The Story of Rama

Last Updated: February 17, 2024

The story of Sri Ramachandra, the prince of Ayodhya is the one most often told in India. Rama was the eldest son of king Dasharatha who had three wives. The youngest of the wives Kaikeyi tricked the king into making her son as the descendent to the throne and made Rama go to the forest in relinquishment.

Rama, the good son that he is, follows the word of the father and goes to the forest for fourteen years. His wife Sita and loyal brother Lakshman follow him and they establish a hermitage.

Shurpanakhi, the sister of ten headed king Rawana of Sri Lanka wishes to court the prince in the forest. She is refused and humiliated. In anger and rage, Rawana kidnaps Sita with the help of his brother Maricha to Lanka and keeps her arrested in his garden.

What follows is the great search for Sita, the friends (Hanuman, Sugreev, etc) the brothers make, the monkey armies they build, and the oceans they bridge to bring Sita back to Ayodhya that is glorified in the great works of Indian arts and literature.

We bring you the epic story of Rama as depicted in various forms of Indian art over five thousand years. It follows no particular order and we have taken the liberty to mix the art forms freely.

Tales and Pictures of Ramayana Epic

  • Who's Who of Ramayana -- Learn about some of the important characters of Ramayana epic. You can find how they are related to each other by clicking the red hyperlinks
  • Castes of Ramayana -- A complete list of professions mentioned in Ramayana provides insight into the caste system of India.

See Also:

Books on Ramayana

Internet Links