Epic7 KandasAbout 24,000 verses7 KandasSanskrit, by ValmikiHundreds of retellings16 versions to read
Ramayana: FAQ & Sources
रामायणThe journey of Rama: a prince exiled for fourteen years, a wife carried across the sea, a monkey who leapt the ocean, and a war fought to bring her home.
Frequently asked questions
Who wrote the Ramayana?
Tradition credits the sage Valmiki, who also appears in the story, sheltering Sita and teaching the epic to her sons. Many later poets retold it, including Tulsidas, Kambar, Krittibas and Ezhuthachan.
When was the Ramayana written?
Historians date the Valmiki Ramayana to between about the 5th century BCE and the 3rd century CE, composed in stages. Tradition places Rama's life in the Treta Yuga.
How many Kandas are in the Ramayana?
Valmiki's Ramayana has seven: Bala, Ayodhya, Aranya, Kishkindha, Sundara, Yuddha and Uttara. The Kamba Ramayanam has six.
How many verses are in the Ramayana?
About 24,000 shlokas in Valmiki's version, in roughly 500 chapters (sargas).
What is the moral of the Ramayana?
That dharma, keeping one's word and duty even at great cost, is the highest value, and that devotion, loyalty and righteousness overcome pride and desire.
Why did Rama go into exile?
Queen Kaikeyi claimed two boons from King Dasharatha: that her son Bharata be crowned, and that Rama be sent to the forest for fourteen years.
How long was Rama in exile?
Fourteen years. Most of the time was spent at Chitrakoot and in the Dandaka forest.
What is the difference between the Ramayana and the Ramcharitmanas?
The Ramayana is Valmiki's Sanskrit epic; the Ramcharitmanas is a 16th-century Awadhi retelling by Tulsidas that emphasises devotion to Rama as God.
Is the Uttara Kanda part of the original?
Many scholars consider the Bala and Uttara Kandas later additions to a core of five books, though both are part of the received text.
Which version should I read first?
Valmiki's is the oldest and the source of the others; Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas is the most often sung in North India. For beginners, a good prose translation or abridgement is ideal.
What is the Sundara Kanda?
The fifth book, telling Hanuman's journey to Lanka to find Sita. Many recite it on its own as a prayer.
What are the main festivals linked with the Ramayana?
Rama Navami (Rama's birth), Vivah Panchami (his wedding), Dussehra (Ravana's defeat), Diwali (his return to Ayodhya) and Hanuman Jayanti.
Sources
- Valmiki Ramayana, Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda (1960-1975)
- Robert P. Goldman et al., The Ramayana of Valmiki: An Epic of Ancient India, Princeton University Press
- A. K. Ramanujan, 'Three Hundred Ramayanas' (1991)
- Wikipedia: Ramayana; Versions of the Ramayana
- Tulsidas, Ramcharitmanas (Gita Press)
- UNESCO, Ramlila: the traditional performance of the Ramayana
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