The Ramayana is a pure epic dealing with a theme and characters who lived in Trethayuga. As one reads through this series of ten books, one finds the epic unfold in its various facets through the delineation of the characters that are featured. The steadfastness of Rama, the utter helplessness of a Dasharatha, a brother’s devotion as seen in Lakshmana, a devotee’s surrender as seen in Hanuman, the bitter rivalry between brothers Vali and Sugreeva and the repentance that follows- all this and more make for very interesting and enlightening reading. Our other books here can be searched using #BharathaSamskruthiPrakashana

Dasharatha , Ajamaharaja and Indumathi’s son, was better known as Kaushalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi’s husband and Sri Rama’s father, the king of Ayodhya. He ruled for 60,000 years, was a courageous kshatriya and had mastered the Vedas and other branches of knowledge. His rule had a spiritual base and he was advised by sage Vashista and sage Vamadeva. As he had no children, he performed two yajnas after which his three queens gave birth to Rama, Lakshmana, Bharatha and Shatrughna. Reminding him of the two boons that were due to her from the king, Kaikeyi demanded that her son be made the king of Ayodhya against the popular choice of Rama. Later, when Viswamitra asked him to send Rama to help him in the conduct of a yajna, he was hesitant and even scared because it involved his young son. He was in constant turmoil after he was forced to keep his word to Kaikeyi. He could not tolerate life after the departure of Rama, Lakshmana and Sita to the forest and hence passed away. When Rama killed the wicked Ravana, Dasharatha appeared in the sky and blessed Rama, Lakshmana and Sita. He was a rajarshi who was endowed with good qualities. However, he suffered because of his small weakness, that is, sometimes doing things without thinking. Our other books here can be searched using #BharathaSamskruthiPrakashana

Vibhishana was Ravana’s youngest brother, endowed with great learning and very unlike his brothers and sister. In spite of being born in the rakshasa clan, he stood by dharma and Brahma granted him immortality and the ability to wield the brahmastra. He married Shaileesha’s daughter Sarama. Observing that Ravana’s evil ways were only growing, he tried his best to put some sense into him. Being a clever statesman, he warded off Ravana’s attempt to kill Hanuman who had come as Rama’s messenger. Later when Hanuman went about burning Lanka, it was Sita and Vibhishana who remained unhurt. Vibhishana again requested Ravana to return Sita to SriRama and make peace with him. When nothing could change Ravana’s mind, he gave up everything including his wife and children and left Lanka. He pledged himself in support of Sri Rama. Everyone in Rama’s army doubted his intentions but it was Hanuman who rightly advised Rama to take in Vibhishana as he believed that his intentions were genuine. He helped Rama with constructive suggestions, gave him timely advice and warning, and was able to recognize Ravana’s spies who had mingled with the vanaras. He invited Indrajit’s wrath when the latter saw him guiding Lakshmana. In the end, when Ravana lay dead on the battlefield, Vibhishana was overcome with grief. He was torn between his duty in performing his brother’s last rites and denying it on the grounds that Ravana had indulged in sinful acts. It was Rama who convinced him to go ahead with it in order to send his brother to heaven. Sri Rama then asked Lakshmana to crown Vibhishana king of Lanka. Our other books here can be searched using #BharathaSamskruthiPrakashana

Lakshmana was Dasharatha and Sumitra’a son, Rama’s brother and an incarnation of Adisesha, the divine serpent. He mastered the Vedas and other subjects in quick time. He accompanied Rama when sage Vishwamitra wanted help in the conduct of a yajna which was being troubled by demons. After standing guard with Rama at the yajna and helping him kill several demons, he expressed no desire to return home. After Rama won Sita’s hand, Lakshmana got married to Urmila. When he came to know Kaikeyi’s evil demand, he was furious and was prepared to eliminate all obstacles, even if it meant killing his father. He gave up everything in order to be with Rama and Sita during their stay in the forest. He protected both of them as can be seen by the way he chopped off Shoorpanakha’s nose and ears when the latter tried to attack Sita. After Sita’s abduction, it was Lakshmana who instilled confidence in Rama whenever he lost it. He was highly duty conscious and expected others to be like him –Sugreeva got crowned as king of Lanka and promised to help Rama in searching for Sita but forgot about it. Lakshmana was furious and had to be calmed down by Rama. His support to Rama during the battle at Lanka was invaluable. After Rama was crowned, he desired Lakshmana to be the yuvaraja but he insisted that the honour must go to Bharatha. He was heartbroken when Rama asked him to leave Sita at Valmiki’s hermitage because some people had doubted her fidelity. Caught between his duty to his brother and Durvasa, he chose to sacrifice himself. Thus he faced banishment and later entered swarga with his body and soul. It was no wonder that Sage Valmiki expressed that Lakshmana was the outer breath of Sri Rama. Our other books here can be searched using #BharathaSamskruthiPrakashana

Sri Rama , an avatar of Lord Vishnu, was born to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya after the king performed the Aswamedha and Putrakameshthi yajnas. Rama and his three brothers had all the qualities of kshyatriyas and endeared themselves to one and all in Ayodhya. Sage Viswamitra once came to the king’s palace and requested for Rama to be sent to protect his yajna from two demons’ interference. Much to the king’s consternation, Rama and Lakshmana left with the sage. The sage initiated Rama into the ‘Bala- Atibala’ mantra. He first tackled Tataki successfully. The sage was so pleased that he initiated Rama into a number of divine weapons. Rama, in turn, initiated Lakshmana into them. Armed suitably, all the three reached the ashram where the yajna was to be performed. Everything went off well for five days but on the sixth day, Rama and Lakshmana destroyed Mareecha and Subahu as well as many demons who tried to defile the yajna. The yajna was then completed successfully. In due course, the princes heard the stories of the sage’s parentage and how he came to live in Siddhashrama, of Ganga, Himavantha, King Sagara and Sage Kapila. They reached Gowthama’s ashrama where Rama relieved the sage’s wife, Ahalya, of the curse she had been under. Moving on from there, they went to Mithila where Rama won Sita’s hand. After their marriage, Lakshamana got married to Urmila, Bharatha to Mandavi and Shatrughna to Shrutakirthi. Our other books here can be searched using #BharathaSamskruthiPrakashana

Ramayana is the story of Rama, the prince of Ayodhya. Poet Valmiki describes Rama as a dutiful son, loving brother, devoted husband, fierce warrior and wise statesman, of pleasant manners and speech. Rama is above all an upholder of Dharma so it is no wonder that he is hailed as an avatar or incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

This collection by the Asian Art Museum is a selection of works depicting the ancient Rama Epic. The Rama Epic—recounting the struggle of Prince Rama to defeat a demonic king, rescue his abducted wife, and reestablish order in the world—has been a subject for visual and performing arts, literature, and religious thought in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia for many centuries. A huge number of artworks relating to the Rama legends have been made over the course of 1500 years in a dozen countries. The Rama Epic: Hero, Heroine, Ally, Foe illustrates some of the most important episodes involving the four primary characters: the hero, Rama; the heroine, Rama's wife Sita; the ally, Rama's faithful monkey lieutenant Hanuman; and the foe, the ten-headed demon king Ravana.