🏹 Rama

Birth and Youth

Rama was born to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya in the kingdom of Ayodhya. He was the eldest of four brothers: Bharata (son of Kaikeyi), Lakshmana, and Shatrughna (twin sons of Sumitra). From youth, Rama displayed exceptional virtue, skill in martial arts, and devotion to duty.

As a young prince, Rama accompanied the sage Vishwamitra to protect sacrificial rituals from demons. There he defeated the demoness Tataka and her son Subahu. Vishwamitra taught him divine weapons (astras) and their mantras, including the mighty Brahmastra.

Marriage to Sita

In the kingdom of Mithila, King Janaka held a swayamvara for his daughter Sita, found as an infant in a furrow while plowing (her name means "furrow"). The challenge: string the massive bow of Lord Shiva, which no man had been able to even lift.

When Rama attempted to string the bow, it broke in half from his power. Sita chose Rama, and they were married in a grand ceremony. Sita's three sisters were wed to Rama's three brothers in a collective marriage celebration.

Exile to the Forest

As Dasharatha prepared to crown Rama king, Queen Kaikeyi—influenced by her maidservant Manthara—demanded that Dasharatha honor two boons he had once promised her: that her son Bharata be crowned king, and that Rama be exiled to the forest for fourteen years.

Despite the injustice and his own right to the throne, Rama immediately accepted exile to honor his father's word. Sita insisted on accompanying him, and his devoted brother Lakshmana also joined them. King Dasharatha died of heartbreak shortly after Rama's departure.

Bharata, horrified by his mother's actions, refused the throne and went to the forest to beg Rama to return. When Rama refused, citing his dharma to fulfill his father's promise, Bharata placed Rama's sandals on the throne and ruled Ayodhya as Rama's regent for fourteen years.

The Abduction of Sita

Living in the Dandaka forest, Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana encountered many sages and protected them from demons (rakshasas). One demoness, Shurpanakha, sister of the demon king Ravana, desired Rama and attacked Sita out of jealousy. Lakshmana cut off her nose and ears, and she fled to her brother in Lanka.

Ravana, ten-headed king of Lanka, sought revenge and desired Sita for himself. His uncle Maricha transformed into a golden deer to lure Rama away. When Sita heard what sounded like Rama's cry for help, she insisted Lakshmana go to his aid. Left alone, Sita was abducted by Ravana and taken to his island kingdom of Lanka.

The divine vulture Jatayu tried to stop Ravana but was mortally wounded. Before dying, he told Rama the direction Ravana had taken Sita.

Alliance with Hanuman and the Vanaras

In their search for Sita, Rama and Lakshmana met Hanuman, the devoted monkey deity and son of the wind god. Hanuman served Sugriva, exiled king of the vanaras (monkey people). Rama helped Sugriva defeat his brother Vali and reclaim his throne. In gratitude, Sugriva pledged his entire army to help find Sita.

Hanuman discovered Sita imprisoned in Ravana's Ashoka grove in Lanka. He presented her with Rama's ring, assured her of rescue, and offered to carry her back. Sita refused, insisting that Rama himself must rescue her to preserve honor. Hanuman then revealed his divine form, destroyed part of Lanka, and returned to inform Rama of Sita's location.

The War with Ravana

Rama, Lakshmana, Hanuman, and the vanara army built a bridge of stones across the ocean to Lanka (Rama Setu, Adam's Bridge). The ocean god Varuna initially blocked their path but yielded when Rama threatened to dry the ocean with divine weapons.

The battle raged for days. Ravana's brothers and sons fell one by one: Kumbhakarna (the giant who slept for months), Indrajit/Meghanada (who had once defeated Indra), and countless demon warriors. Ravana himself proved nearly invincible, his ten heads regenerating when cut off.

Finally, using the divine Brahmastra given by the sage Agastya, Rama aimed for Ravana's navel—the source of his immortality—and slew the demon king. Lanka was liberated, and Vibhishana, Ravana's righteous brother who had defected to Rama's side, was crowned king.

Return to Ayodhya and Agni Pariksha

Before accepting Sita back, Rama—bound by dharma and kingly duty to maintain reputation—asked her to prove her purity through Agni Pariksha (trial by fire). Sita entered the flames, and Agni (the fire god) himself emerged carrying her, testifying to her absolute purity and faithfulness.

Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana returned to Ayodhya in the Pushpaka Vimana (celestial chariot) on the new moon day, which is celebrated as Diwali (Festival of Lights). The citizens lit oil lamps to welcome their righteous king home. Rama was crowned king and ruled in what is called Rama Rajya (Rama's Rule)—a golden age of justice, prosperity, and dharma.

The Painful Duty: Sita's Second Exile

Later, when rumors spread among his subjects questioning Sita's purity despite the Agni Pariksha—rumors that threatened the moral authority of the throne—Rama, as king, felt bound by dharma to maintain the people's faith in their ruler. In the most painful decision of his life, he ordered that the pregnant Sita be exiled to the forest.

Sita took refuge in Sage Valmiki's ashram, where she gave birth to twin sons Lava and Kusha. Valmiki taught them the story of their father, which they sang throughout the land. Years later, when Rama heard these boys sing his own story without knowing they were his sons, he finally learned where Sita had been.

Rama called for Sita to return and prove her innocence once more. Sita, weary of constantly proving her purity, called upon her mother Bhumi Devi (Earth Goddess). The earth opened, and Sita descended into it, returning to her origin. Heartbroken, Rama ruled many more years before finally walking into the Sarayu River and returning to his true form as Vishnu in Vaikuntha.