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In the light of the recent inauguration of Rama temple in Ayodhya, I felt it was important to share a Vedanta perspective about who is Rama, based on a composition by Sadasiva Brahmendra (15th/16th Century) a saint, composer of Carnatic music and Advaita philosopher. You can also listen to this composition, sung by my Vedanta teacher Swami Dayananda Saraswati.

Who is Rama? Rama dances in my heart
खेलति मम हृदये रामः खेलति मम हृदये |
khelati mama hṛdaye rāmaḥ
Composition: Sadasiva Brahmendra[1]
खेलति मम हृदये रामः खेलति मम हृदये |
मोह महा-अर्णव तारक-कारी राग द्वेष मुख-असुर-मारी |
शान्ति विदेह-सुता सह-चारी दहर-अयोध्या नगर विहारी |
परम-हंस साम्राज्य-उद्धारी सत्य ज्ञान-आनन्द शरीरी ||
khelati mama hṛdaye rāmaḥ khelati mama hṛdaye |
moha mahā-arṇava tāraka-kārī rāga dveṣa mukha-asura-mārī |
śānti videha-sutā saha-cārī dahara-ayodhyā nagara vihārī |
parama-haṁsa sāmrājya-uddhārī satya jňāna-ānanda śarīrī ||
Word by word meaning
rāmaḥ – Rama; khelati – plays, dances, resides joyfully; mama hṛdaye – in my heart.[2]
(Rama) moha mahā-arṇava tāraka-kārī – the one who helps cross the ocean of delusion[3]; rāga dveṣa mukha-asura-mārī – the killer of asuras which are attractions and aversions[4]; (dances in my heart.)
(Rama) śānti videha-sutā saha-cārī – the one who always move around with Sita, the daughter of king Videha, who is peace, tranquillity[5]; dahara-ayodhyā nagara vihārī – the one who shines in the heart of the kingdom of Ayodhya, the kingdom who cannot be conquered[6], (dances in my heart.)
(Rama) parama-haṁsa sāmrājya-uddhārī – the one who establishes the kingdom for all sadhus[7]; satya jňāna-ānanda śarīrī – the embodiment of (limitless) existence, consciousness and joy[8], (dances in my heart.)
[All notes are adapted from Swami Dayananda Saraswati’s talk on this composition]

You can also listen to this composition sung by my teacher, Pujya Swami Dayananda Sarswati at the following link
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[1] Sadasiva Brahmendra (15th/16th Century) was a saint, composer of Carnatic music and Advaita philosopher and Sishya of the Great saint Shri Paramasivendra Sarasvati , who lived near Thiruvenkadu, Tamil Nadu,
[2] रमन्ते यस्मिन् इति रामः – ramante yasmin iti rāmaḥ – in whom people discover joy is Rama that is the self, ātma. That Rama in the form of Ananda dances in my heart.
[3] In Ramayana, Rama crossed the ocean. This Rama helps all people cross the great ocean of delusion, confusion. Rama is the one whose recognition, grace makes one cross the ocean of samsara, delusion.
[4] Rama killed Ravana and Khumbakarna in Ramayana. Here this Rama killed rāga dveṣa who are the real asuras. Rama is the one whose grace destroys these rāga dveṣas.
[5] Rama is married to Sita who is śānti, always united with śānti. Sita was born of king Videha and is called Vaidehi, daughter of Videha. Videha means the one who does not have the notion that I am body alone, that person has śānti. Along with śānti, Sita, he moves around all the time, wherever he is, he is with śānti.
[6] Ayodhya the city from where that Rama was ruling. Nobody can conquer it like other kingdoms which have boundaries. This Rama’s kingdom has no boundary. Rama rules over a boundary free, infinite kingdom. The one who shines in the heart of Ayodhya, the kingdom which nobody can seize, hurt, take away.
[7] That Rama established a kingdom, Rāmarājya. This Rama also establishes the kingdom of heaven in you; for all the people who are sadhus, noble and mature.
[8] The form of prince Rama is elaborately described in Ramayana. What is the form of this Rama in your heart? Sat-chit-ānanda. This Rama dances in my heart.