Rama - Modern Portrayal in India

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 ...

Including:

• Rama - Origins
• Rama - Prince of Ayodhya
• Rama - The Avatara
• Rama - With Vishwamitra
• Rama - Marriage to Sita
• Rama - Rama's Arrow
• Rama - Banishment to the Forest
• Rama - The Destruction of Khara
• Rama - The Kidnapping of Sita
• Rama - In Kishkindya
• Rama - The War
• Rama - Rama Rajya
• Rama - Uttara Kanda
• Rama - Sita's banishment
• Rama - In History and Mythology
• Rama - Modern Portrayal in India
• Rama - Symbolism of Rama
• Rama - Portrayal in South East Asia

Read more here: » Rama: Encyclopedia - Rama

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. ...

See also:

Rama, Rama - Origins, Rama - Prince of Ayodhya, Rama - The Avatara, Rama - With Vishwamitra, Rama - Marriage to Sita, Rama - Rama's Arrow, Rama - Banishment to the Forest, Rama - The Destruction of Khara, Rama - The Kidnapping of Sita, Rama - In Kishkindya, Rama - The War, Rama - Rama Rajya, Rama - Uttara Kanda, Rama - Sita's banishment, Rama - In History and Mythology, Rama - Modern Portrayal in India, Rama - Symbolism of Rama, Rama - Portrayal in South East Asia

Read more here: » Rama: Encyclopedia II - Rama - Modern Portrayal in India

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 ...

See also:

Rama, Rama - Origins, Rama - Prince of Ayodhya, Rama - The Avatara, Rama - With Vishwamitra, Rama - Marriage to Sita, Rama - Rama's Arrow, Rama - Banishment to the Forest, Rama - The Destruction of Khara, Rama - The Kidnapping of Sita, Rama - In Kishkindya, Rama - The War, Rama - Rama Rajya, Rama - Uttara Kanda, Rama - Sita's banishment, Rama - In History and Mythology, Rama - Modern Portrayal in India, Rama - Symbolism of Rama, Rama - Portrayal in South East Asia

Read more here: » Rama: Encyclopedia II - Rama - Rama's Arrow

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 t ...

See also:

Rama, Rama - Origins, Rama - Prince of Ayodhya, Rama - The Avatara, Rama - With Vishwamitra, Rama - Marriage to Sita, Rama - Rama's Arrow, Rama - Banishment to the Forest, Rama - The Destruction of Khara, Rama - The Kidnapping of Sita, Rama - In Kishkindya, Rama - The War, Rama - Rama Rajya, Rama - Uttara Kanda, Rama - Sita's banishment, Rama - In History and Mythology, Rama - Modern Portrayal in India, Rama - Symbolism of Rama, Rama - Portrayal in South East Asia

Read more here: » Rama: Encyclopedia II - Rama - Uttara Kanda

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 mon ...

See also:

Rama, Rama - Origins, Rama - Prince of Ayodhya, Rama - The Avatara, Rama - With Vishwamitra, Rama - Marriage to Sita, Rama - Rama's Arrow, Rama - Banishment to the Forest, Rama - The Destruction of Khara, Rama - The Kidnapping of Sita, Rama - In Kishkindya, Rama - The War, Rama - Rama Rajya, Rama - Uttara Kanda, Rama - Sita's banishment, Rama - In History and Mythology, Rama - Modern Portrayal in India, Rama - Symbolism of Rama, Rama - Portrayal in South East Asia

Read more here: » Rama: Encyclopedia II - Rama - Prince of Ayodhya

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, parashu-rāma ("Battle-axe-Rama"), the 6th Avatar of Vishnu, sometimes also referred to ...

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Rama, Rama - Origins, Rama - Prince of Ayodhya, Rama - The Avatara, Rama - With Vishwamitra, Rama - Marriage to Sita, Rama - Rama's Arrow, Rama - Banishment to the Forest, Rama - The Destruction of Khara, Rama - The Kidnapping of Sita, Rama - In Kishkindya, Rama - The War, Rama - Rama Rajya, Rama - Uttara Kanda, Rama - Sita's banishment, Rama - In History and Mythology, Rama - Modern Portrayal in India, Rama - Symbolism of Rama, Rama - Portrayal in South East Asia

Read more here: » Rama: Encyclopedia II - Rama - Origins

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 She was passing by Panchawati. She witnesses Rama, Sita and Lakshmana passing, and tries to flatter and seduce Rama. Rama te ...

