The Ramayana is a Hindu epic telling the story of Rama, the heir-apparent to the throne of Ayodhya who was forced into exile by a court rivalry. Obedient to dharma, Rama left for life in the forest with his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana. After Sita was abducted by the Demon-King Ravana, Rama, with the aid of the loyal monkey Hanuman, rescued Sita and slew Ravana. His fourteen years of exile over, he returned to Ayodhya to reign as king. The Sanskrit Ramayana attributed to Valmiki is dated between about 200 B.C.E. and 200 C.E. There are also regional Ramayanas, the most popular being the Hindi Ramayana of the poet Tulsi Das in the 16th-17th centuries.
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