Pantheon: Hindu
Class: God
Level: Top tier
Lineage: Mortal
Alignment: Good
Linked with: Das-Ratha, Brahma, Vishnu, Ravana, Kausala, others
One of the incarnations of Vishnu, Rama was born in response to the threat of the demon Ravana, who had attained extreme power due to severe penances and austere devotion to Brahma. Appearing to Das-ratha within the sacrificial fire, Vishnu gave the king a pot of nectar, directing that his wives should drink it. Das-ratha's wife Kausalya drank half of it, then gave birth to Rama.
The young Rama was approached by the sage Viswamitra, pleading his help against the folk of Ravana, and Rama, overcoming his aversion to fighting a woman, slew the female demon Taraka. Later the sage brought Rama and his brothers to the court of King Janaka of Videha, where Rama met and married the king's daughter, Sita, in response to the king's challenge to bend the bow of Shiva. Rama not only bent the bow, but broke it.
When the time came for him to become the successor to his father, Bharata's mother prevailed upon Das-ratha to install her son as king for fourteen years, and send Rama into exile. Although Bharata declined the throne, and asked Rama to return, the god asked him to remain as regent, while he completed his exile. Taking his wife and his brother, Lakshmana, Rama travelled extensively, rebuffing the advances of the female demon Surpanakha, who in revenge had her brother Ravana carry off Sita.
In their pursuit, Rama and Lakshmana slew Kabandha, a headless monster, whose spirit advised them to seek the aid of the monkey king, Sugriva. Assisted by he and Hanuman, they invaded Ravana's stronghold, slew the demon, and reclaimed Sita.