Ramayana

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  • Rama is one of the protagonists of the tale. Portrayed as the seventh avatar of the God Vishnu, he is the eldest and favorite son of the King of Ayodhya, Dasharatha, and his Queen Kausalya. He is portrayed as the epitome of virtue. Dasharatha is forced by Kaikeyi, one of his wives, to command Rama to relinquish his right to the throne for fourteen years and go into exile. An Avatar is defined as "a manifestation of a deity or released soul in bodily form on earth; an incarnate divine teacher" (American Oxford Dictionary).

     

    Sita is another of the protagonists and the beloved wife of Rama, and the daughter of king Janaka. Rama won his chance to marry her by lifting a heavy Bow in a competition organized by King Janaka. The competition was to find the most suitable husband for Sita. Many princes from different states competed to win her hand in marriage. Sita is the avatar of Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu. Sita is portrayed as the epitome of female purity and virtue. She follows her husband into exile and is abducted by Ravana. She is imprisoned on the island of Lanka until Rama rescues her by defeating the demon king Ravana. Later, she gives birth to Lava and Kusha, heirs of Rama.

    
    Ravana is the king of Lanka. After performing severe penance for ten thousand years he received a boon from the creator-God: he could henceforth not be killed by Gods, demons, or spirits. He is portrayed as a powerful demon king who disturbs the penances of Rishis. Vishnu incarnates as the human Rama to defeat him, thus circumventing the boon given by Brahma.