God Rama is a famous Indian deity. This is an avatar of Vishnu, that is, his incarnation in human form. He is revered in Hinduism, known as an 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 believe that Rama was a real person, a king who ruled most of modern India from his capital. Along with Krishna, he is revered as one of the most popular avatars in Hinduism. He is especially worshiped by followers of Vaishnavism.
Origin of name
The name of the god Rama literally means "darkness" or "black". In the feminine, this word is actually an epithet of the night.
It is interesting that two Rams are mentioned in the Vedas. According to the comments of the Indian thinker Shankara, the name has two meanings - this is the blissful essence of the Supreme Brahman, inwhich spiritual bliss is obtained, as well as God, who has assumed a beautiful form.
Rama occupies a special place in the hierarchy of Indian gods. 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 an ancient Indian epic in Sanskrit. The hero of our article was born to King Dasaratha and one of his wives, Kaushalya. He was born in the ancient city of Ayodhya, which is located on the territory of the modern state of Uttar Pradesh. He was brought up with three more brothers, who at the same time were born to two other wives of his father. 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, they killed many Rakshasas, who terrified the forest dwellers and defiled the sacrifices of the Brahmins.
It is alleged that the god Rama and his brothers from childhood were much higher than other people, possessed quick wit, 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 had to take part in a competition in the struggle for the girl's hand. The challengers had to draw and fire Shiva's huge bow.
It was believed that this task was notunder the power of an ordinary person. All previous applicants could not even move the bow, but when Rama approached him, he easily broke it in half. The wedding was celebrated magnificently and solemnly.
Divine mission
On the way of the wedding procession met Parashurama, who was the sixth avatar of Vishnu. He could not believe that someone had managed to break Shiva's bow, but still challenged the god to a duel. The entire army of Rama was unable to take part in the battle, as they were under the influence of a powerful mystical force. Rama, on the other hand, drew Vishnu's bow and aimed straight 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 mystical power, realizing that Rama had become the new incarnation of Vishnu.
The hero of our article shot into the sky. But even then, not everyone was still aware of his divine essence. Hindus believe that the arrow he shot is still flying in space, overcoming the universe. When she comes back, the world will be destroyed.
Exile
Rama Dasharatha's father, anticipating the onset of old age, decided to elevate his son to the throne. The news delighted everyone, except for the second wife of the king, who had a treacherous servant Manthara. She began to convince her that her husband only wants the worst for her.
Being jealous, Kaikeyi asked for Bharata to be enthroned and Rama to be banished to 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 wifesaved him from certain death. Heartbroken, he locked himself in his bedroom, and the news of Rama's expulsion was announced by Kaikeyi herself.
He immediately agreed to leave the city. All the inhabitants and courtiers were in sorrow. Rama himself understood that the king had no right to break his word, therefore he had no claims against his father. He described the prospects of life in the forest to Sita in the darkest terms, asking him to stay in Ayodhya. But the girl said that she was ready for any difficulties in order to follow her husband. Lakshmana also followed him. Dasaratha died a week after they left.
Bharata goes in search of
During all these events, Bharata himself was away, and when he found out what his mother had done, he was terribly angry, 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 to start ruling the kingdom.
God Rama refused, declaring that he intended to spend the 14 years allotted to him in exile, as a duty of honor obliges him to do so. He cannot break the word he gave to Dasaratha. Returning, Bharata placed his brother's sandals on the throne as a sign that he would rule only as a viceroy.
Rama believed in the power of fate, so he did not hold a grudge against Kaikeyi. In the classic interpretation, thanks to this exile, he was able to fulfill his mission, crushing the evil Ravana's empire.
Kidnapping Sita
The wife of the god Rama, Sita, is with her husband the protagonists of one ofthe most popular love stories. They loved each other very much. If they considered Rama as an avatar of Vishnu, then his wife - as the female form of Lakshmi.
Once Ravana's sister fell in love with a god hero 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. Jokingly, Rama suggested that she try her luck with Lakshmana, who remained single. But he also rejected her love.
In anger, Shurpanakha got angry at Sita and tried to kill and eat her. Lakshmana interceded for her, who cut off the ears and nose of 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 de alt with them easily. In the duel, he also killed Khara himself.
