The New Student's Reference Work/Ramayana

Ramayana (rä-mä′yȧ-nȧ) is one of the two great epics of India, the other being Mahábhárata. Its subject is the story of Ráma, and its reputed author is Valmiki, who is said to have taught his poem to the two sons of Ráma. Although the statement is doubtful, it is certain that Valmiki was a real personage and that the Rámáyana was not, like the Máhábhárata, the creation of different minds at various epochs. As a poetical composition, the Rámáyana may safely be called the great poem of India.