Ram Mandir: Story of Ram..How old is Ramayana, how many Ramayanas are there in the world?

Ramayan Story, Ram Mandir Flag Hoisting: Ramayana is one of our most ancient and sacred stories. Scholars believe that the main part of the original Valmiki Ramayana was composed about 2500 to 2700 years ago, i.e. between 7th to 5th century BC. Some researchers date it between 500 BC to 100 BC, while some parts were added later. According to traditional Hindu belief, Ram was born in Treta Yuga, which is millions of years ago, but in written form this epic is considered to be about 2400-2500 years old. The Ramayana we have today has 24,000 verses and is divided into seven Kandas.

Which is the oldest Ramayan: When did Valmiki write Ramayan?

It is said that Maharishi Valmiki was the first to write Ramayana. Legend has it that Valmiki composed this entire epic when Sita stayed in his ashram. First it continued through oral tradition and then gradually it came into written form. The oldest written evidence is found around the 5th-6th century BC. Britannica and other major research sources also say that it was not composed before 300 BC, that is why today we consider it to be the oldest written epic in the world.

Is Ramayana true story: How many Ramayanas are there in the world?

Ramayana has become a common heritage not only of India but of entire Asia. According to scholars, there are 300 to 1000 different versions and adaptations of Ramayana in the world. In India alone there are more than 300 versions written in different languages ​​and regions. In the rest of South-East Asia, China, Japan, Mongolia, it has its own forms. The basic story remains the same in Ramayana everywhere, but changes have been made according to the local culture, language and beliefs.

Which are the major Ramayanas in India?

Every language and region in India has its own Ramayana. The most famous is Valmiki’s Ramayana, which has its origins in Sanskrit. After that came Tulsidas ji’s Ramcharitmanas, which is in Awadhi-Hindi and is most read today. Kamban’s Kamba Ramayanam in Tamil is from the 12th century which is very beautiful and poetic. Gonda Budda Reddy’s Ranganatha Ramayana is very popular in Telugu in which the squirrel story has also been added. In Bengali, Kritivas Ojha’s Krittivasi Ramayana and Chandrabati Ramayana are very famous, which is the work of the first female poetess written from the perspective of Sita. In Assamese, Madhav Kandhali’s Saptakand Ramayana, in Malayalam, Ishwar’s Adhyatma Ramayana and the Gond tribals of Madhya Pradesh also have their own folk Ramayana. In this way, every state has its own Ramayana and the feeling of love and respect is reflected in all.

What are the forms of Ramayana in foreign countries?

Ramayana has deep roots outside India also. In Thailand it is called Ramkeen and it is the national epic there in which Ram is shown playing the flute. Reamkeer is very famous in Cambodia and its carvings remain in the temple of Angkor Wat. In Indonesia, Kakawin Ramayana dates back to the 9th century and the Ramblett dance drama is based on it. In Laos it is called Phra Lak Phra Laem, which is full of Buddhist influence. In Myanmar, plays are performed under the name Yama Jatdaw. In Malaysia the story is Hikayat Seri Rama. Buddhist Ramayana forms are also found in China and Japan where Hanuman is shown as the Monkey King. Even Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka have their own versions of it.