Rama, Sita, Lakshmana

Rama is the hero of the Ramayana epic, an incarnation of the God Vishnu. The eldest and favourite son of Dasaratha, King of Ayodhya, he is a virtuous prince and is much loved by the people. He is exiled from Ayodhya due to the plotting of his stepmother, Kaikeyi.

Sita is Rama's wife and daughter of King Janaka of Mithila. Sita is the epitome of womanly purity and virtue.

Laksmana (seen here) is Rama's younger brother. Completely loyal to Rama, he chooses to go with Rama and Sita when they are exiled from Ayodhya.

The Ramayana is India's best-loved story. It tells the tale of a handsome prince Rama, whose wife Sita was been stolen from him. Sita was snatched away by the demon Ravana and taken to his mountain kingdom. Rama was determined to save Sita, and - helped by his brother Lakshman and the loyal monkey god Hanuman - Rama eventually rescued his wife in a series of heroic battles.