The piece in short: Rama was the first of the four sons of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya, and as such heir to the throne. In a Swayamvara, in which it was necessary to stretch the heavy bow Shiva (Shivadhanusha), he won among many candidates his wife Sita.
Due to his stepmother’s trick, he was prevented from ascending the throne and banished to the jungle for 14 years, where he was escorted by his brother Lakshmana and his wife Sita. There, the Râkshasi Shûrpanaka made him advances and was rejected by both Râma and his brother Lakshmana. Shūrpanaka was offended and attacked Sîta, whereupon Lakshmana intervened and disfigured her. Shūrpanaka complained of her suffering to her powerful brother Râvana, ruler of Lanka. This commissioned his uncle Marîcha with the revenge. Marîcha approached in the form of a golden deer of the hut Râmas and Sîtas. Sita saw the deer and sent Rama to catch it for her. In the meantime, Râvana visited Sita, who was left alone, and abducted her. Râma recognized the deer as Râkshasa (demon) and killed it. On his return, he found the hut empty and went in search of Sita. He found support in Hanuman and his monkey army. Hanumân tracked down Sîta at the Râvanas court in Lanka and brought her a ring of Râmas as a badge. Likewise, he brought Râma a hair ornament from Sîta. Râma then went with his monkey army on a purpose-built bridge over to Lanka, killed Râvana in battle and brought Sita back to Ayodhya. The 14 years of exile are over and Râma is crowned king.
Shri Rama’s sense of justice and grandeur are still proverbial today. He is worshiped in India as a divine incarnation.
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