The Ramayan is an ancient Sanskrit epic attributed to the poet Valmiki and an important part of the Hindu canon. The name Rāmāyaṇ is a tatpurush compound of Rām and ayan "going, advancing", translating to "the travels of Rām". The Rāmāyaṇ consists of 24,000 verses in seven cantos and tells the story of Raam, whose wife Sita is abducted by the demon (Rākshas) king of Lanka, Rāvan. Verses are written in thirty two syllable meter called Anustubh. In its current form, the Valmiki Ramayan is dated from 500 BCE to 100 BCE, or about co-eval to early versions of the Mahābhārat. As with most traditional epics, it has since gone through a long process of interpolations and redactions and thus is impossible to date it accurately. The Ramayan is part of the Itihaas. Valmiki's version is the oldest written form and the most authentic.
Traditionally the epic belongs to the Tret Yug, one of the four eons of Hindu chronology. Ram is said to have been born in the Tret Yug to King Daśarath
The Rāmāyan had an important influence on later Sanskrit poetry, primarily through its establishment of the Slok meter. But, like its epic cousin Mahābhārat, the Rāmāyan is not just an ordinary story. It contains the teachings of ancient Hindu sages and presents them through allegory in narrative and the interspersion of the philosophical and the devotional. The characters of Raam, Sita, Lakshman, Bharat, Hanumān and Rāvan (the villain of the piece) are all fundamental to the cultural consciousness of India.
One of the most important literary works on ancient India, the Ramayan has had a profound impact on art and culture in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. The story of Raam also inspired a large amount of latter-day literature in various languages, notable among which are the works of the sixteenth century Hindi poet Tulsidas, Tamil poet Kambar of the 13th century and the 14th century Kannada poet Narahari Kavi`s Torave Ramayan. The Ramayan became popular in Southeast Asia during the 8th century and manifested itself in text, temple architecture and performance.
Valmiki's Ramayana, the oldest version of Ramayan is the basis of all the various versions of the Ramayan that are relevant in the various cultures. The text survives in numerous complete and partial manuscripts, the oldest surviving of which is dated from the eleventh century AD. The current text of Valmiki Ramayan has come down to us in two regional versions from the north and the south of India. Valmiki Ramayan has been traditionally divided into seven books, dealing with the life of Rama from his birth to his death.
Bala Kanda
Book of the young Rama which details the miraculous birth of Rama, his early life in Ayodhya, his slaying of the demons of the forest at the request of Vishvamitra and his wedding with Sita.
Ayodhya Kanda
Book of Ayodhya in which Dasharath comes to grief over his promise to Kaikeyi and the start of Rama's exile.
Aranya Kanda
Book of the Forest which describes Rama's life in the forest and the abduction of Sita by Ravana.
Kishkindya Kanda
Book of Kishkinda, the Vanara kingdom in which Rama befriends Sugriva and the Vanara army and begins the search for Sita.
Sundar Kanda
Book of Sundar (Hanuman) in which Hanuman travels to Lanka and finds Sita imprisoned there and brings back the good news to Raam.
Yuddha Kanda Book of the War, which narrates the Rama-Ravana war and the return of the successful Rama to Ayodhya and his coronation.
Uttar Kanda
Epilogue, which details the life of Rama and Sita after their return to Ayodhya, Sita's banishment and how Sita and Rama pass on to the next world.
Traditionally the epic belongs to the Tret Yug, one of the four eons of Hindu chronology. Ram is said to have been born in the Tret Yug to King Daśarath
The Rāmāyan had an important influence on later Sanskrit poetry, primarily through its establishment of the Slok meter. But, like its epic cousin Mahābhārat, the Rāmāyan is not just an ordinary story. It contains the teachings of ancient Hindu sages and presents them through allegory in narrative and the interspersion of the philosophical and the devotional. The characters of Raam, Sita, Lakshman, Bharat, Hanumān and Rāvan (the villain of the piece) are all fundamental to the cultural consciousness of India.
One of the most important literary works on ancient India, the Ramayan has had a profound impact on art and culture in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. The story of Raam also inspired a large amount of latter-day literature in various languages, notable among which are the works of the sixteenth century Hindi poet Tulsidas, Tamil poet Kambar of the 13th century and the 14th century Kannada poet Narahari Kavi`s Torave Ramayan. The Ramayan became popular in Southeast Asia during the 8th century and manifested itself in text, temple architecture and performance.
Valmiki's Ramayana, the oldest version of Ramayan is the basis of all the various versions of the Ramayan that are relevant in the various cultures. The text survives in numerous complete and partial manuscripts, the oldest surviving of which is dated from the eleventh century AD. The current text of Valmiki Ramayan has come down to us in two regional versions from the north and the south of India. Valmiki Ramayan has been traditionally divided into seven books, dealing with the life of Rama from his birth to his death.
Bala Kanda
Book of the young Rama which details the miraculous birth of Rama, his early life in Ayodhya, his slaying of the demons of the forest at the request of Vishvamitra and his wedding with Sita.
Ayodhya Kanda
Book of Ayodhya in which Dasharath comes to grief over his promise to Kaikeyi and the start of Rama's exile.
Aranya Kanda
Book of the Forest which describes Rama's life in the forest and the abduction of Sita by Ravana.
Kishkindya Kanda
Book of Kishkinda, the Vanara kingdom in which Rama befriends Sugriva and the Vanara army and begins the search for Sita.
Sundar Kanda
Book of Sundar (Hanuman) in which Hanuman travels to Lanka and finds Sita imprisoned there and brings back the good news to Raam.
Yuddha Kanda Book of the War, which narrates the Rama-Ravana war and the return of the successful Rama to Ayodhya and his coronation.
Uttar Kanda
Epilogue, which details the life of Rama and Sita after their return to Ayodhya, Sita's banishment and how Sita and Rama pass on to the next world.
