Ramayana

The Ramayana is a very old and important story from India. It is one of the two big stories in Hinduism, called Itihasas, with the other being the Mahabharata. The Ramayana tells the story of Rama, a prince from Ayodhya, who is also believed to be one of the forms of the god Vishnu.

Rama had to leave his home for fourteen years because of a promise his father made. During his time in the forest, his wife Sita was taken away by Ravana, the king of Lanka. Rama, with his brother Lakshmana, worked hard to bring Sita back and finally returned home to become king. People were very happy when he came back.

The story of the Ramayana was written in Sanskrit and has many verses. It has been told in many different ways in many languages across Asia, influencing cultures and teaching important lessons about good behavior and leadership.

Etymology

The name Rāmāyaṇa comes from two words: Rāma and ayana, which means "journey". In an old book called the Atharvaveda, Rāma means "dark-coloured or black" and is linked to the quiet of the night. But in the Mahabharata, it means something pleasant and beautiful. So, Rāmāyaṇa tells the story of Rama's journey.

Dating

Scholars think the oldest parts of the Ramayana were written between the 7th and 5th centuries BCE, with later parts added up to the 3rd century CE. The oldest sections were likely written around 500 BCE. Books two to six are the oldest parts of the story, while the first and last books were added later. This is because these books have a different style and some parts of the story do not match well with the rest.

Textual characteristics

Genre

The Ramayana is part of a special group of stories called Itihasa. These stories tell about events from the past and include famous tales like the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, as well as the Puranas. These stories also share lessons about life’s important goals. They show us good examples of how people should behave in different roles, like sons, brothers, husbands, and kings. Just like the Mahabharata, the Ramayana mixes important life lessons into its story.

Structure

The Ramayana, as written by Valmiki, is a long poem with over 24,000 verses. It’s split into seven main parts, called _kāṇḍa_s, and has about 500 chapters. This makes it one of the longest poems ever created.

Recensions

The Ramayana has many different versions from various places. Scholars talk about two main types: one from the north and one from the south. Some believe the first and last parts of the Ramayana might not have been written by Valmiki himself. In particular, many think the last part, called Uttara Kanda, was added later and doesn’t match the rest of the story’s message.

Characters

Main article: List of characters in Ramayana

The Ramayana tells the story of Rama, a prince from Ayodhya, who is the seventh form of the god Vishnu. Rama was asked to leave his home for fourteen years in the forest by his father, the king, because of a promise made to Rama's stepmother. During his time in the forest with his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana, Sita was taken away by Ravana, the ruler of Lanka. Rama then worked hard to bring Sita back and eventually returned to Ayodhya to become king, where everyone was happy.

Synopsis

Bāla Kāṇḍa

Main article: Balakanda

The story begins with a wise man named Vālmīki asking if there is still a good person in the world. He is told that Rāma, a kind and brave prince, is the finest example. Vālmīki then creates a special way to tell stories and begins to write about Rāma’s life.

Rāma is the son of King Daśaratha of Ayodhyā. Though the king has three wives, he has no sons. He performs a special ceremony to have children. Rāma is born to one wife, Kausalyā, and two brothers, Bharata, Lakṣmaṇa, and Śatrughna, are born to the other wives.

When Rāma turns 16, a wise man named Viśvāmitra visits the king. He needs help fighting bad spirits who are bothering a special ceremony. He asks Rāma and his brother Lakṣmaṇa to help. Together, they defeat many bad spirits and protect the ceremony.

The group then goes to a kingdom called Mithilā. The king there has a bow that no one can lift. Whoever lifts it can marry the king’s daughter, Sītā. Rāma lifts the bow but breaks it in the process. He marries Sītā, and they all celebrate before returning to Ayodhyā.

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa

After Rāma and Sītā marry, the king wants to make Rāma the new king. But one of the queen’s helpers tricks the queen into asking the king for two promises he had made to her years ago. She asks that Rāma be sent away for fourteen years and that her son Bharata become king instead.

The king, sad but bound by his promises, agrees. Rāma accepts this and decides to go into the forest. Sītā insists on going with him, and Lakṣmaṇa decides to go too.

After Rāma leaves, the king passes away from sadness. Bharata learns what happened and tries to convince Rāma to return and become king, but Rāma refuses. Bharata returns and rules the kingdom for his brother.

