Each April, Hindus around the world celebrate the reign of a hero popularly known as Ramarajya. Ramarajya, the ancient kingdom of Rama, portrays everything that is noble in governing a people. Sreeramachandra is one of the most beloved Hindu Gods and is the hero of the Ramayana. Millions of Hindus derive satisfaction reading and recalling the trials and tribulations the young prince of Ayodhya experienced in the fourteen year exile leading to the slaying of the demon Raavana, recovery of His beloved consort Sita and finally His coronation as the emperor of India of lore.

Rama was born to Kausalya, the first queen of King Dasharatha. Scholars have established the date of birth of Rama to be 4439 BC, Chaitra, Shukla, Navami. The other three sons of Dasharatha are Lakshmana and Shatrugna born to queen Sumitra, and Bharata born to queen Keikeyi. Sreeramanavami celebrations covering nine days reach a climax on the ninth day when the details of the pattaabhishekham (coronation) are sung. An unusual mixture of emotions arises as one listens to these spellbinding events in the life of Rama. Sadness, anger, sympathy, empathy, bewilderment, compassion, pleasure and pain are all felt as one views in one’s mind Rama, Sita, Bharata, Lakshmana, Ravana, Kumbhakarna, Jatayu, Mareecha, Vaali, Sugreeva, Vibheeshana, Keikeyi, Manthara, Hanuman and a thousand other personalities exploding as it were from a capsule. This cultural experience is unequalled. Dasharatha’s sorrow, brotherly love between Rama and Bharata, the exceptional bond between Rama and Lakshmana, Sita’s unconditional devotion to her husband, Rama’s unswerving sense of duty, Manthara’s treachery, Keikeyi’s jealousy and greed, devotion of Hanuman, all interplay throughout the unfolding drama and guides us towards a life within the framework of dharma.

When Rama was 25 years old, King Dasharatha made elaborate preparations to install his first son as Yuvaraaja. Tulsidasji describes how happy queen Keikeyi was when she heard the news from her maid Manthara who tried to sow seeds of jealousy in the queen. But Manthara continues to work on Keikeyi and gradually fabricates a web of dire consequences for her if Kausalya became queen mother. Manthara serves as an example of how one’s mind can be poisoned by raising passions of jealousy. Once Rama is crowned, he will not leave Bharata alone, Manthara says and “There will be danger to his life.” And then the final blow: “Kausalya is no friend of yours. She bears a grudge on you because you are the king’s favorite.” That does it and now Keikeyi is asking her maid’s advice. Manthara is only too happy to comply.


“The king two boons to you long owes,
take them today and fail your foes,
to Bharata throne, to woods Rama sent
Kausalya’s joy for you be meant.”


The story goes on and King Dasharatha is in shock after hearing Keikeyi’s demands. The day dawned, the hour fixed for the coronation approached. But within the palace, Keikeyi had already sent for Rama so that she could tell him what the king could not bear to do. When Rama went in, the pitiless Keikeyi utters these words: “It is for you to relinquish the planned installation and go into exile with matted hair and hermit weeds, leaving the preparations now ready for installation of Bharata.” Without the slightest bit of disappointment or sorrow, the prince says, “Is that all, mother? Surely the king’s promise to you must be fulfilled. My hair shall be twisted and I shall wear the bark and this very day I shall proceed to the forest.” Thus began the fourteen-year exile.

Now the reaction of Bharata gives us a glimpse of the heights to which human nature can rise through love and devotion. Bharata refuses to be crowned and instead he rushes to the forests in search of Rama. In the forest, Rama’s party hears sounds of an approaching crowd. Lakshmana climbs a tree to look around. Now we are about to witness another interesting component of human nature. Lakshmana recognizes the flag of the approaching army as that of Bharata. His interpretation is that Bharata is coming to slay them. Of course, Lakshmana’s doubts were unfounded. Bharata, after failing to persuade Rama to return to Ayodhya, begs Rama to part with his sandals under the authority of which Bharata plans to serve the empire as a figurehead until Rama’s return. The superb story continues with the exiled party reaching the deeper regions of the South, kidnapping of Sita by the Raakshasa Raavana, the battle of Lanka, rescue of Sita through the exceptional service of the monkey God Hanuman and his army of monkeys, and the final triumphal return of Rama to Ayodhya. Bharata and the citizenry wait anxiously to receive the returning hero and it is said the coronation took place on Friday, Chaitra Shukla Saptami of 4400 BC.

Sreerama led an ideal life fulfilling his duties, without any compromise, as a son, brother, friend, husband, warrior and ruler. Rama as an avatar of Vishnu, married Sita, an avatar of Lakshmi, and lived the life of a human, suffering the associated consequences in order to demonstrate the need to adhere to and uphold dharma. Rama is worshipped by Hindus in every part of India and thus serves as a unifying force for his devotees. Hindus remember Rama for the ideal life he led; boyhood devoted to learning skills appropriate to royalty, youth full of love and devotion to the family, extraordinary sense of accepting hardships and challenges with grace and dignity, leadership and compassion towards his followers, and above all a remarkable sense of duty and loyalty towards elders in the family. Hindus want to remember Rama so often in their daily lives that many, particularly in the north, use “Ram Ram” to greet each other! An important part Ramayana is the bond between Hanuman and Rama. When Lakshmana was wounded in war and needed to be revived with a special medicinal plant known as sanjeevini, Hanuman is assigned the task of going to a nearby mountain. Unable to decide which of the many plants was sanjeevini, Hanuman decided to pluck the entire mountain and brought it back! Thus was Lakshmana saved. There are Hanuman temples in India devoted to worship the very symbol of service and strength.

It is the practice among Hindus to bless boys to grow to be like Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Hanuman, good and brave souls, and bless girls to grow up like Sita full of love and strength. The power of the epic is such that it has for thousands of years influenced the lives of Hindus around the world and will undoubtedly do so for another thousand years and more in keeping with the promise made by Brahma to Valmiki thus:

“yaavatstasyanti giriyaaha
sareethashcha maheethale
thaavath Ramayana kathaa
lokeeshu pracharishyathi"

“As long as the mountains stand
and the rivers flow
so long shall the story of Rama
be cherished among people”

---