The Ramayana , Rmya am, pronounced [rmjm]) is a Sanskrit epic poem

ascribed to the Hindu sage and Sanskrit poet Valmiki. It is regarded as one of the two great
works of Indian literature, along with the Mahabharata. The Ramayaa also plays an important
role in Hindu literature(smti).
It depicts the duties of relationships, portraying ideal characters like
the ideal father, the ideal servant, the ideal brother, the ideal wife and the ideal king. The
name Ramayaa is atatpurusha compound of Rma and ayaa ("going, advancing"), translating
to "Rama's Jouey". The Ramayaa consists of 24,000 verses in seven books (k as) and
500 cantos (sagas) and tells the story of Rama (the seventh avatar of the Hindu supremegodVishnu), whose wife Sita is abducted by Ravana, the king of Lanka (current day Sri Lanka).
Incidentally the first letter of every 1000 verses (total 24) make the Gayatri mantra. Thematically,
the Ramayaa explores human values and the concept of dharma.