The Ramayana is an ancient Indian epic, composed some time in the 5th century BCE, about the exile and then return of Rama, prince of Ayodhya. It was composed in Sanskrit by the sage Valmiki, who taught it to Rama's sons, the twins Lava and Kush.

The Ramayana is a Hindu epic about the life of the legendary Prince Rama of Kosala. Rama and his wife Sita are exiled from Rama's homeland. While in exile, Rama battles the demon king Ravan, who abducts Sita. Rama defeats the demons and rescues Sita. They return from exile and Rama becomes king.

The epic follows his fourteen-year exile to the forest urged by his father King Dasharatha, on the request of Rama's stepmother Kaikeyi; his travels across forests in the Indian subcontinent with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana; the kidnapping of Sita by Ravana, the king of Lanka, that resulted in war; and Rama's eventual return to Ayodhya along with Sita to be crowned king amidst jubilation and celebration.