Then Shurpanakha came to Ravana to tell about what had happened. In addition, she mentioned the amazing beauty of Sita, suggesting that he take her as his wife. Then he agreed to take revenge.
Ravana knew about the power of the brothers, so he went to the trick. He asked his uncle to turn into a golden deer. In the body of an 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 rushed after him in pursuit, and when he realized that he was lagging behind, he fired from his bow. The wounded animal cried out in the voice of Sita's husband. She decided that her husband was in trouble, rushed to help.
Lakshmana set out on a 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, came out in the form of an old man, asking Sita for food and water. Sita, without suspecting anything, stepped outside the circle. At the same moment, 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 had happened to her. Meanwhile, Lakshmana and her brother killed a deer, but they did not find Sita 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, finally deciding to wait.
The Adventures of Hanuman
Lakshmana and Rama made an alliance with the monkey king Sugriva to free Sita. Approaching the sea, it was decided to build a bridge. The devotee Hanuman, who possessed great strength, jumped over the strait to go in search of a woman. Finding her in Ravana's palace, he told Rama everything.
Meeting the villain, Hanuman curled his tail into a spiral to sit noticeably higher than Ravana's throne. By this he greatly angered him, he demanded to kill the monkey. But he introduced himself as an ambassador, so his life was inviolable. Then Ravana ordered the servants to set fire to his tail, 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.
Fight
When the bridge was completed, Rama crossed over to Lanka. Lakshmana and her brother were wounded several times in battle. But they were cured by magicgrass. Despite significant losses, the monkey army defeated the Rakshasas.
A final showdown between the deities has finally taken place. Rama cut off Ravana's heads one by one with arrows, but each time new ones grew in this place. Then he used the weapon of Brahma. The power of fire was concentrated in the tip of this arrow. With special Vedic mantras, he launched her into Ravana. She pierced the enemy's chest, and then returned to the quiver. After the death of the villain, rejoicing began in heaven. For this victory, the god Rama is highly valued in Hinduism.
Trial by Fire
After the death of the enemy, Rama and Sita got the opportunity to go back on the chariot. But the god refused to accept her, considering her defiled because of her stay in the Rakshasa's palace.
Sita was hurt by this attitude. She decided to prove her innocence by passing the test of fire. The woman entered the fire prepared by Lakshmana. The god of fire brought her out unharmed, asking Rama to take his wife back. He announced that even without testing he knew about the purity of his wife, but wanted to prove her innocence to everyone around.
End of Exile
After the end of the exile, Rama with his wife, brother and monkeys solemnly entered the city, where he was anointed king. The era of the god's reign lasted about ten thousand years. It is believed that this was an age of prosperity, which has never been in the history of the world. At that time, peace and prosperity reigned on the earth, there were no droughts, the earth gave abundant harvests, even children did not cry, everyone forgot about poverty, diseases andcrimes.
Somehow Rama dressed up as a simple man, going to the city to find out what his subjects think about him. He witnessed how the washer 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 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 - Kusha and Lava. When the children were out of infancy, they were sent to Rama. Seeing his sons, he immediately remembered a happy past, bringing Sita back to the palace.
Having gathered all his subjects, he asked his wife to once again prove her innocence and loy alty to him. Sita was in despair, praying to Mother Earth, who gave her life, to take her back. In response to this request, the earth opened up and took her into its arms.
It is believed that the mission of Rama's avatar was finally completed at this point. He went to the banks of the Indian sacred river, leaving the body, returned to his own spiritual eternal abode.
The next, the eighth avatar of Vishnu, was Krishna. The first evidence of the existence of his cult dates back to the 5th-4th century BC.
Image in art
In Indian art, this god is usually depicted as a warrior armed with a bow, with a quiver of arrows over his shoulder, and a Vishnuite-type crown on his head.
He is often accompanied by Lakshman. Next to him, there is often a sculptural image of the wife of the god Rama,whose name was Sita. She is presented in a three-fold pose.
He is also often depicted with a monkey leader named Hanuman. It is interesting that the bronze figurines of these Hindu characters are always made in a standing position, Sita is always located to the right of Rama, and Lakshman is on the left side.
