Hindu deity
Rama
the ideal king — dharma embodied
In short
Rama is the seventh avatar of Vishnu and the hero of the Ramayana — revered as the embodiment of dharma, the ideal son, husband, and king. His life of integrity, duty, and steadiness through exile and hardship makes him, in tradition, the very measure of righteousness (maryada purushottama).
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Significance & stories
The Ramayana tells of Rama's fourteen-year exile, the abduction of his wife Sita by Ravana, and his victory with the help of Hanuman and the vanara army — but its heart is his unwavering adherence to dharma through every trial.
Rama is honoured as maryada purushottama, the perfect man who upholds righteousness even at great personal cost. His birth is celebrated at Ram Navami, and his return to Ayodhya is remembered in the lamps of Diwali.
A mantra to Rama
ॐ श्री रामाय नमः
oṃ śrī rāmāya namaḥ
I bow to Sri Rama, embodiment of dharma and gentle strength.
See all Rama mantras with Devanagari, transliteration, meaning, and how to chant.
A verse
“rāmo vigrahavān dharmaḥ”
Valmiki Ramayana · Aranya Kanda, Sarga 37Rama is righteousness itself, given form — let dharma quietly guide your steps.
Spoken by the rakshasa Maricha to Ravana — when Ravana came to enlist him in the plot to seize Sita, Maricha warned him away, saying Rama is righteousness itself given form.
Festivals of Rama
Questions about Rama
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About Rama
Who is Rama?
Rama is the seventh avatar of Vishnu and the hero of the Ramayana, revered as the embodiment of dharma — the ideal son, husband, and king.
Why is Rama important in Hinduism?
He is the model of righteousness (maryada purushottama), upholding duty and integrity through exile and hardship. His story, the Ramayana, is one of Hinduism's great epics.
Bring your heart to Rama
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