Although basically a secular work, the Ramayana incorporates much of the sacred Vedic material. Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman are widely revered as ideal embodiments of princely heroism, wifely and brotherly devotion, and loyal service, respectively. Reciting the Ramayana is considered a religious act, and scenes from the epic are dramatized throughout India and Southeast Asia. Known widely through translations and critical revisions (the best-known version being that of the 16th-century Hindu poet Tulsidas), the Ramayana exerted enormous influence on later Indian literature. The characters and incidents in Ramayana provide the ideals and wisdom of common life, and help to bind the people of India, regardless of caste and language. No wonder, two of India's greatest festive events - Dusshera and Diwali are directly motivated by the Ramayana. The first commemorates the siege of Lanka and Rama's victory over Ravana; the second, the festival of lights, celebrates Rama and Sita's homecoming to their kingdom in Ayodhya. When two Indians meet they greet each other saying ‘Ram Ram’. Ram is a common name found in each and every state of India. Thus we have famous men like Chief Ministers MG Ramachandran and NT Rama Rao, Yogacharya Ramdev Baba, Cricket captain GS.Ramchand, music director C.Ramachandra and News paper baron Ramnath Goenka, to name only a few from different parts of Bharat. Gandhi ji’s last words were ‘Hey Ram’. When a person leaves this world friends and family members chant ‘Ram Naam Satya Hai’
