Rāmāyaṇa
The Rāmāyaṇa, an ancient Indian epic poem attributed to the sage Vālmīki, consists of approximately 24,000 stanzas divided into seven books. It narrates the life and adventures of Rāma, the prince of Ayodhyā, including his banishment, the abduction of his wife Sītā by the demon-king Rāvaṇa, and Rāma's quest to rescue her with the help of allies like his brother Lakṣmaṇa and the devoted monkey Hanuman. The epic is notable for its rich narrative structure, incorporating elements of oral tradition and showcasing the complexities of dharma (duty) and devotion.
The Rāmāyaṇa has two primary manuscript traditions linked to northern and southern India, with texts reflecting various interpretations and interpolations throughout its history. Rāma is often associated with the Hindu god Vishnu, while Sītā has connections to early Vedic mythology. The epic has inspired numerous adaptations and retellings, including the influential Rāmcaritmānas by Tulsīdās, and continues to be a central cultural reference in Indian literature, drama, and arts. The Rāmāyaṇa's themes of heroism, duty, and love resonate widely, making it a cornerstone of Indian cultural and spiritual life.
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Subject Terms
Rāmāyaṇa
Related civilizations: India, classical Southeast Asia.
Date: c. 500 b.c.e., some material added later
Locale: India
Authorship: Composite; attributed to the legendary Vālmīki
Rāmāyaṇa
The Rāmāyaṇa (raw-MAW-yah-nah), or Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa (English translation, 1870-1889), is an epic poem of ancient India, consisting of about 24,000 stanzas divided into seven books and about 500 cantos and composed in a style of Sanskrit comparable in most ways to the style of India’s other classical epic poem, the Mahābhārata (400 b.c.e.-400 c.e., present form by c. 400 c.e.; The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, 1887-1896). Certain features—most prominently the use of formulaic repetitions with slight variations—suggest an origin in ancient oral tradition. Extant, however, are two main manuscript traditions, associated with north and south India. Of the epic’s seven books, Books 2-6 are generally agreed to represent the older core of the poem. The first book (“Bāla-kāṇḍa,” or “the book of the boy-prince”) was seemingly added at a later time to explain the birth and youth of the hero of the epic, Rāma. The seventh book was added to tell the story of what happened to Rāma after the conclusion of his central adventure. Throughout the poem, however, are lines, passages, or entire groups of cantos that textual critics label as later interpolations.
The title Rāmāyaṇa is taken to mean “the adventures of Rāma.” The epic’s central narrative is a romance, recounting the birth of Rāmacandra, heir to the throne of the city-state Ayodhyā, his banishment through a palace intrigue, and his subsequent wanderings throughout India, accompanied by both his wife, Sītā, and brother Lakṣmaṇa. Sītā is abducted but is rescued, and Rāma is eventually restored to his rightful place as king in Ayodhyā. The poem’s long sixth book describes in detail a battle between Rāma and his allies, the monkey army, against Rāvaṇa, the demon-king of Laṅkā who had abducted Sītā. A prominent character is the monkey Hanuman, Rāma’s friend and helper. Hanuman was to become hugely popular in India, where he is understood as the paragon of religious devotion. In some parts of the epic, Hanuman is said to be the son of the wind-god, a status that grants him supernormal abilities. In general, later parts of the poem equate Rāma with Vishnu (Viṣṇu), the important central deity in later Hinduism. Sītā also has significant connections with early Vedic myth and may be divine in origin.
The Sanskrit Rāmāyaṇa has given rise to later versions in various languages, most prominently the Rāmcaritmānas in Avadhi from north India by Tulsīdās, often thought of as the “bible of (northern) India.” Folk drama, sophisticated stage plays, and puppet shows have been based on the Rāma story. The Sanskrit text also has earned the name ādi-kāvya—“the first art poem.” In 2022, a the epic was adapted into Bollywood film of the same name.
Bibliography
Brockington, John. The Sanskrit Epics. Leiden, Netherlands: E. J. Brill, 1998.
Goldman, Robert P., ed. The Ramayana of Valmiki. 5 vols. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1984-1996.
Richman, Paula, ed. Many Ramayanas: The Diversity of Narrative Tradition in South Asia. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1991.