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The Ramayana is undoubtedly the
most popular and timeless Indian epic read and loved
by all. The term 'Ramayana', literally
means "the march (ayana) of Rama" in search
of human values. As a literary work, it combines
"the inner bliss of Vedic literature with the
outer richness of delightfully profound story telling."
This story of Sri Rama by the
great sage Valmiki is referred
to as the Adi Kavya or the first epic
poem. About the Valmiki Ramayana,
Swami Vivekananda has said: "No language
can be purer, none chaster, none more beautiful,
and at the same time simpler, than the language
in which the great poet has depicted the life
of Sri Rama."
The characters and incidents in Ramayana
provide the ideals and wisdom of common life,
and help to bind the people of India. Universally
regarded as one of the world's important literary
works, Ramayana has had a profound impact on the
art, culture, family relations, gender, politics
and nationalism in the Indian sub continent. The
everlasting value of this epic tale has been extolled
through the centuries, and it has helped in molding
the Hindu character largely.
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