Ramayana
Ramayana is a timeless Sanskrit epic composed by sage Valmiki. Holding an important place in Hindu religion, it contains 24,000 lyrical verses through which the story of King Ram of Raghuvansh has been narrated.
Creative Period
It is also called "Valmiki Ramayana". It is believed that this epic was written before 600 BC. The first and last Kandas were possibly added later. Chapters two to seven emphasize that Rama was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Some references in this epic suggest that the book cannot have been written earlier than the 2nd century BC, but this notion is controversial. 600 BC is also correct because the Buddhist Jatakas describe the characters of Ramayana, whereas the characters of Jatakas are not described in the Ramayana.
Creation Period According to Hindu Calendar
The time of Ramayana is considered to be Tretayuga. According to Indian calendar, time is divided into four eras-
*SAT YUGA*TRETA YUGA
*DWAPARA YUGA
*KALI YUGA
A Kaliyuga is of 4,32,000 years, Dwapara is of 8,64,000 years, Treta Yuga is of 12,96,000 years and Satyayuga is of 17,28,000 years. According to this calculation, the time period of Ramayana proves to be minimum 8,70,000 years (5,250 years of present Kaliyuga + 8,64,000 years of past Dwapar Yuga).
Books & Texts Worldwide
Ram is still alive in the folk culture and texts of countries like "Nepal, Laos, Kampuchea, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bali, Java, Sumatra and Thailand" etc. The existence of Ram is confirmed by the inscriptions, murals, coins, Ram Setu, other archaeological remains, texts in ancient languages etc., found scattered all over the world.
Other Indian language Versions of the Ramayana
Ramayana was written in ancient times in Indian languages like Kamban Ramayana in Tamil language, Ramayana in "Assamese, Vilanka Ramayana in Oriya, Pump Ramayana in Kannada, Kashmiri Ramayana in Kashmir, Ramayana Panchali in Bengali, Bhavartha Ramayana in Marathi" etc.
International Versions of the Ramayana
Ramkerti or Riamker Ramayana of Kampuchea, Lao Phrak-Phralam (Ramjatak), Hikayat Seriram of Malaysia, Ramkien of Thailand and Ramayana written by Bhanubhakta in Nepal are popular texts. Apart from this, Ramayana has been written in the languages of many other countries. This proves that the influence of Ramkatha and Ram extended far and wide.
Inscriptions & Graffiti
With respect to the text, historical references have been found in India (from Kashmir to Kanyakumari) as well as "Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Indonesia, Bali and Philippines". It is said that Lord Ram's flag had been hoisted in places like Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius etc.
The name of Hindeshiya got corrupted to Indonesia. Earlier the monkey caste ruled here. The island of Sumatra in Indonesia was named after Sumitra. The name of a river in Central Java is Seryu and the name of a cave located near the same area is Kiskenda i.e. Kishkindha.
Fascinating Facts
The Ramkatha paintings carved on the walls of Royal Palaces and Buddhist Monasteries in Laos, Kampuchea and Thailand are still preserved. The stories of Thai Ramayana "Ramkien" and Lao Ramayana Phrak-Phralam are mentioned in Lua Prava of Laos and Rajprasad of Vientiane.
The Upmu Buddhist Monastery of Laos is famous for its paintings of Ram Katha. The complete Thai Ramayana "Ramkien" is depicted on the walls of the Wataphrakay (Sarakat Buddha Temple) located in the palace complex of Thailand. The ancient name of Thailand was Siam and Dwaravati (Dwarika) was its ancient city. The Thai emperor Ramathibodi named his capital Ayudhya (Ayodhya) in 1350 AD, where 33 Hindu Kings ruled.
Why Should One Study The Ramayana?
There Are Plenty of Good Reasons For Reading The Ramayana:
- Guidance and Morality: Ramayana is a source of guidance which inspires us to live a moral and ideal life. It explains the importance of duty, love, religion, good conduct and support.
- Spiritual Progress: Ramayana helps in understanding spiritual concepts. One gets to know the importance of self-awareness through meditation, devotion and sadhana.
- Historical Importance: Ramayana is an important part of Indian culture and it helps us understand the society, culture, and history of ancient India.
- Education and Learning: Through various lessons in the Ramayana we get a chance to learn about various aspects of character, such as good and evil, that help us to overcome challenges.
- Literary Importance: Ramayana is one of the greatest literary works with refined verses and profound meaning. It is also important for spiritual and philosophical study. Ramayana teaches and inspires us to live a perfect and balanced life.
When & How Should One Read The Ramayana?
According to me, there is no fixed time to study the Ramayana, since it is our spiritual history, it can be read at any time. In our scriptures, the time for reading, writing and memorizing God has been mentioned as 48 hours out of 24. Meaning? Reflecting for 24 hours out of 24, whilst also managing worldly tasks. Only then does a person attain salvation. Ramayana teaches the art of living, duty and walking on the right path, with practical insights.
Everyone should read it. Yes, because it is sacred and is an extension of God's virtues. Therefore, sanctity must be taken care of. That is, the place where you are sitting should be clean. Do not touch the text with unclean hands or read while eating and, finally, do not sleep with the text under your pillow. Ramayana should be in every home. And it is best to read it every day. This classic text inculcates good values in children and creates a good environment at home.
Which is The Best Text On The Ramayana?
Best Books To Read On "Lord Rama"
Many books have been written on the life and character of Lord Shri Ram. From Shri Ramcharitmanas to Ramayana etc., It is a sacred text worshipped to this day and age. If you want to know more about the life of Lord Shri Ram, Laxman, Janaki and Hanuman ji, then you can purchase the new talking text, "Sampoorna Ramayana Gold Edition,from Safeshop".
This excellent edition is supported by five kandas of Ramayana, which tell the story of Ram, Sita, Lakshman, Hanuman and Ravana. It is beautifully illustrated and audio-enabled. An inspiring text for everyone to understand the philosophy of life. This treasured jewel of Indian mythology and Sanatan Dharma, authored by Maharishi Valmiki, is a must-have in every home library.
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