The Ramayana of Valmiki

In the simplest possible terms, the Ramayana (which the Hindu tradition unanimously considers to be the work of sage and actor Valmiki) is a 50,000 line epic poem detailing the life of Rama, who is often considered among the gods. But the text, grand in every sense of the word, cannot truly be appreciated on simple terms. The poem, which never makes an outright connection between Rama and the god Vishnu, does make direct statements on the characteristics of an ideal life— statements that have gone on to spread its influence across continents and political boundaries.