RAMAYANA-THE EPIC

The Ramayana is one of the two major ancient Indian epics, the other being the Mahabharata. The story is centered around the life of the protagonist, Rama, who is the seventh avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. The epic follows Rama's journey from his birth in the kingdom of Ayodhya to his marriage to Sita, his exile to the forest, and his battle against the demon king Ravana to rescue Sita.

The Ramayana is divided into seven books or kandas, with each book covering a different phase of Rama's life. The first book, Balakanda, describes Rama's birth, his childhood, and his marriage to Sita. The second book, Ayodhyakanda, tells the story of Rama's exile to the forest and his brother Bharata's attempt to bring him back to Ayodhya. The third book, Aranyakanda, describes Rama's life in the forest and his encounter with various sages and demons.

The fourth book, Kishkindhakanda, focuses on Rama's meeting with Hanuman, the monkey god, and his alliance with the monkey army to rescue Sita from Ravana. The fifth book, Sundarakanda, narrates the heroic deeds of Hanuman and his journey to Lanka to search for Sita. The sixth book, Yuddhakanda, describes the epic battle between Rama's army and Ravana's army, and Rama's eventual victory over Ravana.

The final book, Uttarakanda, tells the story of Rama's reign as king of Ayodhya and his decision to send Sita into exile after doubting her fidelity. The Ramayana is a timeless epic that teaches the values of righteousness, morality, and devotion. It is a story of love, sacrifice, and the triumph of good over evil, and it continues to inspire millions of people around the world.