Rama

Connections

• The people of the villages along the Arit River on the Punjab border considered their guardian, The Tiger (Asuri) a gift from Rama. 

Context

One of the main deities of Hinduism, Vishnu, takes various avatars whenever the world needs to be preserved or protected from evil, chaotic, or destructive forces. The seventh avatar of Vishnu was Rama (a.k.a. Ram, or Ramachandra). He is often depicted as a figure with blue skin, though this can vary. Some Hindu traditions are "Rama-centric," in which case Rama is the primary deity, not Vishnu. There are many stories related  Rama, but it is probably sufficient here to say that he is considered a beautiful, benevolent deity.