To honor his father's word, Prince Rama of Ayodhya gave up the throne and walked into the forest for 14 years. His calm acceptance of exile made him the timeless symbol of duty and honor.
Ayodhya, on the banks of the Sarayu river in Uttar Pradesh, is revered as the birthplace of Lord Rama. The epic describes it as a city of gold-topped palaces that 'did not know sorrow'.
King Janaka declared that only the man who could string the mighty divine bow of Shiva would marry Sita. Rama not only strung it — he snapped it in two, winning his bride and his legend.
