The avatara offered a powerful vision of an individual who drew his power from his identity as a deity, but also lived in a human form.
The idea of the avatara stems from the much older idea of reincarnation: that our souls may be reborn as gods, animals, people, or supernatural creatures. The Ramayana was one of the first Indian texts to describe the concept of the avatara, a God who has taken on human form. It is possible that the story of Rama was meant in part to offer a model for the ideal king. Rama's dedication to mercy and justice stands in sharp contrast to the historical reality of murder and deception in early Indian dynasties. The Ramayana was written at a time when kingdoms were becoming powerful and kings began to exercise enormous political power. The text was also shaped by a number of historical forces. The story of the Ramayana has spread throughout South Asia, becoming a treasured story in countries such as Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Many devout Hindus believe that reading the Ramayana will erase one's sins and bring numerous spiritual benefits. In addition to being one of the great classics of India, the Ramayana is also a text with deep religious significance. Relatively little is known about the author of the text, but it is traditionally attributed to Valmiki, a sage who is also credited with developing Sanskrit poetic forms. Written in classical Sanskrit and dating between the 5th and 2nd centuries BCE, the Ramayana is a massive epic poem consisting of more than 24,000 verses.
The poem details the adventures of Prince Rama, an incarnation of the god Vishnu, along with his devoted wife Sita and his dear brother Lakshmana. Comparable to the Odyssey or the Bible, the Ramayana is a classic of world literature.