ety in order to achieve individual liberation."(15) This makes the Ramayana unique because it deals with the political structure of India and the social structures of the Hindu religion. This central idea of the Ramayana focuses on the Hindu religion and how this can effect society and politics. The main theme is how the individual acts towards society and how their actions effect society, based on Hindu beliefs. Hindus can worship any deity that will fulfill the individual Hindus social, emotional, intellectual, and metaphysical needs. There are no heretics in Hinduism and individuals have the freedom to worship as they please (Pandian 51). Hinduism has thousands of gods. Some of the more popular gods are listed below. Brahma is known as the creator, but a curse was put on him because he lied to Shiva. Shiva cursed him and the curse is that no one will worship him. Shiva is known as the destroyer of evil. He is an ascetic god who is said to dwell in the Himalayas in meditation. He stores up his energy from his meditations and periodically releases them into the world. Shiva has three eyes and when he opens the third eye it will be known as the destruction of the universe. Vishnu is the god who keeps all things in balance. Vishnu is known as the preserver, too. Vishnu is the only god that appears in different forms. Vishnu appears in ten different incarnated forms to maintain stability and balance in the universe, through the accomplishment of different missions here on earth. Vishnu appears as Krishna in the Mahabharata, Rama in Ramayana, and at the end of the world he will appear as Kalki. Vishnu has appeared as a turtle and as a half-man half-lion. As mentioned before Hindus can worship any god they choose. Many of the gods that are worshipped are the incarnated forms of Vishnu, and some other popular gods that are worshipped are taken from the story of Ramayana (Nair).Rama and Krishna, both incarnated forms of V...
