From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Rama or correctly Ram (pronounced Rarm, rhymes with charm) was a real or mythical king in ancient India, whose life and heroic deeds are related by the Sanskrit epic the Ramayana.
Ram was of the family Suryavansh (trans. Sun Dynasty, surya=sun, vansh=dynasty). The Guru of the Suryavansh elders was Vashist, the guru of Ram and his brother Laxman (pronounced Lakshman) was Vishwamithar.
Astronomical data in the Ramayan has been interpreted to suggest that his reign would have been at approximately 2015 BC, however the Ramayan was written many centuries after this date, probably two thousand years later. It cannot be taken as an accurate guide to the life of the historical Ram, except by devout Hindus.
In Hinduism, Ram is regarded as the seventh avatar of the god Vishnu and worshipped together with his companion Hanuman, the monkey-god who assists him in the epic narrative of the Ramayan.
He is the Prince of Ayodhya and is banished to a forest by his stepmother. While in exile, his wife, Sita, is kidnapped by Ravan, King of the Rakshas on Lanka (cur: Sri Lanka). Ram, along with Hanuman, rescued her, killed Ravan and becomes King of Ayodhya.
Ram also killed Vali, the monkey-King of Kishkindhya. He is protected during his adventures by Agastya, and also rescued Ahalya after she was turned to stone by her husband for having an affair with Indra.
In recent years the cult of Ram has become associated with Hindu Nationalism. Ram is held up as a model of Hindu devotion to caste and the rules of dharma, and as a militant opponent of those who would break with it.
Alternative name, and to avoid confusion with others called Ram (see below): Ramachandra
The following characters in Indian mythology also may sometimes be called by the name Ram.
Parasurama - Rama with the axe.
Balarama - (also called Balabhadra, Balabhadrarama), the elder brother of Krishna.
The kings of Thailand of the Chakri dynasty also have the royal title Rama.
Also, in Arthur C. Clarke's Rendezvous with Rama, Rama is a giant, cylinder-shaped alien built spacecraft containing a self-sustaining biosphere.
Rama is also a city in Nicaragua.
