Rama: Difference between revisions

{{short description|Major deity in Hinduism}}

{{About|the Hindu god Rama, Râm, Ramachandra, Sriram|other Ram|Ram (disambiguation)|other Ramchandra|Ramchandra (disambiguation)|other Sriram|Sriram (disambiguation)|other uses|Rama (disambiguation)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}

{{Use Indian English|date=October 2019}}

| Sanskrit_transliteration = {{IAST|Rāma}}

| member_of = [[Dashavatara]]

| parents = {{unbulleted list|[[Dasharatha]] (father)|[[Kausalya|Kaushalya]] (mother)|[[Kaikeyi]] (step-mother)|[[Sumitra]] (step-mother)}}

| spouse = [[Sita]]{{sfn|James G. Lochtefeld|2002|p=555}}

| weapon = [[Bow and arrow]]s

| texts = {{unbulleted list|''[[Ramayana]]''|[[Versions of Ramayana]]}}

| siblings = {{unbulleted list|[[Lakshmana]] (half-brother)|[[Bharata (Ramayana)|Bharata]] (half-brother)|[[Shatrughna]] (half-brother)}}

| birth_place = [[Ayodhya]], [[Kosala]] (present-day [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]])

| children = {{unbulleted list|[[Lava (Ramayana)|Lava]] (son)|[[Kusha (Ramayana)|Kusha]] (son)}}

| dynasty = [[Raghuvaṃśa (dynasty)|Raghuvamsha]]-[[Solar Dynasty|Suryavamsha]]

| gender = Male

| successor = [[Lava (Ramayana)|Lava]]

| name        = [[Dashavatara]] Sequence

| predecessor  = [[Parashurama]]

| successor    = [[Krishna]]

}}

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.<ref name="goldmanrama">{{cite book|author1=Vālmīki|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DWX43jnbOngC|title=The Ramayana of Valmiki: Balakanda|publisher=[[Princeton University Press]]|year=1990|isbn=978-1-4008-8455-1|page=3|translator-last=Goldman|translator-first=Robert P.|author-link=Valmiki|translator-link=Robert P. Goldman}}</ref><ref name=Dimock1963>{{cite journal| author = Dimock Jr, E.C.| year = 1963| title = Doctrine and Practice among the Vaisnavas of Bengal| journal = History of Religions| volume = 3| issue = 1| pages = 106–127| jstor = 1062079| doi = 10.1086/462474| s2cid = 162027021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Marijke J. Klokke|title=Narrative Sculpture and Literary Traditions in South and Southeast Asia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fx3mpR4uKmkC&pg=PA51 |year=2000|publisher=BRILL|isbn=90-04-11865-9|pages=51–57}}</ref> 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 Sampradaya|Ramanandi]] monasteries,{{Sfn|Ramdas Lamb|2012|p=28}} and the ''[[Ramcharitmanas]]'' – a popular treatise that inspires thousands of [[Ramlila]] festival performances during autumn every year in India.<ref name="SchechnerHess51">{{cite journal | last1=Schechner | first1=Richard | last2=Hess | first2=Linda | title=The Ramlila of Ramnagar [India] | journal=The Drama Review: TDR | publisher=The MIT Press | volume=21 | issue=3 | year=1977 | pages=51–82 | doi=10.2307/1145152 | jstor=1145152 }}</ref><ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|James G. Lochtefeld|2002|p=389}}.</ref><ref name="Jennifer Lindsay 2006 12–14">{{cite book|author=Jennifer Lindsay|title=Between Tongues: Translation And/of/in Performance in Asia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ks-nUAO_fJgC&pg=PA12|year=2006|publisher=National University of Singapore Press|isbn=978-9971-69-339-8|pages=12–14}}</ref>

==Etymology and nomenclature==

''Rama'' as a first name appears in the Vedic literature, associated with two patronymic names – Margaveya and Aupatasvini – representing different individuals. A third individual named ''Rama Jamadagnya'' is the purported author of hymn 10.110 of the ''[[Rigveda]]'' in the Hindu tradition.<ref name=mmwrama/> The word ''Rama'' appears in ancient literature in reverential terms for three individuals:<ref name=mmwrama/>

The name Rama appears repeatedly in Hindu texts, for many different scholars and kings in mythical stories.<ref name=mmwrama/> The word also appears in ancient [[Upanishad]]s and [[Aranyaka]]s layer of Vedic literature, as well as music and other post-Vedic literature, but in qualifying context of something or someone who is "charming, beautiful, lovely" or "darkness, night".<ref name=mmwrama/>

