The Ramayana is one of the two ancient epics of India, the Mahabharata being the other. The epic is attributed to Maharishi Valmiki, and has around 24,000 verses of poetry in Sanksrit.
The Ramayana is literally the journey of Lord Ram, the Prince of Ayodhya, who is believed to be a divine incarnation. The epic takes us through his life, struggles and triumphs, with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman playing pivotal roles. The story brings to life several spiritual elements in real-life situations, and describes the eventual triumph of duty, honour and sacrifice.
The Ramayana is also a catalogue of historic events along the length of India, with many places even today maintaining an association with Ram’s journey. Every place he visited has its own local tales associated with Ram, Lakshman, Sita, Hanuman and other characters of the epic.
The epic has been translated into several languages and is recited and performed on stage since ancient times. Apart from the Ramayana itself, there are numerous iconic poems, songs, movies, etc. dedicated to the characters of the Ramayana. The epic, and its chief characters, have come to occupy a key position in the living and civilizational memory of Indians, and the Hindus around the world.
