshmana gets angry, insults her and cuts her nose. To take a revenge, she went to her cousin brothers, Khara.

With 14,000 powerful rakshasas, Khara attacks Rama. Rama instructs Lakshmana to take Sita away and protect her, and single-handedly razes Khara's army and kills Khara's most powerful brothers and commanders, and finally Khara himself.

Rama - The Kidnapping of Sita

Surpanaka goes to Lanka, and tells the whole story to Ravana. She suggests that he kidnap Sita and marry her, so that Rama would be insulted and devastated.

Ravana convinces Maricha, one of the mayawi rakshasas, possessors of mystic powers. He tells him to convert himself to a golden deer and go near Panchwati so that Sita will be attracted to it.

And the same happens. Sita asks Rama to bring him. Rama chases the deer, but sensing mischief, that the deer is simply a decoy for some evil purpose, fires an arrow at it and Maricha dies. But while dying, he shouts in Rama's voice "Help Laxman Help". Sita and Laxman who are still in Panchwati, listen to this voice. Sita begs Laxman to go and help Rama. Firstly he was not ready to leave Sita alone in that jungle. But as Sita is panicking and inconsolable, he draws a Laxman Rekha in front of hut.

Here Ravana dressed like a muni and went to Panchwati for Bhiksha. Bhiksha is some fruits or eatable to be given to brhmins or rishis. Firstly Sita was not ready to cross Laxman Rekha.But then Ravana blackmailed her in the name of Dhrama. Thus Sita crossed Laxman Rekha. And Ravana kidnapped her.

He took Sita to his place Sri Lanka. He has number of big halls called 'Mahal' and different forests. After going to Lanka, he proposed marriage to Sita. Even his wife Mandodari and younger brother Vibheeshana also opposed but he didnot listen to them.He kept Sita in one of his gardens called Ashokawan.

Rama - In Kishkindya

Rama went to seek help from the king of the monkeys, Sugreeva, in the monkey kingdom of Kishkinda. He raised an army there and went to fight Ravana at Lanka.

Rama - The War

Rama - Rama Rajya

Invested as King of Ayodhya and Kosala, Rama begins a 10,000 year reign that is known as Rama Rajya, which is considered to be the time when God, as the most Perfect Man ruled the earth, and evil was extinguished from the hearts of all men and women. This most perfect period is described as extremely prosperous and peaceful, with all its people adhering to religious virtues and duties, and where crime, injustice and suffering were non-existent.

Rama also performs the ashwamedha sacrifice 1,000 times to establish himself as the Emperor of the World.

Rama - Uttara Kanda

The Uttara Kanda, the last book of the Ramayana is the most controversial, and appears to have been a later addition to the original epic.

Rama - Sita's banishment

In the Uttara Kanda, Rama banishes his wife Sita, even as she is pregnant with his child, asking Lakshmana to deliver her safely to Rishi Valmiki's ashram. He does so when it is reported to him that some subjects of his in Ayodhya believe that Sita is unchaste due to their long captivity in Ravana's city. The Agni Pariksha fails to convince these few critics, but Rama, by his understanding of the dharma of a king, decides to banish Sita so as to maintain his respect amongst his people.

Rama is harshly criticized in contemporary times for this injustice to his wife, whose purity and love for Rama is one of the epic's central themes. However, according to a legend described by Rishi Agastya in the epic, Vishnu in a previous age had been cursed by a rishi, whose wife had been killed by Vishnu for sheltering his enemies escaping from battle. The Rishi condemns Vishnu to be denied for a long age, the companionship of his soul mate, just as Vishnu, by an inadvertant display of anger, had deprived the rishi of his loving wife. Thus Rama, Vishnu's incarnation, must live the rest of his life without Sita.

In the love saga of Rama and Sita, this happening also describes the inevitable pains of separation that true love must learn to conquer.

Rama - In History and Mythology

Astronomical data in the Ramayana has been interpreted to suggest that his reign would have been at approximately 2015 BC. This makes little sense, however, given that Shri Rama assumed human form in the Treta Yuga (see yuga for more detail). It is known that the Ramayana was written before the other great Hindu epic, the Mahabharata, whose tradition of oral transmission is accepted to have existed around 1000 BC although there is little indication of when it actually began (the writing coming much later). Thus, the Ramayana may have been documented anywhere from around 1500 BC to more conservative estimates of 500 BC. It should be noted that Indian culture has had a tradition of oral transmission of knowledge, considering it sacred and confidential. The Ramayana is a great literary work and piece of devotional and philosophical literature revered by both Hindus and individuals of other cultures.

Rama - Modern Portrayal in India

Dussera, the day of Rama's victory over Ravana, and Diwali, his return to Ayodhya are the biggest festivals of the year in India.

The Ramayana was created into a major epic television series in India in the late 1980s, and was tirelessly watched by hundreds of millions of people across the country, even though television sets were scarce.

Rama - Symbolism of Rama

Rama embodies the highest of human virtues of tolerance and forgiveness. All through the time after Ravana kidnapped Sita with the intention of making her his queen, Rama tried all means at his disposal to convince Ravana to return Sita unharmed. He was willing to forgive Ravana if he returned Sita without harming her in any way. Rama took the path of war only after all other possibilities were exhausted. The symbolism of Rama is thus - no matter how heinous the crime a person commits, one should be ready to forgive the offender if s/he redeems her/himself and that war or violence should be used as the very last resort when all other possibilities have been explored and exhausted. In Rama's case the heinous crime was that of Ravana kidnapping his wife, yet Rama had it in him to forgive Ravana if he returned Sita unharmed.

Rama - Portrayal in South East Asia

Rama and the legendary epic of Ramayana is an extremely popular tale in Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, Indonesia and Cambodia, where ancient Hindu kingdoms existed.

In Thailand exists an ancient city called Ayutthaya, where the legend is commemorated and Rama worshipped. Many of the kings of Southeast Asian nations were named Rama.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Rama", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki