रामायण is an ancient Indian epic that narrates the life of राम, the prince of अयोध्या. It tells the story of his exile, the abduction of his wife सीता by the demon king रावण, and his quest to rescue her with the help of his loyal brother लक्ष्मण and the monkey god हनुमान. The epic is divided into seven books, known as कांड, and explores themes of duty, righteousness, and devotion. It is attributed to the sage वाल्मीकि and has been retold in various forms across cultures, making it a significant part of Indian literature and spirituality.