👑 Prince of Ayodhya
Rama is born as the eldest son of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya. He wins the hand of Sita by passing a test of strength with a great bow at her father's court. They marry and are very happy together.
Hinduism: Origins and Their Impact on the Community » Rama: Avatar of Vishnu and Model of Dharma
What you'll learn this session
Study time: 30 minutes
Edexcel spec: Paper 2 Hinduism (4RS1/2C), 1.1
- Why Rama matters to Hindus, and why many see him as an avatar of Vishnu
- The main stories about Rama and how they are used today
- Whether Rama is a manifestation of the Divine and a good role model
- How Rama helps Hindus understand how to live a Hindu life today
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Unlock This CourseWho is Rama?
Rama is one of the best loved figures in Hinduism. Many Hindus see him as an avatar of Vishnu. Remember that an avatar is a 'descent' of Vishnu to earth, who comes to restore dharma when evil is winning. Hindus count Rama as the seventh avatar of Vishnu. The Ramayana tells his story.
Hindus do not all see Rama in the same way:
- Many Vaishnavas (Hindus who worship Vishnu and his avatars as supreme) worship Rama as an avatar of Vishnu. For many devotees Rama is the supreme Lord himself, not just a part of Vishnu's work.
- Some Hindus, especially those who follow the path of knowledge (jnana marga), see Rama as one form through which Brahman, the one ultimate reality, shows itself.
- Shaivas (Hindus who worship Shiva as supreme), who see Shiva as the highest God, honour Rama as a great and good hero, but do not usually worship him as the supreme Lord.
- Some Hindus read the Ramayana as history. Others read it as a story with a deeper meaning about how to live.
Key terms:
- Ram Lila: a play that acts out the story of Rama, often performed in the weeks before Dussehra, the autumn festival that celebrates Rama's victory over Ravana.
- Rama Navami: the festival that celebrates the birthday of Rama, held in spring.
- Maryada Purushottama: a title for Rama, often translated as 'the perfect man' who keeps to the limits set by dharma.
- Ram Rajya: 'the rule of Rama', Hindus' picture of a fair and caring government.
The story of Rama
🌲 Fourteen years in exile
Dasharatha's wife Kaikeyi reminds him of two promises he once gave her. She asks that her own son rule and that Rama go into the forest for fourteen years. Dasharatha is heartbroken, but Rama accepts the exile calmly because he wants his father to keep his word. Sita and his brother Lakshmana go with him.
👿 Sita is taken
Ravana, the demon king of Lanka, carries Sita away. Rama sets out to find her. Hanuman, a mighty and devoted follower, finds Sita in Lanka and brings back news of her.
🏹 Victory and return
With the help of Hanuman and an army of forest allies, Rama defeats Ravana. After the fourteen years end, Rama returns to Ayodhya and is crowned king. Hindus remember his rule as an age of fairness and peace.
Hindus see Rama's victory as the defeat of adharma (wrong) by dharma (right). That is what an avatar of Vishnu is sent to do.
How the stories are used today
- Recitals of the Ramayana: families and communities listen to the story being read or sung, in the home, the mandir (Hindu temple) or in public gatherings.
- Ram Lila plays: in many towns and villages in India, actors and local people perform the story each year. They finish with the defeat of Ravana.
- Rama Navami: Hindus celebrate Rama's birth with prayers, fasting, singing and readings, often at the mandir.
- The greeting 'Ram Ram': many Hindus use the name of Rama as a greeting. Each time, they say a name of God.
- Television and children's books: a very popular television series in India in the late 1980s retold the story. Picture books and comics now pass it on to children, including children growing up in Britain.
Is Rama a manifestation of the Divine?
A manifestation of the Divine means a way in which God becomes visible to humans. Here are two views.
🙏 Yes, Rama is divine
Devotees say Rama came as a human so that people could see how God wants them to live. His courage, calm and goodness show the nature of God. This is why they pray to him and say his name.
🤔 A great teacher, not the highest God
Some Hindus honour Rama but see Shiva or the formless Brahman as the highest reality. For them Rama is an inspiring example, and the story is a teaching story.
Rama as a role model
Hindus often call Rama the ideal son, the ideal husband and the ideal king. They remember Ram Rajya as a picture of how a ruler should care for the people.
- Ideal son: he gives up the throne to keep his father's promise.
- Ideal husband: he searches for Sita and fights a war to bring her home.
- Ideal king: he puts the good of his people first.
- Sita: she follows Rama into the forest and shows loyalty and courage.
- Hanuman: he serves Rama with total devotion, so he is a model of loyalty and bhakti (loving devotion to God).
Some Hindus today ask hard questions about how Sita is treated. In some tellings she has to prove her purity after her rescue, and later in the story she is sent away. Many Hindus still read the story in the traditional way and see Rama as acting for his duty as king. Others say it was unfair to Sita and that Rama should not be copied here. Both are views held by Hindus today.
Rama and living a Hindu life today
Rama shows Hindus that living by dharma means putting duty before personal wishes, keeping promises, respecting parents and treating others fairly, even when it is hard. The story gives Hindus a picture of dharma in action, not just a rule. Hindus who copy Rama try to stay calm and truthful when life is unfair.
Common mistakes
Do not say that all Hindus believe Rama is God, because views differ. Do not just retell the story: say why it matters to Hindus. Do not mix up Rama (seventh avatar, hero of the Ramayana) with Krishna, who is covered in the next lesson.
Exam-style question
(a) Outline two events in the life of Rama which show why he is a role model for Hindus. [4 marks]
(b) Explain why Rama is important for Hindus today. [6 marks]
(c) 'Rama is the only role model a Hindu needs.' Discuss this statement, considering the arguments for and against. In your answer you should include reference to teachings, other (divergent) points of view and your own reasoned opinion. [10 marks]
Model answer
(a) Rama accepted fourteen years of exile (1) so that his father Dasharatha could keep his promise, which shows he is the ideal son (1). Rama went to rescue Sita from Ravana (1), which shows he is the ideal husband who protects those he loves (1).
(b) Rama is important because many Hindus believe he is an avatar of Vishnu who came to defeat the demon king Ravana and restore dharma (1). For many devotees he is the supreme Lord himself, so they worship him in the mandir and at home (1). His story is retold in Ramayana recitals, Ram Lila plays and at Rama Navami, so it keeps Hindu communities together and passes beliefs to children (1). He is a role model as the ideal son, husband and king, so he shows Hindus how to follow dharma in daily life (1). The greeting 'Ram Ram' keeps the name of God in everyday speech (1). So Rama matters both as God and as an example (1).
(c) Plan. For: Rama shows dharma in every role (son, husband, king); the Ramayana is told in homes and festivals, so it is a shared example; Hindus who see him as the Lord will say he is the highest example. Against: Hindus also follow other figures, texts and teachers in the Hindu tradition; Sita and Hanuman model loyalty and devotion, so there are other examples; some Hindus question the treatment of Sita, so they do not copy Rama in everything; a role model must also fit modern life. Conclusion: Rama is a very strong model but not the only one, because different Hindus follow different people and texts as well as him.
Exam tip
In a 'Discuss' question, name a divergent Hindu view, such as Hindus who question Sita's treatment, and finish with your own reasoned opinion.