[[File:Ayodhya Nagri.jpg|thumb|300px|Gold carving depiction of the legendary [[Ayodhya (Ramayana)|Ayodhya]] at the [[Ajmer Jain temple]]]]

[[Dasharatha]] was the king of [[Kosala]], and a part of the [[solar dynasty]] of [[Iksvaku]]s. His mother's name [[Kausalya|Kaushalya]] literally implies that she was from Kosala. The kingdom of Kosala is also mentioned in [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] and [[Jain literature|Jain texts]], as one of the sixteen ''[[Mahajanapadas|Maha janapadas]]'' of [[ancient India]], and as an important center of pilgrimage for Jains and Buddhists.<ref name="Guruge1991p51">{{cite book|author=A. W. P. Guruge |title=The Society of the Ramayana |url=https://archive.org/details/trent_0116402264364 |url-access=registration |year=1991|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-81-7017-265-9|pages=[https://archive.org/details/trent_0116402264364/page/51 51]–54}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=John Cort|title=Framing the Jina: Narratives of Icons and Idols in Jain History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MDBpq23-0QoC|year=2010|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-973957-8|pages=160–162, 196, 314 note 14, 318 notes 57–58}}, Quote (p. 314): "(...) Kosala was the kingdom centered on Ayodhya, in what is now east-central Uttar Pradesh."</ref> However, there is a scholarly dispute whether the modern Ayodhya is indeed the same as the Ayodhya and Kosala mentioned in the ''Ramayana'' and other ancient Indian texts.<ref name=veer157>{{cite book|author=Peter van der Veer|title=Religious Nationalism: Hindus and Muslims in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p29ArJ7j6zgC&pg=PA157|year=1994|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-08256-4|pages=157–162}}</ref>{{refn|group=lower-greek|Kosala is mentioned in many Buddhist texts and travel memoirs. The Buddha idol of Kosala is important in the Theravada Buddhism tradition, and one that is described by the 7th-century Chinese pilgrim Xuanzhang. He states in his memoir that the statue stands in the capital of Kosala then called Shravasti, midst ruins of a large monastery. He also states that he brought back to China two replicas of the Buddha, one of the Kosala icon of Udayana and another the Prasenajit icon of Prasenajit.<ref>{{cite book|author=John Cort|title=Framing the Jina: Narratives of Icons and Idols in Jain History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MDBpq23-0QoC|year=2010|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-973957-8|pages=194–200, 318 notes 57–58}}</ref>}}

===Youth, family and friends===

The years when Rama grew up are described in much greater detail by later Hindu texts, such as the ''Ramavali'' by [[Tulsidas]]. The template is similar to those found for [[Krishna]], but in the poems of [[Tulsidas]], Rama is milder and reserved introvert, rather than the prank-playing extrovert personality of Krishna.{{sfn|James G. Lochtefeld|2002|p=555}}

While Rama and his brothers were away, [[Kaikeyi]], the mother of Bharata and the second wife of King Dasharatha, reminds the king that he had promised long ago to comply with one thing she asks, anything. Dasharatha remembers and agrees to do so. She demands that Rama be exiled for fourteen years to Dandaka forest.<ref name="Dalal2010p326"/> Dasharatha grieves at her request. Her son Bharata, and other family members become upset at her demand. Rama states that his father should keep his word, adds that he does not crave for earthly or heavenly material pleasures, neither seeks power nor anything else. He talks about his decision with his wife and tells everyone that time passes quickly. [[Sita]] leaves with him to live in the forest, the brother [[Lakshmana]] joins them in their exile as the caring close brother.<ref name="Dalal2010p326"/>

===Exile and war===

<gallery class="center" widths="150" heights="200">

Rama exiled to Forest.jpg|Rama, along with his younger brother [[Lakshmana]] and wife [[Sita]], exiled to the forest.

[[File:Lord Rama Raj Tilak Ramayana.jpg|thumb|200px|Rama Raj Tilak from Ramayana]]