Araṇya Kāṇḍa

Main articles: Aranya Kanda and Exile of Lord Rama

In the forest, Rāma, Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa live simply. One day, a woman named Śurpaṇakhā tries to trick the brothers and even tries to hurt Sītā. Lakṣmaṇa stops her. Later, her brothers attack but Rāma defeats them.

Rāvaṇa, the ruler of a faraway place called Lankā, wants Sītā for himself. He uses a trick with a golden deer to lure Rāma away. While Rāma is gone, Rāvaṇa snatches Sītā away. A bird named Jatāyu tries to help but is badly hurt. Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa begin their search to find and rescue Sītā.

Kiṣkindhā Kāṇḍa

Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa meet Hanumān, a loyal friend who helps them. They also meet Sugriva, who becomes an ally after Rāma helps him. Together, they search for Sītā and learn she may be in Lankā.

Sundara Kāṇḍa

Main article: Sundara Kanda

Hanumān bravely jumps over the sea to Lankā to find Sītā. He faces many challenges but finally finds her. He gives her a sign from Rāma and promises to bring help. Before leaving, Hanumān causes trouble in Lankā, destroying buildings and fighting Rāvaṇa’s soldiers. He escapes and returns to tell Rāma where Sītā is.

Yuddha Kāṇḍa

Rāma gathers an army and crosses the sea to Lankā to fight Rāvaṇa. After a long battle, Rāma defeats Rāvaṇa. Rāma and Sītā return to Ayodhyā, where Rāma is made king. The people celebrate their return with joy.

Uttara Kāṇḍa

Rāma rules Ayodhyā fairly and happily. He has two sons, Lava and Kusha. After many years, Rāma passes away, and his sons continue to lead the people well.

Versions

Main article: Versions of the Ramayana

Many different versions of the Ramayana exist. In north India, the story differs in important ways from versions in south India and southeast Asia. There is a strong tradition of oral storytelling based on the Ramayana in Indonesia, Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Vietnam, and Maldives.

India

India has many regional versions of the Ramayana written by different authors. Some of these versions differ greatly from each other. A manuscript from West Bengal dating back to the 6th century presents the story without two of its sections.

During the 12th century, Kamban wrote Ramavataram, known as Kambaramayanam in Tamil. References to the Ramayana story appear in Tamil literature as early as the 3rd century CE. The Telugu version, Ranganatha Ramayanam, was written by Gona Budda Reddy in the 13th century. Another Telugu version, called Molla Ramayanam, was written by Atukuri Molla in the 15th century.

The earliest translation into a regional Indo-Aryan language is the 14th-15th century Saptakanda Ramayana in Assamese by Madhava Kandali. Valmiki's Ramayana inspired Sri Ramacharit Manas by Tulsidas in 1576, an epic in Awadhi Hindi. It is a famous work, often called Tulsi-krita Ramayana. Gujarati poet Premanand wrote a version of the Ramayana in the 17th century. Akbar, the third Mughal Emperor, created a simpler text of the Ramayana for his mother, Hamida Banu Begum, around 1594. The manuscript includes illustrations from the story.

Other versions include Krittivasi Ramayan, a Bengali version by the 14th-century poet Krittibas Ojha; Vilanka Ramayana by the 15th-century poet Sarala Dasa; and Jagamohana Ramayana, also called Dandi Ramayana, by the 15th-century poet Balarama Dasa, both in Odia. There are versions in Kannada by Narahari, Malayalam by Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, Marathi by Sridhara, Maithili by Chanda Jha, and more recent works in the 20th century.

Early references in Tamil literature

Before Kambar wrote Ramavataram in the 12th century CE, there were many early references to the Ramayana story in Tamil lands, even before the Common Era. These references appear in Sangam literature such as Akanaṉūṟu and Purananuru, the epics Silappatikaram and Manimekalai, and the songs of the Nayanmars.

The whole Ramayana was rewritten as a Tamil Opera in the 18th century CE by Arunachala Kavirayar in Srirangam. This opera, named Rama Natakam, made the story accessible to those who couldn’t read the original.

Buddhist version

Main article: Dasaratha Jataka

In the Buddhist version of the Ramayana (Dasaratha Jataka), Dasharatha was king of Benares, not Ayodhya. Rama (called Rāmapaṇḍita) was the son of Kaushalya, Dasharatha's first wife. Lakshmana (Lakkhaṇa) was the son of Sumitra, Dasharatha's second wife. Sita was Rama’s wife. To protect his children from his wife Kaikeyi, Dasharatha sent them to live in the Himalayas for twelve years.

