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Ramayana // A Hindu epic that tells the story of Prince Rama's quest to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana.



Ramayana is an ancient Hindu epic that tells the story of Prince Rama, who is believed to be the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu, and his quest to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana. The epic is considered one of the most beloved and revered works in Hindu mythology and has had a profound impact on the culture and literature of South Asia.

The story begins in the kingdom of Ayodhya, where King Dasharatha rules. Dasharatha has three wives but no children, which troubles him greatly. He performs a yagna (a ritual sacrifice) and is blessed with four sons, including Rama. Rama grows up to be a wise and virtuous prince and is loved by all the people of Ayodhya. He is especially close to his younger brother Lakshmana, who accompanies him everywhere.



When Rama is young, he wins a contest to marry Sita, a princess from the neighboring kingdom of Mithila. Sita is an ideal match for Rama - she is beautiful, intelligent, and virtuous. Rama and Sita fall deeply in love and are devoted to each other.

However, Rama's stepmother Kaikeyi demands that her own son Bharata be named the heir to the throne instead of Rama. King Dasharatha, bound by a promise he made to Kaikeyi years ago, reluctantly agrees and banishes Rama to the forest for 14 years.

Sita accompanies Rama into the forest, along with Lakshmana. They live a simple life, but are happy together. One day, a demoness named Surpanakha spots Rama and becomes infatuated with him. When Rama rejects her advances, she attacks Sita and Lakshmana. Lakshmana cuts off her nose in self-defense, which angers her brother Ravana, the demon king of Lanka.

Ravana, who is powerful and feared, decides to take revenge on Rama by kidnapping Sita. He sends a golden deer to lure Rama and Lakshmana away from Sita, and then disguises himself as an old sage to trick Sita into stepping outside their hut. Once he has her, he takes her to his kingdom of Lanka, where he tries to convince her to become his queen.

Sita refuses and remains faithful to Rama. Ravana imprisons her in a grove and sends his demon guards to torment her. Sita longs for Rama and prays for his return.

Meanwhile, Rama and Lakshmana search for Sita with the help of the monkey king Sugriva and his army of monkeys. They eventually come across a powerful monkey named Hanuman, who pledges his loyalty to Rama and helps him find Sita in Lanka.

Rama and his army cross the ocean to reach Lanka and engage in a fierce battle with Ravana's forces. Rama is assisted by Hanuman, who has the ability to fly and change his size at will. In a pivotal moment of the battle, Hanuman sets fire to Ravana's capital, Lanka, causing widespread destruction.

Finally, Rama and Ravana engage in a one-on-one battle. Rama emerges victorious, with the help of a divine arrow given to him by the god Indra. Sita is rescued and returned to Rama, who welcomes her back with open arms.

However, Rama is not fully convinced of Sita's fidelity, since she spent so much time in Ravana's kingdom. He asks her to undergo a trial by fire to prove her purity. Sita agrees and emerges unscathed from the flames, proving her innocence.

Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana return to Ayodhya, where Rama is finally crowned as king.


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