Rama (; IAST: Rāma, pronounced [ˈraːmɐ] (listen); Sanskrit: राम), Ram, Raman or Ramar, also known as Ramachandra (; IAST: Rāmacandra, Sanskrit: रामचन्द्र), is a major deity in Hinduism
He is the seventh and one of the most popular avatars of Vishnu
In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Being
Rama is said to have been born to Kaushalya and Dasharatha in Ayodhya, the ruler of the Kingdom of Kosala
His siblings included Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna
He married Sita
Though born in a royal family, their life is described in the Hindu texts as one challenged by unexpected changes such as an exile into impoverished and difficult circumstances, ethical questions and moral dilemmas
Of all their travails, the most notable is the kidnapping of Sita by demon-king Ravana, followed by the determined and epic efforts of Rama and Lakshmana to gain her freedom and destroy the evil Ravana against great odds
The entire life story of Rama, Sita and their companions allegorically discusses duties, rights and social responsibilities of an individual
It illustrates dharma and dharmic living through model characters
Rama is especially important to Vaishnavism
He is the central figure of the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana, a text historically popular in the South Asian and Southeast Asian cultures
His ancient legends have attracted bhasya (commentaries) and extensive secondary literature and inspired performance arts
Two such texts, for example, are the Adhyatma Ramayana – a spiritual and theological treatise considered foundational by Ramanandi monasteries, and the Ramcharitmanas – a popular treatise that inspires thousands of Ramlila festival performances during autumn every year in India
Rama legends are also found in the texts of Jainism and Buddhism, though he is sometimes called Pauma or Padma in these texts, and their details vary significantly from the Hindu versions
Jain Texts also mentioned Rama as the eighth balabhadra among the 63 salakapurusas
In Sikhism, Rama is mentioned as one of twenty four divine incarnations of Vishnu in the Chaubis Avtar in Dasam Granth