Of the two Hindu epics, the Ramayana is older. It is believed to have been composed in 1500 bc, although it was only written down in Sanskrit by the sage Valmiki in 400 bc. It is one of the pivotal literary works of ancient India with two important Indian festivals, Dussehra and Diwali, emanating from it. The Ramayana is divided into seven sections and explores the values of valour, devotion, duty and morality through the story of Prince Rama, the seventh incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu.
According to the story, Rama is the eldest son of King Dasaratha, who rules the kingdom of Kosala in Ayodhya. The king has three wives, one of whom, Kaikeyi, saves his life after he is injured in battle. As a reward for her efforts, the devious Kaikeyi asks that her son Bharatha be crowned king while the rightful heir, Rama, be banished from the kingdom for 14 years. The principled and uprighteous Rama goes into exile with his wife Sita and brother, Lakshmana, turning down the pleas of Bharatha, who is next in line to be king. During their sojourn in the forest, Sita is abducted by the evil demon Ravana, and taken to his kingdom of Lanka. Rama journeys to Lanka and, with the help of the Monkey God Hanuman, succeeds in killing Ravana and rescues Sita. Rama’s return from exile is celebrated across the country as Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. He is crowned king on his return to Ayodhya. However, Rama’s subjects raise doubts about Sita’s moral character when they learn that she is pregnant. She is exiled to the forest where she gives birth to twin boys, Luv and Kush. She returns to Rama 15 years later, but when doubts about her character persist, she calls on Mother Earth to prove her innocence. In response, the earth opens up and swallows her.
A Different Version Of the Ramayana
The Ramayana has been translated into different Indian languages and given a variety of interpretations. The best-known version is the one provided by 16th century poet Tulsidas, who wrote Ramcharitmanas in Hindi. Tulsidas was unhappy with the Valmiki version of the Hindu epic and concluded his narration with Rama and Sita living happily ever after in Ayodhya.