Rama, revered as the seventh incarnation of Vishnu, is born in Ayodhya as the eldest son of King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya, along with his brothers Bharata, Lakshmana, and Shatrughna. Destined to restore dharma, he grows up as the ideal prince—devoted to righteousness, skilled in arms, and obedient to his parents. Under the guidance of the sage Vishvamitra, Rama and Lakshmana protect sacred rituals from demonic forces, defeating beings such as Tataka, Subahu, and Maricha and receiving divine weapons. In Mithila, Rama wins Sita’s hand by stringing and breaking the great bow of Shiva at her svayamvara, and returns to Ayodhya as the beloved heir apparent, embodying both royal and spiritual virtues. When Dasharatha prepares to crown Rama, Queen Kaikeyi claims two long-promised boons: that her son Bharata be made king and that Rama be exiled to the forest for fourteen years. Bound by his commitment to truth, Dasharatha consents, and Rama accepts the exile without resentment, upheld by Sita and Lakshmana who insist on accompanying him. In the forest, they dwell among sages and hermitages, until the demoness Shurpanakha’s thwarted desire leads to a chain of events culminating in Sita’s abduction by Ravana, the ten-headed king of Lanka. Ravana, aided by Maricha’s illusion of a golden deer, seizes Sita in Rama’s absence and carries her to Lanka, where she steadfastly refuses his advances and remains unwavering in her chastity and devotion. In his search for Sita, Rama forms an alliance with the vanara prince Sugriva and his minister Hanuman, restoring Sugriva to his throne by slaying his rival brother Vali. When the time comes to honor their pact, Sugriva dispatches search parties, and Hanuman, reminded of his latent strength, leaps across the ocean to Lanka. There he discovers Sita in the Ashoka grove, consoles her, and brings Rama’s token of assurance, before returning with news of her location. With the support of Sugriva’s monkey and bear hosts, Rama approaches the ocean, and the vanaras construct a bridge to Lanka, enabling the great army to cross and confront Ravana’s forces. The ensuing war in Lanka is vast and terrible, marked by the fall of many of Ravana’s champions, including his giant brother Kumbhakarna and several of his sons. Lakshmana is gravely wounded in battle, and Hanuman’s heroic journey to bring the life-restoring herb saves him, allowing the struggle for dharma to continue. Ravana’s brother Vibhishana, recognizing the injustice of Ravana’s