God Rama is a famous Indian deity. This is the avatar of Vishnu, that is, his embodiment in human form. He is revered in Hinduism, known as the ancient Indian king, who ruled in the ancient city of Ayodhya. It is believed that he was the seventh avatar of Vishnu. Descended into the world about 1.2 million years ago. Most Hindus are convinced that Rama was a real man, a king who ruled most of modern India from his capital. Along with Krishna is revered as one of the most popular avatars in Hinduism. Especially worshipers of the direction of Vaishnavism worship him.
Name origin
The name of the god Rama in the literal translation means “darkness” or “black”. In the feminine gender, this word is actually the epithet of the night.
Interestingly, the Vedas mention two Ram. According to the comments of the Indian thinker Shankara, the name has two meanings: this is the blissful essence of the Supreme Brahman, in which spiritual bliss is gained, and also God, who has taken a beautiful form.
In the hierarchy of Indian gods, Rama has a special place. And he is one of the most famous avatars of Vishnu.
Childhood and youth
The biography of Rama is given in detail in the Ramayana - this is the ancient Indian epic in Sanskrit. The hero of our article was born to King Dasaratha and one of his wives Kausalya. He was born in the ancient city of Ayodhya, which is located in the modern state of Uttar Pradesh. He was brought up with three more brothers, who at the same time were born to his other two wives. Rama and Lakshman were especially attached to each other.
According to the Indian Ramayana, the sage Vasishtha taught the brothers, who taught them the laws of dharma, the philosophy of the Vedas, and many other sciences. The boys grew up in a kshatriya family, so they were going to become glorious warriors. While studying the art of war, many Rakshasas were killed, which terrified the forest inhabitants, desecrated the sacrifices of the Brahmins.
It is alleged that the god Rama and his brothers from childhood were much higher than other people, had quick wits, amazing insight, military skill.
Wedding
When it became known about the choice of the groom for Sita, Rama and Lakshman came to the place of the ceremony. They were to participate in the competition in the fight for the girl’s hand. Applicants had to pull the huge bow of Shiva and shoot from it.
It was believed that this task is beyond the power of an ordinary person. All previous applicants could not even move the bow, but when Rama came up to him, he easily broke it in half. The wedding was celebrated magnificently and solemnly.
Divine mission
On the way to the wedding procession, Parasurama met, who was the sixth avatar of Vishna. He could not believe that someone had managed to break Shiva's bow, but still challenged God to a duel. The entire army of Rama was not able to take part in the battle, as they were under the influence of powerful mystical power. Rama grabbed the bow of Vishnu and aimed directly at the opponent’s heart. He promised to leave him alive only if he indicated a new target for the arrow. Parasurama at the same moment felt that he had lost his mystic power, realizing that Rama became the new incarnation of Vishnu.
The hero of our article shot into the sky. But even then, not everyone was aware of his divine nature. Hindus believe that the arrow fired by them still flies in space, overcoming the universe. When she returns, the world will be destroyed.
Exile
Rama Dasaratha's father, anticipating the onset of old age, decided to raise his son to the throne. Everyone was happy with the news, except for the second wife of the king, who had the insidious servant Manthara. She began to convince her that her husband only wanted her the bad.
Being jealous, Kaikeyi asked Bharata to be placed on the throne and expel Rama into the forest for 14 years. Since the king had previously promised to fulfill her every desire, he was forced to obey. In addition, he owed her, since many years ago his wife saved him from certain death. Heartbroken, he locked himself in the bedroom, and the news of the exile to Rama was announced by Kaikeyi herself.
He immediately agreed to leave the city. In sorrow were all the inhabitants and the courtiers. Rama himself understood that the king did not have the right to break the word, therefore he had no complaints against his father. In the darkest colors, he described the prospects for life in the forest, asking him to stay in Ayodhya. But the girl said that she was ready for any difficulties to follow her husband. Lakshmana also followed him. Dasaratha died a week after their departure.
Bharath goes in search of
During all these events, Bharata himself was away, and when he found out what his mother had done, he was very angry and even threatened to renounce her. To make amends, he went in search of Rama. He found him in the clothes of a hermit, wandering through the forests. Bharata began to beg to return to Ayodhya in order to begin to rule the kingdom.
God Rama refused, declaring that he intends to exile for him the 14 years allotted to him, since he owes him a duty of honor. He cannot break the word Dasaratha gave. Upon returning, Bharata placed his brother’s sandals on the throne as a sign that he would rule only as governor.
Rama believed in the power of fate, so he did not hold evil at Kaikeyi. In the classical interpretation, thanks to this exile, he was able to fulfill his mission, crushing the empire of the evil Ravana.
Abduction of Sita
The wife of the god Rama, Sita, is with her husband the protagonists of one of the most popular love stories. They loved each other very much. If Rama was considered as an avatar of Vishnu, then his wife - as a feminine person Lakshmi.
Once, the sister of Ravana fell in love with the hero of God when she saw him in the forest. She confessed her feelings to him, but he rejected the girl, referring to the fact that he was already married. As a joke, Rama invited her to try her luck with Lakshmana, who remained single. But he rejected her love.