After nine years, Dasharatha passed away, and Lakshmana and Sita returned. Rāmapaṇḍita stayed in exile for two more years to honor his father’s wishes. This version does not include Sita’s abduction, Ravana, or the war between Rama and Ravana. However, Ravana appears in other Buddhist texts, such as the Lankavatara Sutra.

Jain versions

Main articles: Rama in Jainism and Salakapurusa

Vimalsuri, a Jain monk, wrote "Paumachariyam", the earliest known Jain version of the Ramayana, in Maharashtri Prakrit. Jain versions appear in texts such as Saṅghadāsagaṇī Vāchaka's Vasudevahiṇḍī and Ravisena's Padmapurana. In Jain cosmology, Rama, Lakshmana, and Ravana are important figures.

In the Jain version, Lakshmana, not Rama, defeats Ravana. Rama later gives up his kingdom, becomes a Jain monk, and finds peace. Ravana and Lakshmana face challenges but are expected to find freedom in future lives. According to Jain teachings, Ravana will become a future guide for the faith.

Southeast Asian

Indonesia

Indonesia has several versions of the Ramayana, including the Javanese Kakawin Ramayana and the Balinese Ramakavaca. The first part of Kakawin Ramayana follows the original story, but the second part is quite different. It includes Semar, a Javanese guardian figure, and his sons Gareng, Petruk, and Bagong, known as the Punokawan or “clown servants”.

Kakawin Ramayana was written in Central Java around 870 AD during the rule of Mpu Sindok in the Mataram kingdom. It is based on Ravanavadha, a sixth or seventh-century poem by the Indian poet Bhattikavya, not Valmiki’s version.

Kakawin Ramayana was further developed in Bali, becoming the Balinese Ramakavaca. Scenes from the Ramayana and Krishnayana are carved on temples in Yogyakarta and East Java. In Indonesia, the Ramayana is deeply part of the culture, especially among Javanese, Balinese, and Sundanese people, influencing ways of life, morals, and art, including wayang and traditional dances.

The Balinese kecak dance retells the Ramayana. Dancers act as Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Jatayu, Hanuman, Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Indrajit, with over fifty men chanting “cak” as a chorus. The performance includes a fire show to show Hanuman burning Lanka. In Yogyakarta, the Wayang Wong Javanese dance also tells the Ramayana. One example is the Ramayana Ballet performed on the Trimurti Prambanan open-air stage, with actors and the Prambanan temple spires as a backdrop.

Malaysia

The Malay version of the Ramayana, known as the Hikayat Seri Rama, mixes Hindu and Islamic mythology.

Myanmar (Burma)

Main article: Yama Zatdaw

The Burmese version of the Ramayana is called the Yama Zatdaw.

Philippines

Main article: Maharadia Lawana

The Maharadia Lawana, an epic poem of the Maranao people in the Philippines, is considered a version of the Ramayana. It was documented and translated into English by Professor Juan R. Francisco and Nagasura Madale in 1968. The poem tells the story of Maharadia Lawana, the monkey-king granted immortality by the gods.

Francisco, an expert from the University of the Philippines Manila, believed the Ramayana arrived in the Philippines between the 17th and 19th centuries through trade with Javanese and Malaysian cultures. By the 1960s, the names, places, and events in Maharadia Lawana had differences from the original Ramayana, showing how the story changed to fit Philippine culture.

Thailand

Main article: Ramakien

Thailand’s national epic, Ramakien, comes from the Hindu Ramayana. In Ramakien, Sita is Ravana’s daughter. Vibhishana, Ravana’s brother, predicts Ravana’s death from Sita’s horoscope and throws her into the water. She is later found and raised by Janaka.

While the main story matches the Ramayana, many details are changed to fit Thai culture, such as clothing, weapons, and nature. Hanuman has a larger role and is shown as a lively character. Ramakien is shown in detailed paintings at Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok.

Critical edition

A critical edition of the text was created in India in the 1960s and 1970s by the Oriental Institute at Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. This edition used many manuscripts from India and nearby areas. An English translation of this edition was finished in November 2016 by Sanskrit expert Robert P. Goldman of the University of California, Berkeley. Another English translation was done by Bibek Debroy.

