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Lord Rama
Rama is born in the city of Ayodhya, which is the capital of the
ancient kingdom of Kosala. The city and the area are located in
the central region of the modern state of Uttar Pradesh in India.
King Dasaratha performs a putrakami yajna, a sacrifice to obtain
offspring by pleasing the Gods. He gives the sacred, sacrificial
nectar to his three wives according to their seniority: Kousalya,
Sumitra and Kaikeyi.
Rama is born the eldest son of Kousalya and Dasaratha. He is the
prince of the Suryavanshi (Sun Dynasty) House of Ikshvaku,
descendant of great monarchs like Ikshvaku, Raghu and Bhagiratha. |
 He
is the eldest brother to Bharata, son of Kaikeyi, and the twin sons of
Sumitra, Lakshmana and Shatrughna. The Ramayana describes their
relationship as intensely loving and devotional, although Rama and
Lakshmana share a special, inseparable bond, while Bharata is
especially close to Shatrughna.
Rama and his brothers are trained by the Guru Vasishta in the Vedas,
religion, philosophy and the sciences. Guru Vishwamitra is the
preceptor of Rama and Lakshmana in the advanced military arts and
advanced religion.
The Avatara
Upon his birth, only a few highly learned and experienced sages know
of his true identity as the Avatara of the Supreme Lord Vishnu.
Amongst them are Vasishta and Vishwamitra. Neither his parents, nor
his brothers or any of the people of Kosala know who his true identity
is. Rama is born with a blueish skin color and effulgence, which
denotes divinity.
Throughout the course of his life, Rama does not himself know of his
true origin and mission. Despite his exceptional prowess as a warrior,
he does not realize his true strength and mission in life.
Only after he completes his primary mission of slaying Ravana, the
evil emperor of Lanka, is he confronted by all the Gods and celestial
sages, headed by Brahma and including Indra and Shiva, who explain his
true identity.
His brother and close companion Lakshmana is considered an avatar of
Sesha, the divine snake on which Vishnu lies on, which makes him have
a very strong spiritual bond with Rama.
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