Hindu Deities 4

Rama

Rama which means 'one who permeates and who is present in everything and everyone' is the seventh avatar of Vishnu.

The Ramayana, which is one of the most popular stories in the Hindu tradition, tells of Rama's exploits. As a young prince he performs heroic acts and in due course wins the beautiful Sita as his wife after succeeding in bending a great war bow. Cheated of his rightful role as successor to his father the king, he goes off into exile. Sita and his brother Lakshmana insist in going with him. One day Sita is kidnapped by the ten-headed demon Ravana and carried off to his stronghold in the island of Lanka. Helped by Hanuman, the god-king of the monkeys, Rama eventually defeats Ravana and his army in battle and rescues Sita. They then return to their kingdom where Rama is given his rightful place as king.

Rama is the model of reason, right action and commendable virtues. He is often depicted with a tall conical cap which symbolizes his royal status.

Rama represents an ideal man, as conceived by the Hindu mind. In the story of Ramayana, Rama's personality depicts him as the perfect son, devoted brother, true husband, trusted friend, ideal king, and a noble adversary.

Sita and Rama are the model wife and husband in the Hindu tradition.
 

Ramdarbar

The Ramdarbar is the name given to the group of figures who appear in the Ramayana, one of the most popular stories in the Hindu tradition. The figures are Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman.

Rama and Sita
Rama which means 'one who permeates and who is present in everything and everyone' is the seventh avatar of Vishnu. Sita is also regarded as an avatar of the goddess Lakshmi, consort of Vishnu. When Vishnu took on human form as Rama, Lakshmi took on human form as Sita.

The Ramayana, one of the most popular stories in the Hindu tradition, tells of Rama's exploits. As a young prince he performs heroic acts and in due course wins Sita as his wife after succeeding in bending a great war bow. Cheated of his rightful role as successor to his father the king, he goes off into exile. Sita and his brother Lakshmana insist in going with him. One day Sita is kidnapped by the ten-headed demon Ravana and carried off to his stronghold in the island of Lanka. Helped by Hanuman, the god-king of the monkeys, Rama eventually defeats Ravana and his army in battle and rescues Sita. They then return to their kingdom where Rama is given his rightful place as king.

Rama is the model of reason, right action and commendable virtues. He is often depicted with a tall conical cap which symbolizes his royal status.

Sita and Rama are the model wife and husband in the Hindu tradition.

Lakshmana
Lakshmana was a half brother to Rama. He accompanied Rama and Sita in their exile, and shared their struggles. In the great battle with Ravana, Lakshmana was fatally wounded but was restored to health when Hanuman brought to the battle field the mountain on which grew special healing herbs.

Hanuman
Hanuman, whose image is in the form of a monkey, is particularly associated with the Ramayana, the story of Rama and Sita. In the story, Sita, Rama's wife, is kidnapped by the evil, ten-headed demon Ravana who carries her off to his fortress in the island of Lanka. At great risk to his own safety, Hanuman finds Sita and then returns to help Rama build a bridge over to the island to rescue Sita. During the ensuing battle, Rama's brother Lakshmana was fatally wounded. Hanuman was sent to fetch healing herbs which grew on a particular mountain. Unable to identify the herbs, he uprooted the whole mountain and brought it back to the site of the battle thus saving Lakshmana's life. Images of Hanuman often show him holding the mountain in his hand. As a model for human devotion to God, he is often depicted with paws brought reverently together.

He is a symbol of strength and loyalty and represents the concept that animals are also a creation of God.

Hanuman is also regarded as a god in his own right and as the son of the wind god he is able to fly and change shape at will. He is one of the few gods without a consort.

Ravana

Ravana is the ten-headed demon who features in the Ramayana, one of the most popular stories in the Hindu tradition. Ravana kidnaps the beautiful Sita, wife of Rama, and carries her off to his stronghold in the island of Lanka. Helped by Hanuman, the god-king of the monkeys, Rama eventually defeats Ravana and his army in battle and rescues Sita.

Sarasvati

Sarasvati is the consort of Brahma and is the goddess of wisdom and the arts and as such is widely revered. She particularly attracts the worship of students.

She is usually depicted as very fair-skinned, beautiful and elegant and dressed in a white garment. Objects associated with Sarasvati are the vina (an Indian stringed musical instrument), a flute, a manuscript and a book.

Sanskrit, the ancient sacred language of Hinduism, is said to have been created by her.

Her vehicle is usually shown as a peacock but she may also be seen with a swan or a goose, the vehicles associated with her consort, Brahma.

Sarasvati is the Goddess of learning, knowledge, and wisdom. She is worshipped by all persons interested in knowledge, especially students, teachers, scholars, and scientists.

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Last updated: 08/15/08