What is Ramayana?
{{Hindu scriptures}} [[File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Reliëf op de aan Shiva gewijde tempel op de Candi Lara Jonggrang oftewel het Prambanan tempelcomplex TMnr 10016190.jpg|thumb|A volcanic stone relief of '''Ramayana''' epic in which Rama killed the silvered and turned out to be the demon [[Maricha]] in [[Prambanan]] temple wall, [[Indonesia]].]] The 'Ramayana' is an ancient [[Hindu]] [[epic poetry|epic]] about [[Rama]] and [[Sita]]. It is one of the two most important ancient epics of [India], the first one being the ancient [[Mahabharata]].. The epic was originally written by sage ([[rishi]]) [[Valmiki]] of [[Ancient India]]. The book has about 24,000 verses and is divided into six parts. The story of the Ramayana is about Prince Rama who has been [[exile]]d from his kingdom of ([Ayodhya]) with his wife Sita and his brother Lakshman. He goes on to kill [king] Ravana of Lanka in a long battle to get back his wife Sita. Seven different versions of the book are available. It has been translated into all the major [[language]]s of the [[world]]. The different parts of the Ramayana are also called books. These seven parts or books are noted below: # The first book is ''Balakand'', meaning the book of childhood. # The second book is ''Ayodhyakanda'', meaning the book of Ayodhya. # The third book is ''Aranyakanda'', meaning the book of the forests. # The fourth book is ''Kishkindhakanda'', meaning the book of Kishkindha. # The fifth book is'' Sundarakanda'', meaning the book beautiful. # The sixth book is ''Yuddhakanda'', meaning the book of the war. There are different views about the time the Ramayana was written. Some people believe that it was written 2,500 years ago. Others think that it was written around 1,800 years ago. All agree that the book is very old and was written before the Mahabharata. The Ramayana is still very popular today. Every autumn the ''Ramlila'' (''Rama play'') is performed at the festival of Dassehra. A huge model of Ravana is set alight. This symbolizes the triumph of light over darkn