Ramayana is an epic that was written in Sanskrit by the Hindu sage Valmiki around 700 BC. It comprises of 24,000 verses which are presented in seven books. The word 'Ramayana' means 'The Journey of Ram'. The epic highlights the importance of religion and dharma in one's life, and it was passed on through generations as oral composition.

Ramayanahas deep religious significance for the Hindus. Presented in an allegorical form, it contains several philosophical doctrines and teachings which have become an integral part of the collective consciousness of the Hindus. Ramayana also established the 'Anustubh' meter and the 'Shloka' meter, which had great influence on Sanskrit poetry in the coming years. The 'Anustubh' meter, which was a 32-syllable meter, was used for composing the verses in the epic.

• Valmiki Ramayan: An overview of theRamayana, including chapters of the epic

The epic describes the life of Rama in a num ber of 'Kandas' or books. Among the important Kandas are Bala Kanda, Ayodha Kanda, Aranya Kanda, Kishkinda Kanda, Sundara Kanda, Yuddha Kanda, and Uttara Kanda. The Bala Kanda describes the birth of Rama and his childhood which was spent in the company of his brothers Lakshman, Bharat, and Shatrughan, while the Ayodhya Kanda gives accounts of Rama's coronation, his marriage to Sita, and his unfortunate exile. The third book, Aranya Kanda, relates the problems that Rama, Lakshman and Sita encounter in the forest, including the kidnap of Sita by Ravana, who is the wicked king of Lanka.

In the Kishkinda Kanda, Rama and his brother Lakshman meet Hanuman, and they overthrow the 'Vanara' King Bali. After that, Rama crowns his younger brother Sugriva as the King of Kishkinda. Sundara Kanda describes how Hanuman helps Rama by visiting Sita in Lanka, and it details the incidents that took place during Hanuman's visit. The Yuddha Kanda recounts how Rama and his allies battled against Ravana and his army. Eventually, Rama emerges victorious and returns with Sita to his kingdom, where he is crowned the king once again. The Uttara Kanda is the last book of the Ramayana, and it narrates the birth of Rama's sons Lava and Kusha, their childhoods, and their coronations. The epic finally ends with the passing away of Rama.

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Ramayana and Mahabharata are regarded as the two of the greatest epics of India. The 'Bhagavad-Gita', which is an excerpt from the Mahabharata, is one of the most sacred texts for the Hindus. Besides these two epics, the Hindus also have several other religious texts, such as the 'Upanishads', the 'Vedas', and the 'Puranas'. The 'Puranas' mention the three Gods of Hinduism, which are Brahma the creator of the world, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer of evil. These Gods are collectively known as the Trinity.

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The Ramayana is widely presented through oral story telling in all parts of India. Interestingly, the oral tradition of Ramayana is slightly different in North India and South India. The oral storytelling of the Ramayana even extends to countries of South East Asia, like Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand.

• HVK: An article about the oral story telling traditions of the Ramayana

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