Commentaries

The Ramayana has many explanations written by different people over time. Some well-known ones include Mahesvara Tirtha's tattvadīpa, Govindaraja's bhūṣaṇa, Sivasahaya's śiromaṇi, Mahadeva Yogi's amṛtakaṭaka, Ramanuja's rāmānujīyam, Ahobala's taniclōkī, Nagoji Bhatta's tilaka, and Tryambakarāyamakhī's dharmākūtam. Three of these, tilaka, bhūṣaṇa, and śiromaṇi, are especially famous and are often studied together.

Influence

See also: Ramayana Ballet

Further information: Symbolism of Rama

Holidays

Vijayadashami

Main article: Vijayadashami

Vijayadashami is a big Hindu holiday celebrated each year after Durga Puja and Navaratri.

Diwali

Main article: Diwali

Diwali, the festival of lights, celebrates the happy return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana.

In art

The Ramayana is one of the most important books from ancient India. It has greatly influenced art and culture in the Indian subcontinent and many parts of southeast Asia, except for Vietnam. The story inspired many writers for years to create new books in different languages. Examples include Kambaramayanam by the Tamil poet Kambar, and stories by poets from Telugu language, Kannada, Bengali, and Awadhi.

Artists have shown scenes from the Ramayana in many ways, such as through terracottas, stone sculptures, bronzes, and paintings. The story has also been popular in southeast Asia since the 8th century, appearing in books, temples, dances, and plays. Today, people all over the world perform dramatic shows of the Ramayana called Ramlila.

In places like Java and Bali, the Ramayana is often shown in special dances and puppet shows. In Indonesia, these performances are a big part of their culture. Artists from Bali have also painted scenes from the Ramayana, and these paintings can be found in museums.

In popular culture

The Ramayana has inspired many modern stories, plays, movies, and TV shows. Famous authors have written new versions of the epic in different styles. The story has also been turned into many plays and performances around the world.

The Ramayana has been adapted into many books, plays, movies, and television shows. It has inspired works by authors like Amish Tripathi, Ashok Banker, and Devdutt Pattanaik. The story has been performed on famous stages and has been made into films and TV series in many countries. Quotes from the Ramayana are even used in video games like Civilization VII.

The Ramayana continues to influence culture today. Many places in India are named after characters or ideas from the story. The name "Rampur" is very common for villages and towns, especially in regions like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal. People in these areas often use "Ram Ram" as a friendly greeting.

Texts and translations

You can read the Ramayana in many different ways thanks to many translations. Some of the well-known English translations include:

• Griffith, Ralph T. H. (1870–1874). The Ramayan of Valmiki.
• Dutt, Romesh Chunder (1898). The Ramayana and Mahabharata Condensed into English Verse) 978-0-486-14352-1.
• Johnson, Helen M. (1931). "Book VII - Jain Ramayana (Rāmāyaṇa)". Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra.
• Shastri, Hari Prasad (1952). The Ramayana of Valmiki. Shanti Sadan.
• Narayan, R. K. (1973). The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic. Chatto and Windus. ISBN 978-0-7011-1990-4.
• Buck, William (1976). Ramayana. University of California Press. 35th Anniversary Edition. 2012. ISBN 978-0-520-27298-9
• Raghunathan, N. (1981). Srimad Valmiki Ramayanam. Madras: Vighneswara Publishing House.
• Goldman, Robert P. (1990). The Ramayana of Valmiki: An Epic of Ancient India: Balakanda. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-01485-2.
• ————————— (1994). The Ramayana of Valmiki: An Epic of Ancient India: Kiskindhakanda. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-06661-5.
• ————————— (1996). The Ramayana of Valmiki: Sundarakanda. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-06662-2.
• Sattar, Arshia (1996). The Rāmāyaṇa by Vālmīki: An Epic of Ancient India. Viking. ISBN 978-0-14-029866-6.
• Brockington, J. L.; Brockington, Mary (2006). Rāma the Steadfast: An Early Form of the Rāmāyaṇa. Penguin. ISBN 0-14-044744-X.
• Debroy, Bibek (2017). The Valmiki Ramayana. Vol. 1. Penguin. ISBN 978-93-87326-26-2.

There are also translations in other languages, like this one by W A Silva (1957) in Sinhala. These translations show different ways to tell the Ramayana's story.