*** Welcome to piglix ***

Raghava Rama

Rama
An image collage of Hindu deity Rama.jpg
Rama is a Hindu deity, his iconography varies
Sanskrit transliteration Rāma
Affiliation Seventh avatar of Vishnu
Abode Ayodhya and Santanaka
Consort Sita
Parents
Siblings Lakshmana, Bharata, Shatrughna
Children Kusha, Lava
Texts Ramayana
Festivals Rama Navami, Vivaha Panchami, Diwali, Dussehra
Dynasty Ikshvaku dynasty, Suryavansha

Rama (/ˈrɑːmə/;Sanskrit: राम, IAST: Rāma), also known as Ramachandra, is a major deity of Hinduism. He is the seventh avatar of the god Vishnu, one of his most popular incarnations along with Krishna. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Being.

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. 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.


...
Wikipedia

...