Rama
/ˈrɑː.mə/noun
Rama is a major Hindu deity and the seventh avatar of Vishnu, celebrated as the heroic prince of the Sanskrit epic Ramayana.
Did you know?In Hindu devotional practice, repeating Rama’s name—Rama-nama—is traditionally regarded as a spiritually powerful form of prayer and remembrance.
Etymological Timeline
Vedic Sanskrit
Sanskrit
rāma
“Pleasing, beautiful, charming; also a personal name”
Epic Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Rāma
“The righteous prince and divine hero of the Ramayana”
1st millennium BCE–1st millennium CE
Sanskrit
Rāmāyaṇa
“The epic narrative recounting Rama’s life, exile, and battle with Ravana”
Medieval India
Sanskrit/Prakrit
Rāma
“A central object of devotional worship and sacred name-recitation”
18th–19th Century
English
Rama
“The Hindu deity’s name, adopted into English through translations and colonial scholarship”
Modern English
English
Rama
“A major Hindu god, especially revered in Vaishnavism and devotional traditions”
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