How is Rama a symbol in the story?

Rama is the object of interest in the narrative as the human characters take secondary roles in the plot. Upon its discovery, the scientists dub it Rama after the Hindu God known as the god of protection. Its alien origin and sheer size make it enigmatic to humans as they seek to understand its source and purpose. The name of the avatar of Vishnu symbolizes the unknown nature of the space object whose destination is also a mystery.