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Lord Ram, the slayer of the demon king Ravan who held his wife
captive, is regarded by millions of people today (not necessarily Indians) ‘as
a deity, a subject for literature, and an example of moral excellence'. As an
incarnation of Vishnu and as one of the most well-known protago-nists in Indian epic
poetry (e.g. Valmiki's Ramayan and Tulsidas's Ramacharitamanas) he has almost become an
integral part of the mythology of countries beyond the frontiers of India, where he is
regarded as the Universal Spirit as well as a Personal God who manifests himself in human
form for the well-being of his devotees on earth. He is the compassionate lord of beauty,
power, and virtue. The true nature and being of Ram, it is said, "transcends all
utterance, wisdom, and knowl-edge." He is, according to Tulasidas, beginning less,
endless, limitless, changeless, and beyond all description. He is pure consciousness and
Pure Bliss; the Very light untouched by illusion.
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