00 UGC 111 Essay #2 : Ramayana The epic of Ramayana and some of the Hindu virtues derived from it The poetic author, Valmiki, does not calls Rama "the perfect man" in his well known tale of Ramayana for no reason. For this story has been a legendary epic that many generations of the Hindu culture have been modeling their society after, for over two thousand years. It has been an influential teaching for children and scholars of all ages because of its simplicity and exemplary concepts and virtues of the Hindu people. From childhood most Indians learn the characters and incidents of this epic and they furnish the morals, ideals and wisdom of common life. This epic helps to bind together the many peoples of India, transcending caste, distance and language by showing all the perfect way to practice dharma throughout one's life. As will be explored in this essay, from Ramayana, one can derive many of the virtues of the Hindu culture such as perfectionism, honesty, order, obedience and respect, and active asceticism. All these characteristics make a human being perfect and are achieved through the practice of dharma, as explicitly shown by the main character of Ramayana - Rama. Rama is indeed a perfect man in the eyes of the Indian people. Many Hindus even regard him as an incarnation of the god Vishnu. The main reason for that is Rama lived his entire life in an exemplary manner - by the rules of dharma. In fact, that was why Indians consider him heroic and respect him so much . When Rama was a young boy, he was the perfect son. Later he was an ideal husband to his faithful wife, Sita, and finally a responsible ruler of Aydohya. The first example of obedience and respect displayed by Rama is vivid when the news of his banishment, enforced by his own parents, are brought to him. He handles the situation with remarkably patient and wise attitude and says to his stepmother, I gladly obey father's command Why, I would go even if you ordered it.
