Ramayana ‘lives in the mind of every Indian’, but across the world the epic has many narrations 

Valmiki Ramayana

An artist’s impression of sage Valmiki composing the Ramayana (Wikimedia Commons)

The oldest known version of the Ramayana was written in the eighth century BC. Valmiki never claimed to be the primary source of the text, instead attributed it to another sage, Narada.

Kamba Ramayana

A surviving manuscript of the Kamba Ramayana, presently available in British Library

Ramayana was used to increase the political influence of the kings. The Chola dynasty commissioned a different version of the Ramayana, which was written by the Tamil poet Kamban and hence known as the Kamba Ramayana. It was also one of the earliest versions of the Ramayana to portray Rama as a God in human form. Valmiki portrayed Rama as only a human.

Bhojaprabandh

King Bhoja, who ruled the kingdom of Dhar, in modern-day Madhya Pradesh from 1010 to 1055 CE, was one of the earliest kings to co-opt the epic for political influence. In his version of the Ramayana, Bhojaprabandh, he was an incarnation of Rama and his kingdom the site of Ayodhya. This allowed him to be perceived as a legitimate leader before the people.

Tulsidas Ramayana

An illustration of Hanuman searching for the Sanjivini Herb (British Library)

Tulsidas Ramayana is thought to be the “people’s version” of the Ramayana, written in the 16th century in Awadhi. Unlike Sanskrit, Awadhi was spoken widely and hence, Tulasidas’s Ramayana is in some ways the “real Ramayana” of the people.

Reamker (Cambodia)

Murals depicting Preah Ream (Rama) and Preah Leak (Lakshmana), under royal umbrellas, crossing over to Lanka with their monkey army on the back of a giant (Wikimedia Commons)

Cambodia’s population predominantly follows Theravada Buddhism and therefore the Reamker has many Buddhist influences in it. Rama is known as Phreah Ream and Sita is called Neang Seda. The text written in the Khmer script has many instances that are not present in the Hindu texts of the Ramayana. After Neang Seda’s trial by fire, which she passes, she develops a turbulent relationship with Phreah Ream. Instead of reuniting with him in Ayodhya, she decides to leave him and find refuge with Valmiki.

Ramayana Kakawin (Indonesia, Bali)

Palm leaf manuscripts of Ramayana Kakawin (Wikiwand)

The Kakawin Ramayana is the oldest Javanese epic text. It is thought to be written in the ninth century CE. It survived through palm-leaf manuscripts. Linguistically, the Kakawin Ramayana is among the very few Old Javanese texts for which a specific Sanskrit prototype has been identified. It follows an array of Sanskrit-derived metrical patterns that have been traced back to a poem by Bhattikavya (seventh century CE), which is itself a version of the epic. This also shows the familiarity of Javanese people with Sanskrit literature.

Phra Lak Phra Ram (Laos)

A performance of Phra Lak Phra Ram

Being a predominantly Theravada Buddhist country, in their version of the Ramayana, Phra Ram is considered a previous incarnation of Gautama Buddha and is regarded as the epitome of moral leadership and a true follower of his dharma. Hapmanasoune or Ravana is considered to be the previous incarnation of Mara, the demon who tried to impede the Buddha’s ascent to enlightenment. Instead of being set in Ayodhya and close to the Ganges, Phra Lak Phra Ram takes place along the Mekong River. There are several mural paintings and wood relief carvings on temple doors and windows. Several ballet performers of the Lao Royal Ballet have also been themed after the epic.

Hikayat Seri Rama (Malaysia)

The Ramayana was most likely introduced to Malaysia through Tamil traders between the 13^th and 15^th centuries. Interestingly enough, Ravana is characterised to be more loyal, just and fair than Seri Rama, who is perceived as arrogant. Scholars believe this interpretation of the Malay Ramayana was possible because it spread through popular oral versions and not the Valmiki Ramayana. While Valmiki holds Rama up as a true hero and an ideal man, Malaysian storytellers are more likely to emphasise his weaknesses, such as arrogance and vanity. This makes Rama seem more human, which appealed to the Malaysian audience. Brother Lakshmana is given a greater role in the Hikayat Seri Rama, and Ravana is appreciated as a noble, dynamic character. Hanuman’s character also changes; rather than being celibate, the monkey warrior has a lover.

Ramakien (Thailand)

An illustration of Rama in Ramakien from Central Thailand

The Thais have adopted the Ramayana since the 13^th century from the older Khmer version titled Reamker. Today’s Ramakien was composed between 1785 and 1807 under the supervision of King Rama I. In Ramakien, unlike the Sanskrit versions of Ramayana, Hanuman does not remain celibate. Similar to the Malaysian version, he has a child with Nang Supranamajcha, a half-woman, half-fish daughter of Ravana. Even the ending is marked with some narrative changes. While Valmiki writes that there was much talk about Sita’s fidelity towards Rama after spending one year in Ravana’s captivity, King Rama I writes that a rakshasa, bitter about Ravana’s defeat, tricks Sita into drawing a picture of Ravana and leaves it under Rama’s bed. This makes Rama believe that Sita misses Ravana.

Maharadia Lawana, Darangen (Philippines)

Singkil dance being performed in 1900 (Wikimedia Commons)

The Darangen is an ancient epic song of the Maranao people, who are a Muslim Filipino ethnic group in Philippines. Along with the Ramayana, it also recounts the history of the Maranao people and their folk tales. One episode recounts the abduction of Princess Gandingan (one of the princesses of the Maranao people) by the diwatas (nature spirits) of the Kingdom of Bumbaran (likely to be modern-day Burma). They cause an earthquake, which also causes the trees of the forest to topple around Gandingan, blocking her from Prince Bantugan. To save her, he has to navigate the trees. This episode is still being retold today through the Singkil dance where the dancers nimbly avoid click-clacking bamboo poles that represent the trees.

Dasharata Jataka

Illustrated Sinhalese covers (inside), and palm leaf pages of the Dasharata Jataka

The Dasharata Jataka is the Buddhist version of the Ramayana. The interesting narrative departure of this iteration of the Ramayana is that Dasharata himself sends Rama, Sita and Laxman to exile in the Himalayas to protect them from his third wife Kaikeyi.

 References

The Ramayana in Southeast Asia: (3) Burma – Asian and African studies blog

The Ramayanas of Southeast Asia

The Career of Rama: An Epic Journey Through South and Southeast Asia | Thailand · Online Exhibits

The Ramayana Kakawin