Ramo Vigrahavan Dharma.

yadâ yadâ hi dharmasya

glânir bhavati bhârata

abhyutthânam adharmasya

tadâtmânam srjâmy aham

Sri Krishna the God himself said the above statement that means when ever Dharma is not followed and Adharma becomes prevalent I manifest myself to end the trend. God has incarnated in many avaratas out of which Dasavataras are important. Out of these 10 Avataras Rama Avatara is the most important one for mankind. As Rama, Lord Vishnu, relinquished all the divine powers and lead life of a normal man.

Rama has shown by practicing in his life how to lead a life. He has given utmost importance to two things – Satya and Dharma. Rama has faced many problems in his life and faced them like a man with out giving in to any temptations. There are instances when Rama could have avoided problem if he chose to relinquish Satya and Dharma. But he did not and remains as an example for the mankind. Rama was described as “Ramo Vigrahavan Dharmaha Satya Dharma Parakramaha” meaning Rama is the embodiment of Dharma and his main strengths are Satya and Dharma. There is no need to mention this if some sage uttered these words as sages are a bit partial towards him. One will be surprised to learn that these words are uttered by a Rakshasa named MAaricha whom Rama defeated when he is still a young boy.

It is not difficult to stand to Dharma when there is no other choice available. But it is phenomenal if one stands to Dharma when there other options and temptations that surrounds him. There are numerous instances when Rama stood for Dharma despite having other choices for him. Here are few to name.

When Rama was offered hand of Sita after he broke Bow of Lord Siva, Rama replied that it is for his father to decide on his marriage. He did not get married until his father King Dasaratha approved Sita as bride.
When he was asked to go for 14 year vanavasa, he knew that if he talks to Bharata entire vanavasa can be written off. But he chose to go for vanavasa. Here the contrast between people and their following of Satya Dharma is clearly seen. Dasaatha ignored Satya (his promise to have Bharata as his successor) and tried to follow Dharma. (It is Dharma to give kingdom to eldest son) Kaikeyi ignored Dharma (by trying to send Rama to forests) and insisted on Satys. (King’s promise to have her as successor) Rama followed Satya and Dharma and showed the world their practice. He went to forest to reinstate his father in satya and by doing so he followed his Dhrama as a son by saving his father from Astya Dosha.
Surpanaka came as a beautiful girl and tried to tempt Rama. But as a devoted husband to Sita he declined her.
Rama knows that Gold Deer is a plot by some Rakshasha but went in hunt of Deer to follow his Dharma as husband to fulfill his wife’s wish.
When he knew that Sita was kidnapped by Ravana he has a choice. He could have relinquished and avoided war with Ravana (who is an accomplished warrior). He could have gone back and remarried. But he chose to get his wife back as protection of his wife is his Dharma.
Rama knows that Vaal is more powerful than Sugriva and has defeated Ravana once. His job of finding coule have become much easy if he made friends with Vali. But Rama Chose Sugriva as friend as he in Dharma.
He subjected Sita to test to prove the world she is as pure as Agni.
He followed Raja Dharma by relinquishing her owing words of a person his in Rajya.
He did not remarry latter and performed all yagnas with help statue of Sita.

There are some controversies Rama is dragged into by citing them as instances of not following Dharma.

When killing Tataki he killed a woman which is against Dharma. He did it only after his Guru Viswamitra asked him to do that. Here he followed Sishya Dharma and Pitru Dharama. (As his father assured Viswamitra that Rama will do anything at command of Guru)
When he killed Vaali he was accused of killing from behind. His explanation for that was this “The forest falls in kingdom of Ayodhya and Rama is the representative of the king Bharata for forest. Vaali did Adharma by taking his brother’s wife and so has to be punished by the king. As king’s representative Rama punished him. Also Vaali is a monkey and so killing animals from behind is not against Dharma”

Laxmana proved that Rama never did anything apart from Dharma when he was tired and shot an arrow at Ravan’s Son instructing it to kill him if Rama followed Dharma. That killed Indrajit and proved Rama followed Dharma all through his life.

There are many things that can be discussed here but if I did then I will end up writing Ramayana all over again. So stopping here.