Staying in anger, Shurpanakha became angry with Sita, tried to kill her and eat her. Lakshmana stood up for her, who cut off his ears and nose to Ravana's sister. Khara decided to avenge his sister by sending 14 rakshasas with the task of killing Sita, Lakshmana and Rama. But the hero of our article easily dealt with them. In a duel, he killed Kharu himself.
Then Shurpanakha came to Ravana to tell about what had happened. In addition, she mentioned the amazing beauty of Sita, inviting him to marry her. Then he agreed to take revenge.
Ravana knew about the power of the brothers, so he went on a trick. He asked his uncle to turn around a golden deer. In the body of the animal, he began to frolic not far from the hut of the Indian god Rama. Sita liked him so much that she asked her husband to catch the beast. Rama chased after him, and when he realized that he was behind, he fired from a bow. The wounded animal shouted in the voice of her husband Sita. She decided that her husband was in trouble, rushed to the rescue.
Lakshmana set off in search, having previously outlined the hut with a magic circle. Staying inside him, the woman was completely safe. As soon as Lakshmana left, Ramana, hiding nearby, went out in the form of an old man, asking Sita for food and water. Sita, suspecting nothing, went beyond the circle. At the same time, Ravana regained his former appearance, put the woman in a flying chariot and disappeared. Sita asked the forest animals and plants to tell the god Rama (Ramachandra) what happened to her. Meanwhile, Lakshmana and his brother were killed by a deer, but Sita was not found in the hut.
Ravana brought the woman to Lanka, where he began to seek favor from her. She categorically refused him. Ravana could not resort to violence, so he limited himself to threats and intimidation, in the end, deciding to wait.
Hanuman's Adventures
Lakshmana and Rama made an alliance with the king of the monkeys Sugriva to liberate Sita. Approaching the sea, it was decided to build a bridge. The devotee Hanuman, who possessed great power, jumped over the strait to set off in search of a woman. Finding her in the palace of Ravana, he told Rama about everything.
Faced with the villain, Hanuman turned his tail into a spiral to get a seat noticeably above the throne of Ravana. He angered him very much, he demanded to kill the monkey. But he introduced himself as an ambassador, so his life was untouchable. Then Ravana ordered the servants to set his tail on fire, and then let him go. Hanuman with a burning tail began to jump from one building to another, spreading fire throughout the capital. Then he jumped back to the continent.
Battle
When the bridge was built, Rama crossed to Lanka. Lakshmana and his brother were wounded several times in the battles. But they were cured by magic grass. Despite significant losses, the monkey army defeated the Rakshasaev.
Finally there was a decisive battle between the deities. Rama, with arrows, cut off the heads of Ravana one after another, but each time new ones grew in this place. Then he used the weapons of Brahma. At the tip of this arrow was concentrated the power of fire. With special Vedic mantras, he launched her into Ravana. She pierced the opponent’s chest, and then returned to the quiver. After the death of the villain, rejoicing began in heaven. For this victory, the god Rama in Hinduism is valued especially highly.
Fire test
After the death of the enemy, Rama and Sita got the opportunity to go back in a chariot. But God refused to accept it, considering it defiled due to his stay in the palace of Rakshasa.
Sita was hurt by this attitude. She decided to prove her innocence by passing the test of fire. A woman entered the fire prepared by Lakshmana. The fire god brought her unscathed, asking Rama to take his wife back. He announced that even without a test he knew about the purity of his wife, but wanted to prove her innocence to everyone around him.
End of exile
After the expiration, Rama and his wife, brother and monkeys solemnly entered the city, where he was anointed to the kingdom. The era of the reign of God lasted about ten thousand years. It is believed that this was an age of prosperity, which has never been in world history. At that time, peace and prosperity reigned on the earth, there were no droughts, the earth gave abundant harvests, even the children did not cry, everyone forgot about poverty, disease and crime.
Once, Rama changed into a simple man, going to the city to find out what his subjects think about him. He witnessed how a washingman beat his wife, whom he suspected of treason. At the same time, he said that he was not such a fool as Rama to believe in the purity of his wife, who had spent several years in captivity with another man.
To save Sita and himself from slander, he sent her to live in a forest hut. At that time, the woman was pregnant. In exile, she gave birth to twins - Kushu and Lava. When the children came out of infancy, they were sent to Rama. Seeing his sons, he immediately remembered the happy past, returning Sita back to the palace.
Having gathered all his subjects, he asked his wife to prove once again his innocence and loyalty to him. Sita was in despair, begging for mother Earth, who gave her life to take her back. In response to this request, the earth opened and took it into its arms.
It is believed that on this the mission of the avatar of Rama was finally completed. He went to the bank of the Indian sacred river, leaving his body, returned to his own spiritual eternal abode.
The next, eighth avatar of Vishnu was Krsna. The first evidence of the existence of his cult dates back to the 5th – 4th centuries BC.
Image in art
In Indian art, this god is usually depicted as a warrior armed with a bow, a quiver of arrows over his shoulder, and a Vishnuite-type crown on his head.
Often he is accompanied by Lakshman. A sculptural image of the wife of the god Rama, whose name was Sita, is often found next to him. It is presented in a pose of three slopes.
He is also often portrayed with a monkey leader named Hanuman. It is interesting that the bronze figurines of these Hindu characters are always executed in a standing position, Sita is necessarily located to the right of Rama, and Lakshman is on the left side.