# Ramayana — WHE Definition Discussion (1-15104) **URL:** \ **Category:** WHE Articles\ **Created:** [August 30, 2016, 8:54am UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/ramayana-whe-definition-discussion-1-15104/17187 "2016-08-30T08:54:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ab.techwriter](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/community.worldhistory.org/ab.techwriter/32/311_2.png) [@ab.techwriter](https://community.worldhistory.org/u/ab.techwriter)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 8:54am UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/ramayana-whe-definition-discussion-1-15104/17187/1 "2016-08-30T08:54:07Z")
The _Ramayana_ is an ancient Indian epic, composed some time in the 5th century BCE, about the exile and then return of Rama, prince of Ayodhya. It was composed in Sanskrit by the sage Valmiki, who taught it to Rama's sons, the twins Lava and Kush. At about 24000 verses, it is a rather long poem and, by tradition, is known as the _Adi Kavya_ (_adi_ = original, first; _kavya_ = poem). While the basic story is about palace politics and battles with demon tribes, the narrative is interspersed with philosophy, ethics, and notes on duty. While in that other Indian epic, the _Mahabharata_, the characters are presented with all their human follies and failings, the _Ramayana_ leans more towards an ideal state of things: Rama is the ideal son and king, Sita the ideal wife, Hanuman the ideal devotee, Lakshman and Bharat the ideal brothers, and even Ravana, the demon villian, is not entirely despicable. * * * _This is a companion discussion topic for the original definition at [https://www.worldhistory.org/The\_Ramayana/](https://www.worldhistory.org/The_Ramayana/)._ * * * **Join the Conversation** - Is there anything you'd change or add? - Is there a related topic you'd like to see covered? - Anything here you'd push back on? Is there anything you'd like to ask about this definition? Ask away — and if you spot something that should be covered, that's useful to know too.