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| Ramayana |
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| The Ramayana is a Sanskrit epic poem ascribed to the Hindu sage and Sanskrit poet Valmiki.[1] It is regarded as one of the two great works of Indian literature, along with the Mahabharata.[2] Considered itihāsa, theRamayana also plays an important role in Hindu literature. It depicts the duties of relationships, portraying ideal characters like the ideal father, the ideal servant, the ideal brother, the ideal wife, and the ideal king. The name Ramayana is a tatpurusha compound of Rāma andayana , translating to "Rama's Journey". The Ramayana consists of 24,000 verses in seven books and 500 cantos and tells the story of Rama, whose wife Sita is abducted by Ravana, the king ofLanka. Incidentally the first letter of every 1000 verses make theGayatri mantra. Thematically, the Ramayana explores human values and the concept of dharma. |
Verses in the Ramayana are written in a 32-syllable meter called anuṣṭubh. The Ramayana was an important influence on later Sanskrit poetry and Hindu life and culture. Like the Mahabharata, the Ramayana is not just a story: it presents the teachings of ancient Hindu sages in narrativeallegory, interspersing philosophical and devotional elements. The characters Rama, Sita,Lakshman, Bharata, Hanuman, and Ravana are all fundamental to the cultural consciousness ofIndia, Nepal, and many south-east Asian countries such as Thailand and Indonesia.
