Lord RAMA

Lord RAMA

Ramachandra was a legendary king of Ayodhya in ancient India. Hindus consider Lord Rama to be an avatar of Vishnu and a lila-avatara as described in the Bhagavata Purana. Most Hindus consider him an actual king who ruled over a large part of what is now India from his capital Ayodhya.

Rama is one of the more popular figures and deities in Hinduism. His story comes from the Ramayana, one of the two great epics of India. Rama was born the eldest son of Kaushalya and Dasharatha, king of Ayodhya, and Hindus call him Maryada Purushottama, literally the Perfect Man or Lord of Restrictions. Rama is the husband of Sita, an Avatar of Lakshmi and the embodiment of perfect womanhood.

Rama's life and journey is portrayed as one of perfect adherence to dharma despite harsh tests of life and time. For the sake of his father's honour, Rama abandons his claim to Kosala's throne to serve an exile of fourteen years in the forest. His wife Sita and brother Lakshmana find themselves unable to live without Rama, so they decide to join him and all three spend the fourteen years in exile together. Ravana, the Rakshasa monarch of Lanka ultimately Rama's wife, Sita . After a long and arduous search that tests his personal strength and virtue, Rama fights a colossal war against Ravana's armies.

In a war of powerful and magical beings, greatly destructive weaponry and battles, Rama slays Ravana in battle and frees his wife. Now, in strength, Rama returns to be crowned King in Ayodhya (the capital of his Kingdom) and eventually becomes Emperor of the World. As Emperor, he reigns for eleven thousand years – an era of perfect happiness, peace, prosperity and justice known as Rama Rajya.

The legend of Rama is deeply influential and popular in the societies of the Indian subcontinent and across South East Asia. The number nine is considered auspicious in Hinduism and Lord RAMA is revered for the following nine qualities.

• Obedient: Rama was a good son and obeyed his father and stepmother's even when compelled to spend 14 years in the forest.
• Kind: Rama was kind and compassionate to all, even to his stepmother Kaikeyi, who was behind his banishment to the forest.
• Just: Rama was a just king and friend, protecting rich and poor, powerful and weak.
• Brave: Rama was a mighty warrior, fearless in the face of frightening and powerful enemies.
• Generous: Rama was generous and faithful, even when handing over a kingdom that was rightfully his to his younger brother, Bharata.
• Empathetic: Rama is revered for his ability to empathize with the problems of his people. This quality endeared him to them.
• Intelligent: A quick student and devoted learner, Rama learned all that there was to knowabout the martial arts used his knowlege in fighting powerful demons twice his size. He learned all the Hindu scriptures and was an intelligent student.
• Moral: Rama followed Hindu dharma till the very end, doing what was right even though it wasn't easy.
• Steadfast: Rama is a symbol of enduring love, enduring justice, and enduring popularity.