Lord Rama - the Incarnation of Righteousness

Rama is referred to as protector Vishnu's 7th avtar. Lord Rama has an important place according to Hindu legend as he is the main character of Ramayana, the Hindu epic. He personifies courage, kindness and righteousness. He is the prince of Ayodhya and son to Kausalya and Dasaratha. Rama is the prince of the clan of Suryavansha and believed to have born in the third quarter of Treta Yuga.

Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna are siblings of Rama - all 4 of them born, after the King Dasaratha conducted the Putrakameshti Yaga. Goddess Sita - an ideal woman, who is considered to be Goddess Lakshmi's incarnation, is Lord Rama's wife.

The Birth of Rama

Once, Bhumidevi (the mother Earth) goes to Brahma, the creator seeking help, to protect her from the rule of evil kings. These cruel kings were destroying all her resources. It is also thought that King Raavana, the ruler of Lanka also took control of Heaven, in addition to Paatala and Earth, and began his rein. Raavana had several boons from the sages, which protected him and gave him 10 heads. Because of a boon he got, his life can be ended by a human being. But Raavana thought no man in the world was as strong as he was. Brahma with Bhumidevi and devas approached Vishnu, in order to find an answer to their problem.

Vishnu decided to kill Raavana and end his rule and free the world from troubles. Lord Vishnu re-incarnates as Prince Rama in Ayodhya. It is as devi Sita (daughter to Janaka of Mithila) that Goddess Lakshmi re-incarnates to accompany Vishnu. Vishnu reveals his real form only after Rama kills Raavana and wins the war.

Rama and Dharma

Maryada Purushottama, is what people refer to him as. The meaning of this term is that he embodies kindness, honesty and goodness. Rama's life is an example of life based on dharma. Even though he faces many hardships in his life, he sticks to the path of dharma. He personifies perfection. In order to obey his father's orders, he goes to jungle for 14 long along with his brother and wife, leaving his kingdom of Kosala.

His ideal behaviour is displayed when he asks Sita, his dutiful wife, to undergo the Agni Pariksha, by which she is fit to be Ayodhya’s queen. Rama accepts Sita only when it is seen that Sita is pure. When Rama ruled the Kingdom of Ayodhya flourished and all his people were happy.

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