See also:

Rama, Rama - Origins, Rama - Prince of Ayodhya, Rama - The Avatara, Rama - With Vishwamitra, Rama - Marriage to Sita, Rama - Rama's Arrow, Rama - Banishment to the Forest, Rama - The Destruction of Khara, Rama - The Kidnapping of Sita, Rama - In Kishkindya, Rama - The War, Rama - Rama Rajya, Rama - Uttara Kanda, Rama - Sita's banishment, Rama - In History and Mythology, Rama - Modern Portrayal in India, Rama - Symbolism of Rama, Rama - Portrayal in South East Asia

Read more here: » Rama: Encyclopedia II - Rama - The Destruction of Khara

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 h ...

See also:

Rama, Rama - Origins, Rama - Prince of Ayodhya, Rama - The Avatara, Rama - With Vishwamitra, Rama - Marriage to Sita, Rama - Rama's Arrow, Rama - Banishment to the Forest, Rama - The Destruction of Khara, Rama - The Kidnapping of Sita, Rama - In Kishkindya, Rama - The War, Rama - Rama Rajya, Rama - Uttara Kanda, Rama - Sita's banishment, Rama - In History and Mythology, Rama - Modern Portrayal in India, Rama - Symbolism of Rama, Rama - Portrayal in South East Asia

Read more here: » Rama: Encyclopedia II - Rama - Rama Rajya

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 M ...

See also:

Rama, Rama - Origins, Rama - Prince of Ayodhya, Rama - The Avatara, Rama - With Vishwamitra, Rama - Marriage to Sita, Rama - Rama's Arrow, Rama - Banishment to the Forest, Rama - The Destruction of Khara, Rama - The Kidnapping of Sita, Rama - In Kishkindya, Rama - The War, Rama - Rama Rajya, Rama - Uttara Kanda, Rama - Sita's banishment, Rama - In History and Mythology, Rama - Modern Portrayal in India, Rama - Symbolism of Rama, Rama - Portrayal in South East Asia

Read more here: » Rama: Encyclopedia II - Rama - The Kidnapping of 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 daught ...

See also:

Rama, Rama - Origins, Rama - Prince of Ayodhya, Rama - The Avatara, Rama - With Vishwamitra, Rama - Marriage to Sita, Rama - Rama's Arrow, Rama - Banishment to the Forest, Rama - The Destruction of Khara, Rama - The Kidnapping of Sita, Rama - In Kishkindya, Rama - The War, Rama - Rama Rajya, Rama - Uttara Kanda, Rama - Sita's banishment, Rama - In History and Mythology, Rama - Modern Portrayal in India, Rama - Symbolism of Rama, Rama - Portrayal in South East Asia

Read more here: » Rama: Encyclopedia II - Rama - Marriage to Sita

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 hi ...

See also:

Rama, Rama - Origins, Rama - Prince of Ayodhya, Rama - The Avatara, Rama - With Vishwamitra, Rama - Marriage to Sita, Rama - Rama's Arrow, Rama - Banishment to the Forest, Rama - The Destruction of Khara, Rama - The Kidnapping of Sita, Rama - In Kishkindya, Rama - The War, Rama - Rama Rajya, Rama - Uttara Kanda, Rama - Sita's banishment, Rama - In History and Mythology, Rama - Modern Portrayal in India, Rama - Symbolism of Rama, Rama - Portrayal in South East Asia

Read more here: » Rama: Encyclopedia II - Rama - The Avatara

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 tel ...

See also:

Rama, Rama - Origins, Rama - Prince of Ayodhya, Rama - The Avatara, Rama - With Vishwamitra, Rama - Marriage to Sita, Rama - Rama's Arrow, Rama - Banishment to the Forest, Rama - The Destruction of Khara, Rama - The Kidnapping of Sita, Rama - In Kishkindya, Rama - The War, Rama - Rama Rajya, Rama - Uttara Kanda, Rama - Sita's banishment, Rama - In History and Mythology, Rama - Modern Portrayal in India, Rama - Symbolism of Rama, Rama - Portrayal in South East Asia

Read more here: » Rama: Encyclopedia II - Rama - The Destruction of Khara

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 Tatak ...

See also:

Rama, Rama - Origins, Rama - Prince of Ayodhya, Rama - The Avatara, Rama - With Vishwamitra, Rama - Marriage to Sita, Rama - Rama's Arrow, Rama - Banishment to the Forest, Rama - The Destruction of Khara, Rama - The Kidnapping of Sita, Rama - In Kishkindya, Rama - The War, Rama - Rama Rajya, Rama - Uttara Kanda, Rama - Sita's banishment, Rama - In History and Mythology, Rama - Modern Portrayal in India, Rama - Symbolism of Rama, Rama - Portrayal in South East Asia

Read more here: » Rama: Encyclopedia II - Rama - With Vishwamitra