Upon Rama's accession as king, rumors emerge that Sita may have gone willingly when she was with Ravana; Sita protests that her capture was forced. Rama responds to public gossip by renouncing his wife and asking her to undergo a test before ''Agni'' (fire). She does and passes the test. Rama and Sita live happily together in Ayodhya, have twin sons named Luv and Kush, in the ''Ramayana'' and other major texts.<ref name=hindery99/> However, in some revisions, the story is different and tragic, with Sita dying of sorrow for her husband not trusting her, making Sita a moral heroine and leaving the reader with moral questions about Rama.{{Sfn|Hindery|1978|p=100}}<ref name = "Hess2001"/> In these revisions, the death of Sita leads Rama to drown himself. Through death, he joins her in afterlife.<ref>{{cite book|author=Frye|first=Northrope|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AV-zCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA191|title=Northrop Frye's Uncollected Prose|publisher=[[University of Toronto Press]]|year=2015|isbn=978-1-4426-4972-9|location=[[Toronto]], [[Canada]]|page=191}}</ref> Depiction of Rama dying by drowning himself and then emerging in the sky as a six-armed incarnate of the lord [[Vishnu]] is found in the Burmese version of  Rama's life story called ''Thiri Rama''.<ref>{{cite book|author=Rooney|first=Dawn F.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iiCEDgAAQBAJ|title=The Thiri Rama: Finding Ramayana in Myanmar|publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]]|year=2017|isbn=978-1-315-31395-5|page=49-51}}</ref>

[[File:A relief summary of Ramayana at Hindu temple cave 16 Ellora India.jpg|thumb|left|The Rama story is carved into stone as an 8th-century relief artwork in the largest Shiva temple of the [[Ellora Caves]], suggesting its importance to the Indian society by then.<ref name=vatsyayan335>{{cite book|author=Kapila Vatsyayan|editor=Mandakranta Bose|title=The Ramayana Revisited |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2Ar2Qfr-UeQC&pg=PA339 |year=2004|publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-516832-7|pages=335–339}}</ref>]]

{{clear}}

Versions of the ''Ramayana'' exist in most major Indian languages; examples that elaborate on the life, deeds and divine philosophies of Rama include the epic poem ''[[Ramavataram]]'', and the following vernacular versions of Rama's life story:<ref>{{cite book|author1=Constance Jones|author2=James D. Ryan|title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OgMmceadQ3gC |year=2006|publisher=Infobase Publishing|isbn=978-0-8160-7564-5|page=355}}</ref>

===''Adhyatma Ramayana''===

===''Ramacharitmanas''===

Tulsidas was inspired by ''Adhyatma Ramayana'', where Rama and other characters of the ''Valmiki Ramayana'' along with their attributes (''saguna'' narrative) were transposed into spiritual terms and abstract rendering of an ''[[Atman (Hinduism)|Atma]]'' (soul, self, [[Brahmana|''Brahman'']]) without attributes (''[[nirguna]]'' reality).<ref name=jnfarquhar158/><ref name="Tulasīdāsa1989p875"/>{{sfn|Schomer|McLeod|1987|pp=31, 74–75 with footnotes, Quote: "What is striking about the dohas in the Ramcharitmanas however is that they frequently have a sant-like ring to them, breaking into the very midst of the saguna narrative with a statement of nirguna reality".}} According to Kapoor, Rama's life story in the ''Ramacharitamanasa'' combines mythology, philosophy, and religious beliefs into a story of life, a code of ethics, a treatise on universal human values.<ref name="Pollet1995p181"/> It debates in its dialogues the human dilemmas, the ideal standards of behaviour, duties to those one loves, and mutual responsibilities. It inspires the audience to view their own lives from a spiritual plane, encouraging the virtuous to keep going, and comforting those oppressed with a healing balm.<ref name="Pollet1995p181">{{cite book|author=A Kapoor|editor=Gilbert Pollet|title=Indian Epic Values: Rāmāyaṇa and Its Impact|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EVnK3q48dL0C&pg=PA181 |year=1995|publisher=Peeters Publishers|isbn=978-90-6831-701-5|pages=181–186}}</ref>

The ''[[Yoga Vasistha]]'' text consists of six books. The first book presents Rama's frustration with the nature of life, human suffering and disdain for the world. The second describes, through the character of Rama, the desire for liberation and the nature of those who seek such liberation. The third and fourth books assert that liberation comes through a spiritual life, one that requires self-effort, and present cosmology and metaphysical theories of existence embedded in stories.<ref name="Chapple1984-xii"/> These two books are known for emphasising free will and human creative power.<ref name="Chapple1984-xii"/><ref>Surendranath Dasgupta, A History of Indian Philosophy, Volume 2, Cambridge University Press, {{ISBN|978-0-521-04779-1}}, pages 252–253</ref> The fifth book discusses meditation and its powers in liberating the individual, while the last book describes the state of an enlightened and blissful Rama.<ref name="Chapple1984-xii">{{Harvnb|Chapple|1984|pp=xi–xii}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Valmiki |title=The Concise Yoga Vāsiṣṭha |publisher=State University of New York Press |year=1984 |isbn=0-87395-955-8 |location=Albany |translator-last=Venkatesananda |translator-first=S}}</ref>

