mumbainews’s blog

The Ramayana is said to be the second largest epic on Hinduism, the first being the Mahabharata. The Ramayana was originally written by the sage Valmiki around 400BC and the second version of the same tale was by saint Tulsidas called the Tulsi Ramayan around 1532 AD. Both the texts showcase the society at the time of Rama's birth and rule, the beliefs and values of the people, the system of monarchy and family life of the commoners.  

At the time of the birth of Lord Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, there were many kingdoms in North India like Kishkinda, Anga, Danda, Gandhara, Kasi, Kosala and many more. King Dashratha, was the king of the Kosala dynasty, whose capital was at Ayodhya, present day Faizabad, UP. Rama was born to king Dashratha, and queen Kausalya. He was the quintessential prince destined to become the king of his land, but because of the politics and enmity of his step-mother Kaikeyi, mother of Bharat, Rama was banished to the forest with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman for a period of 14 years. At Ayodhya, the prince brothers were taught the scriptures and archery by the sage Vishwamitra who led them to Mithila, the capital of Videha, whose king Janak, married off his daughter Janaki or Sita to the prince of the Raghu or Sun clan, Rama.    More