The Ramayana is the second Indian after the Mahabharata epic. Unlike the Mahabharata is an art seal (Adikavya), as the author of Valmiki is guaranteed. The exact time of origin is unclear, it is between the 4th Century BC and the second Century AD Its now known form (seven books) is likely the Ramayana in the second Century AD, have achieved.
The Ramayana tells the story of Prince Rama from the kingdom of Kosala, who is banished from the court of his father Dasaratha to the jungle and later Ravana, king of the demons in Lanka defeated.
His father Dasaratha, the king of Ayodhya city, decides to offer a horse-sacrifice, because he was childless for a long time. Then bear him his three wives, four sons: Koushalya the Rama, Kaikeyi to Bharata, Sumitra, the twins Lakshmana and Shatrughana. When the sons are grown up, take Rama and his brother Lakshmana at the request of the Rishi Viswamitra with this out to kill demons. They also come to the court of King Janaka of Videha, who has a daughter named Sita. Janaka is to anyone who wants to woo his daughter, a condition: only those who can draw the bow of the family, has received an ancestor of Lord Shiva by Janaka, Janaka is to give his daughter to wife. Rama is the exam, many are already on the failed before him, and can easily draw the bow, so that it breaks in two. He receives Sita as his wife, and a great wedding feast is celebrated at the court of Videha, after Rama's family has arrived. The three brothers of Rama married princesses from Janaka sex.
Rama is the co-regent and crown prince are ordained. This is where Kaikeyi, his stepmother, with the help of a hunchbacked slave to make her son Bharata the king. By intrigues they reached that Rama goes into exile for 14 years, accompanied by Sita and brother Lakshmana. Rama performed many good deeds by the destruction of demons (Rakshasas), and monsters.
With the help of a cunning demon Ravana abducted Sita to Lanka of. Rama asks the monkey king Sugriva to support this and instructed his minister Hanuman, help Rama. Hanuman finds out that Sita is Ravana in Lanka violence. Rama prayed to the god of water, to help him to cross the bridge. This gives him the promise that every stone that they would put into the water at the surface remain and they put him on foot. So they built a mighty long bridge to get to the island. They defeated after a long struggle to liberate Sita and Ravana.
After the exile pull back Rama and Sita, Bharata the crown leaves them voluntarily.
Rama questioned Sita's faithfulness and however he offends. Sita undergoes the ordeal, i.e. it rises to the stake. It is the acid test and is Rama returned. This closes the old poem, which includes books from two to six.
The Ramayana has come down to us in several versions, which differ significantly from each other. As a later addition is the seventh book (Uttarakanda). It tells the story of the demon (Rakshasa) like Ravana and Sita falls again into disgrace and into the hermitage of Valmiki gives birth to twins. There are growing Kusha and Lava on. When a horse learns to sacrifice the sons of Rama, Sita know when they recite the Ramayana. He recognizes that Sita is innocent but wishes that she cleans itself by oath. All the gods from heaven. Sita folds her hands, looks at the ground and says she has never thought of a man other than Rama and Mother Earth should open it. When the oath is made, a heavenly throne seems out of the earth. Rama asked mother earth, he returned to Sita, but in vain. Shortly thereafter, the rule of Rama from his sons Kusa and Lava, and goes to heaven where he will be back to Vishnu.
As an incarnation of Vishnu, Rama is seen only in later versions of the Ramayana. Valmiki in the original version he is portrayed as a normal human being, but as one of unusual power and good education of the heart.
Rama is the exemplary human being according to the ideas of the priests. Sita is considered a model of marital fidelity. The Ramayana is very rich in poetic episodes and has retained its unitary character, although it has been revised several times.
