Ram · राम

Ram, prince of Ayodhya and an avatar of Vishnu, is the hero of the Ramayana, revered as the ideal of righteousness, devotion and duty.

The Ramayana of Valmiki and, in North India, the Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas tell how Ram, son of Dasharath, went into exile with Sita and Lakshman, how Sita was taken by Ravana, and how Ram, with Hanuman and the vanara army, crossed to Lanka to rescue her. He is pictured with bow and arrows, beside Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman.

Ram Navami celebrates his birth, and Diwali and Dussehra are linked with his return and his victory over Ravana.