===Other texts===

Another historically and chronologically important text is ''[[Raghuvaṃśa|Raghuvamsa]]'' authored by [[Kalidasa]].<ref name=":1">{{harvnb|Dalal|2010|p=323}}.</ref> Its story confirms many details of the ''Ramayana'', but has novel and different elements. It mentions that Ayodhya was not the capital in the time of Rama's son named Kusha, but that he later returned to it and made it the capital again. This text is notable because the poetry in the text is exquisite and called a ''Mahakavya'' in the Indian tradition, and has attracted many scholarly commentaries. It is also significant because Kalidasa has been dated to between the 4th and 5th century CE, suggesting that the Ramayana legend was well established by the time of Kalidasa.<ref name=":1" />

[[File:Burmese Ramayana dance.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Rama (Yama) and Sita (Thida) in [[Yama Zatdaw]], the Burmese version of the Ramayana]]

Rama's story has had a major socio-cultural and inspirational influence across [[South Asia]] and [[Southeast Asia]].<ref name=goldmanrama/>{{sfn|Richman|1991|p=17 note 11}}

<blockquote style="background-color:none;margin-right:5em;margin-left:0em;border-left:solid 6px #FFE0BB;padding:1.0em">

:– [[Robert P. Goldman|Robert Goldman]], Professor of Sanskrit, [[University of California, Berkeley|University of California]] at [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]].<ref name=goldmanrama/></blockquote>

===Hinduism===

====Rama Navami====

The day is marked by recital of Rama legends in temples, or reading of Rama stories at home. Some Vaishnava Hindus visit a temple, others pray within their home, and some participate in a [[bhajan]] or [[kirtan]] with music as a part of [[Puja (Hinduism)|puja]] and [[aarti]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121104195645/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-04-02/mysore/28056195_1_ramanavami-music-festival-temples-devotees Ramnavami]</ref> The community organises charitable events and volunteer meals. The festival is an occasion for moral reflection for many Hindus.<ref name=bbc/><ref name="bp">{{cite web|title=President and PM greet people as India observes Ram Navami today|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/04/president-and-pm-greet-people-as-india-observes-ram-navami-today/|work=IANS|date=8 April 2014|publisher=news.biharprabha.com|access-date=8 April 2014}}</ref> Some mark this day by [[vrata]] (fasting) or a visit to a river for a dip.<ref name=bbc/><ref>{{Cite web|title=National Portal of India|url=https://www.india.gov.in/|access-date=7 March 2021|website=[[Govt. of India]]}}</ref><ref name="dna8apr2014">{{Cite web|last=John|first=Josephine|date=8 April 2014|title=Hindus around the world celebrate Ram Navami today|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-hindus-around-the-world-celebrate-ram-navami-today-1976344|access-date=7 March 2021|website=[[Zee News|DNA India]]|language=en}}</ref>

Rama Navami day also marks the end of the nine-day spring festival celebrated in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh called [[Vasanthotsavam|''Vasanthothsavam'']] (Festival of Spring), that starts with [[Ugadi]]. Some highlights of this day are ''Kalyanam'' (ceremonial wedding performed by temple priests) at [[Bhadrachalam]] on the banks of the river [[Godavari]] in [[Bhadradri Kothagudem district|Bhadradri Kothagudem]] district of [[Telangana]], preparing and sharing ''Panakam'' which is a sweet drink prepared with jaggery and pepper, a procession and Rama temple decorations.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Satpathy|first=Kriti Saraswat|date=14 April 2016|title=Did you know these rituals of Ram Navami celebration in Karnataka?|url=https://www.india.com/travel/articles/did-you-know-these-rituals-of-ram-navami-celebration-in-karnataka-3234872/|access-date=6 March 2021|website=India News, Breaking News {{!}} India.com|language=en}}</ref>

{{Main|Vijayadashami}}

[[File:Ramlila artists.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.85|In Northern, Central and Western states of India, the Ramlila play is enacted during Navratri by rural artists (above).]]

