Few figures in the course of history have had an epic fame enduring for many thousands of years. Of these perhaps the best known is Rama of Ayodhya, whose fame has endured to the present day, sustained by millions of devotees across the world. Rama lived at a very ancient period, long before the Romans, the Ancient Egyptians, the Mayans or the Mesopotamians.

Rama’s life is set forth in a great epic called the Ramayana, filled with magic, spirituality as well as high and mighty ethics, morals and ideals. It remains one of the most endearing and inspiring epics in world civilisation. It includes extraordinary characters such as great yogis with mystical powers, powerful demons and magical animals like Rama’s great monkey companion, Hanuman. Yet Rama also appears as a historical figure in one of the great dynasties of ancient India, the solar dynasty of Kosala, and is included among the detailed genealogies of ancient Hindu kings. There are at least 60 kings recorded between Rama and the time of the Buddha (c. 500 BCE).

In Hindu thought, Rama is the seventh avatar (incarnation) of Lord Vishnu, the aspect of the Divine or Pure Consciousness that protects and preserves the universe. Rama was known for his fearlessness, compassion, courage and wisdom. He is called upon as the form of God who saves us from difficulties and danger. Rama as a name means "he who gives light, joy and peace". Rama is called Bhagavan Rama or Lord Rama to show respect for his divinity. The name of Rama is one of the most important Sanskrit names for God, perhaps second only to Om in frequency of use. Like Om it is called Taraka, the mantra of deliverance, taking us beyond the ocean of birth and death.

Rama is mentioned in Buddhist literature as an enlightened individual and his worship goes far beyond India. The kings of Thailand to the present day are named Rama, and their ancient capital city, Ayuttha is named after Rama’s own capital Ayodhya. The story of Rama is commonly told in Indochina and is performed regularly in Indonesia, where a large statue of Rama can be found in the capital city Jakarta, and represents the older Hindu tradition of those countries which many people still follow. Smaller indigenous communities in the Philippines, Malaysia and Borneo are devotees of Rama. The walls of temples from Pakistan to Ankor Wat in Cambodia portray scenes from the life of Rama. Indeed the story of Rama is the most popular and enduring story of South Asia. Rama is the greatest cultural hero of the region, setting an example as a courageous warrior and compassionate king. To the West, the name Rama occurs as a name of God in ancient Persian literature, the Zend Avesta of the Zoroastrians, as well as in artefacts as far as Syria and Egypt. This suggests that the story of Rama may have been known over a far greater region in ancient times.

    Ancient Rama Temple in Indonesia

The story of Ram reflects the spiritual view of life found in Yoga and Vedanta, the practice and philosophy of Self-realisation. According to the Hindu view, God is the Infinite Bliss and Wisdom that dwells within our hearts to which we must eventually return, whatever we may do and however far we may stray. Rama is an incarnation of joy, compassion and strength. Devotion to him counsels us to return to our true Self-Nature. Its message is not doom and gloom or threats of punishment, but that we contain within ourselves an ocean of delight and awareness that transcends all time, space and causation which we can access to fulfil our inner destiny (God-realisation) and overcome the bonds of karma. Rama himself abides within us as the Divine Will that is master of everything, which we can manifest through surrender of our thought and actions to God.

Many great teachers of modern India have been devotees of Rama, notably Neem Karoli Baba, who was considered to be a manifestation of Rama’s companion Hanuman. Another great devotee was Baba Ramdas of South India. There are also many Western devotees of Rama, through the influence of such teachers. Quite recently the national television network of India produced a television series based on the Ramayana that mesmerised the whole country. No ancient epic, not even Homer’s Iliad or Odyssey has remained as popular through the course of time. The story of Rama appears as old as civilisation itself and has a fresh appeal for every generation.





Lord Rama