Rama (Devangar: ; Rma,; Burmese: Jma ; Javanese: Ramavijaya ; Khmer: Phre alay: Megat Seri Rama; Maranao: Raja

Bantugan; Tamil: Ramar; Telugu: Rama; Thai: 1] or Ramachandra[2] is the seventh avatar of the god Vishnu in Hinduism,[3] and a king of Ayodhya in Hindu scriptures. In few Rama-centric sects, Rama is consi dered the Supreme Being, rather than an avatar. Rama was born in Suryavansha (Ik shvaku Vansh) later known as Raghuvansha after king Raghu. Based on Puranic gene alogy, Rama is believed by Hindus to have lived in the second Yuga called Treta Yuga, before Krishna who was born towards the end of Dwapara Yuga. Rama is tradi tionally considered to have appeared in the last quarter of Treta Yuga.[4] Rama is one of the many popular figures and deities in Hinduism, specifically Va ishnavism and Vaishnava religious scriptures in South and Southeast Asia.[5] In Ayodhya, the Indian city believed to be the birthplace of Rama, he is also worsh ipped as an infant or Rama Lalla. Most of the details of Rama's life come from t he Ramayana, one of the two great epics of India.[6] Born as the eldest son of K ausalya and Dasharatha, king of Ayodhya, Rama is referred to within Hinduism as Maryada Purushottama,[7] literally the Perfect Man or Lord of Self-Control or Lo rd of Virtue. Rama is the husband of Sita, whom Hindus consider to be an Avatar of Lakshmi and the embodiment of perfect womanhood.[7][8] Rama's life and journey is one of perfect adherence to dharma despite harsh test s of life and time. He is pictured as the ideal man and the perfect human. For t he sake of his father's honour, Rama abandons his claim to Kosala's throne to se rve an exile of fourteen years in the forest.[9] His wife Sita and brother Laksh mana, unable to live without Rama, decide to join him, and all three spend the f ourteen years in exile together. While in exile, Sita is kidnapped by Ravana, th e Rakshasa (Asura) monarch of Lanka. After a long and arduous search that tests his personal strength and virtue, Rama fights a colossal war against Ravana's ar mies. In a war of powerful and magical beings, greatly destructive weaponry and battles, Rama slays Ravana in battle and liberates his wife. Having completed hi s exile, Rama returns to be crowned king in Ayodhya (the capital of his kingdom) and eventually becomes emperor,[9] rules with happiness, peace, prosperity and justicea period known as Rama Rajya. Rama's courage in searching for Sita and fighting a terrible war to rescue his w ife and their honour is complemented by Sita's absolute devotion to her husband' s love, and perfect chastity despite being Ravana's captive. Rama's younger brot hers, namely Lakshmana, Shatrughna and Bharata strongly complement his piety, vi rtue and strength,[9] and they are believed by many to belong to the Maryada Pur ushottama and the Seventh Avatara, mainly embodied by Rama. Rama's piety and vir tue attract powerful and devoted allies such as Hanuman and the Vanaras of Kishk indha, with whose help he rescues Sita.[9] The legend of Rama is deeply influent ial and popular in the societies of the Indian subcontinent and across South Eas t Asia. Rama is revered for his unending compassion,[10] courage and devotion to religious values and duty.