How Many Versions of the Ramayana and their Names?
रामायण के कितने प्रकार/संस्करण हैं और उनके नाम क्या हैं?
How Many Versions of the Ramayana Exist?
There are over 300 known versions of the Ramayana across India and Asia, each reflecting the linguistic, cultural, and religious diversity of its region.
The oldest and most authoritative is the Sanskrit Ramayana by Sage Valmiki, composed between the 5th and 1st centuries BCE. Over time, numerous retellings, reinterpretations, and regional adaptations have appeared in various languages, each offering unique perspectives and emphases.
Total Known Versions
| Category | Approximate Count |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit originals | 4–5 |
| Indian vernacular versions | 25+ major ones |
| Southeast & East Asian adaptations | 15–20 |
| Jain & Buddhist retellings | 10+ |
| Folk and tribal variants | Hundreds |
| Total (documented literary versions) | 300+ |
(Source: Paula Richman, Cambridge University Press; French Institute of Pondicherry studies on Ramayana traditions.)
1. Classical Sanskrit Versions
| Version | Author/Source | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|
| Valmiki Ramayana | Sage Valmiki | Oldest and canonical version (~24,000 verses, 7 Kandas). |
| Adhyatma Ramayana | Attributed to Vyasa (Brahmanda Purana) | Spiritual allegory, emphasizing Rama as Vishnu. |
| Ananda Ramayana | Unknown (medieval) | Devotional supplement expanding episodes. |
| Adbhuta Ramayana | Attributed to Valmiki | Highlights Sita’s power; introduces a second Ravana. |
| Yoga Vasistha (Vasistha Ramayana) | Sage Vasistha | Philosophical dialogue on non-dualism (Advaita). |
2. Major Indian Regional Versions
| Language | Version / Author | Century | Distinctive Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tamil | Kamba Ramayanam (Ramavataram) – Kamban | 12th CE | Literary classic; poetic and devotional. |
| Telugu | Ranganatha Ramayanam – Gona Budda Reddy | 13th–14th CE | Bhakti focus; simplified narrative. |
| Kannada | Torave Ramayana – Kumara Valmiki | 16th CE | Localized with folk motifs. |
| Malayalam | Adhyathmaramayanam Kilippattu – Ezhuthachan | 16th CE | Foundational for Malayalam literature. |
| Marathi | Bhavartha Ramayana – Eknath | 16th CE | Philosophical Bhakti interpretation. |
| Bengali | Krittivasi Ramayana – Krittibas Ojha | 15th CE | Incorporates Bengali culture and idioms. |
| Assamese | Saptakanda Ramayana – Madhava Kandali | 14th CE | First regional translation in verse. |
| Odia | Dandi Ramayana (Vilanka Ramayana) – Balarama Das | 15th CE | Focuses on moral and devotional values. |
| Hindi (Awadhi) | Ramcharitmanas – Tulsidas | 16th CE | North India’s most revered version; Rama as divine. |
| Gujarati | Tulsi Ramayan (Adapted) | 17th CE | Simplified adaptation of Tulsidas’s text. |
| Punjabi | Gurmukhi Ramayana | Medieval | Popular in Sikh and Punjabi tradition. |
| Kashmiri | Ramavatar Charit | 19th CE | Late Kashmiri adaptation. |
3. Southeast & East Asian Versions
| Country/Region | Version | Distinctive Aspects |
|---|---|---|
| Nepal | Bhanubhakta Ramayana | Nepali translation of Valmiki’s work. |
| Thailand | Ramakien | National epic; theatrical Khon dance performances. |
| Cambodia | Reamker | Emphasizes karma and moral balance; temple carvings at Angkor Wat. |
| Laos | Phra Lak Phra Lam | Brothers as reincarnations; Lao royal symbolism. |
| Myanmar (Burma) | Yama Zatdaw | Burmese adaptation performed as a play. |
| Indonesia (Java) | Kakawin Ramayana | 9th-century Old Javanese poem; Hindu-Javanese fusion. |
| Indonesia (Bali) | Hikayat Seri Rama / Kakawin Ramayana | Performed in shadow puppetry (Wayang Kulit). |
| Malaysia | Hikayat Seri Rama | Islamicized Malay version. |
| Philippines | Maharadia Lawana | Maranao epic; Ravana as a noble Muslim ruler. |
| Tibet | Ramayana in Tibetan translation | Buddhist-inflected tale of virtue. |
| Mongolia | Ramayana in Mongolian literature | Derived from Tibetan Buddhist sources. |
| China | Liudu Ji Jing (Six Perfections Sutra) | Integrates Rama’s story into Buddhist morality. |
| Sri Lanka | Jana Prabodhini Ramayanaya | Reinterprets the story from Ravana’s viewpoint. |
4. Jain & Buddhist Retellings
| Version | Tradition | Unique Perspective |
|---|---|---|
| Paumacariya (Padma Purana) – Vimalasuri | Jain | Rama is a Jain hero; Lakshmana kills Ravana. |
| Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Charitra – Hemachandra | Jain | Rama as one of the 63 illustrious men. |
| Dasaratha Jataka | Buddhist | Rama as a past life of the Buddha. |
| Anamak Jataka | Buddhist | Emphasis on moral virtue and sacrifice. |
5. Folk, Oral & Women’s Versions
These local and community-based retellings vary widely:
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Gondi Ramayani – Gond tribal oral epic.
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Bhil Ramayan, Santhal Ramayan, etc. – Tribal interpretations.
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Chandrabati Ramayana – Bengali version told from Sita’s perspective.
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Tulu Ramayana – Coastal Karnataka folk version.
6. Modern & Literary Adaptations
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Ramayana Series – Ashok K. Banker (novel retelling)
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The Forest of Enchantments – Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (from Sita’s view)
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Sita Sings the Blues (2008) – Animated film by Nina Paley
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Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama (1992) – Indo-Japanese anime
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Countless stage plays, TV serials, and films across India and Asia.
The Ramayana is not a single book but a living, evolving tradition. Over 300 distinct versions exist across 25+ languages and 12+ countries, encompassing Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, and folk interpretations. Each retelling reimagines Rama’s journey according to its own culture’s ideals of virtue, duty, and devotion.