===Jainism===

{{see also|Rama in Jainism|Salakapurusa}}

In Jain [[cosmology]], characters continue to be reborn as they evolve in their spiritual qualities, until they reach the Jina state and complete enlightenment. This idea is explained as cyclically reborn triads in its Puranas, called the [[Balabhadra|Baladeva]], [[Vasudeva]] and evil [[Prati-vasudeva]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Jacobi|first=Herman|title=Vimalsuri's Paumachariyam|year=2005|publisher=Prakrit Text Society|location=Ahemdabad|edition=2nd}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Iyengar|first=Kodaganallur Ramaswami Srinivasa|title=Asian Variations in Ramayana|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CU92nFk5fU4C&pg=PA80

===Temples===

{{Main|Category:Rama temples|l1 = List of Rama temples}}

Hindu temples dedicated to Rama were built by early 5th century, according to copper plate inscription evidence, but these have not survived. The oldest surviving Rama temple is near [[Raipur]] (Chhattisgarh), called the Rajiva-locana temple at [[Rajim]] near the [[Mahanadi]] river. It is in a temple complex dedicated to Vishnu and dates back to the 7th-century with some restoration work done around 1145 CE based on epigraphical evidence.<ref>{{cite book|author=J. L. Brockington|title=The Sanskrit Epics |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HR-_LK5kl18C |year=1998| publisher=BRILL |isbn=90-04-10260-4|pages=471–472}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last=Meister | first=Michael W. | title=Prasada as Palace: Kutina Origins of the Nagara Temple | journal=Artibus Asiae | volume=49 | issue=3/4 | year=1988 | pages=254–280 (Figure 21) | doi=10.2307/3250039 | jstor=3250039 }}</ref> The temple remains important to Rama devotees in the contemporary times, with devotees and monks gathering there on dates such as [[Rama Navami]].<ref name="Harle1994p207">{{cite book|author=James C. Harle|title=The Art and Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent|url=https://archive.org/details/artarchitectureo00harl |url-access=registration|year=1994|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=978-0-300-06217-5|pages=[https://archive.org/details/artarchitectureo00harl/page/148 148]–149, 207–208}}</ref>

Some of Rama temples include:

* [[Ram Mandir, Ayodhya|Rama temple]], [[Ram Janmabhoomi|Ram Janmabhoomi, Ayodhya]], [[Uttar Pradesh]].

* [[Bhadrachalam Temple]], [[Telangana]].

* [[Kodandarama Temple, Vontimitta]], [[Andhra Pradesh]].

* [[Ramateertham|Ramateertham Temple]], [[Andhra Pradesh]].

* [[Mudikondan Kothandaramar Temple]], [[Tamil Nadu]].

* [[Punnainallur Kothandaramar Temple]], Tamil Nadu

* [[Thriprayar Temple|Triprayar Sriramaswami Kshetram]], [[Triprayar]], [[Kerala]].

* [[Raghunath Temple]], [[Jammu district|Jammu]].

* [[Ram Mandir, Bhubaneswar]], [[Odisha]].

* [[Kothandarama Temple, Thillaivilagam]], [[Tamilnadu]].

* [[Kothandaramaswamy Temple]], [[Rameswaram]], [[Tamil Nadu]].

* [[Ramchaura Mandir]], [[Bihar]].

* [[Sri Rama Temple, Ramapuram]], Kerala.

* [[Vilwadrinatha Temple]], [[Thiruvilwamala]], [[Kerala]].

== Popular culture ==

{{See also|Category:Television series based on the Ramayana|label 1=Television series based on the Ramayana}}

* {{harvnb|Blank|2000|p=190}}

* {{harvnb|Dodiya|2001|pp=109–110}}

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* {{Cite journal|last=Van Der Molen|first=Willem|date=2003|title=Rama and Sita in Wonoboyo|journal=Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde|volume=159|issue=2/3|pages=389–403|doi=10.1163/22134379-90003748|jstor=27868037|issn=0006-2294|doi-access=free}}

{{refend}}

* {{cite book|editor-last=Vyas|editor-first=R.T. |title=Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa|quote=Text as Constituted in its Critical Edition'',|publisher=Oriental Institute|location=[[Vadodara]]|date=1992}}

* {{cite book|last=Valmiki|ref={{SfnRef|Valmiki Ramayan}}|author-link=Valmiki|title=[[Ramayana]]|publisher=[[Gita Press]]|location=[[Gorakhpur]], Uttar Pradesh}}

* {{cite book|last=Menon|first=Ramesh|author-link=Ramesh Menon|orig-year=2004|year=2008|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JmQuLwAACAAJ|title=The Ramayana: A Modern Retelling of the Great Indian Epic|isbn=978-0-86547-660-8}}

* {{cite book|author-link=F.S. Growse|title=The Ramayana of Tulsidas|last=Growse|first=F.S.|year=2017|isbn=9-780-649-46180-6|publisher=Trieste Publishing Pty Limited}}

==External links==

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[[Category:Rama| ]]

[[Category:Ancient Indian culture]]

[[Category:Avatars of Vishnu]]

[[Category:Ayyavazhi mythology]]