What makes Ramayan the most beautiful, heart touching and life changing story is the essence of life it spreads through a noble prince Shri Ram. The story of Shri Ram has been told, re told, written, rewritten, interpreted, analysed many a time in different languages, yet the essence and the happiness it brings to one’s heart is always the same. The more one listens, reads or narrates Ramayan, the more the happiness and life lessons one begets.
Shrimad Valmiki Ramayan – It is the timeless gift of the great Adi Kavi, Maharishi Valmiki in the form of Ramayan that is known to us. Written in 24, 000 slokas in the Sanskrit Language, it is also known by two other names too One being Sitayascharitam Mahat, meaning the Great Tale of Sita and Poulastya Vadha meaning the Killing of Poulastya or Ravan. Shri Valmiki thus denotes the importance of Mata Sita and Ravan too in this great epic, which is the representation of Dharma since the time it was written.
Shri Ramcharitmanas – Written by Shri Goswami Tulasidas in the 16th century, the Ramcharitmanas is yet another greatest work of literature handed down to us. Translating as the lake of deeds of Shri Ram, this epic poem written in Awadh language is the most popular form of Ramayan recited, read, learnt and listened too. The chaupais and dohas written by Shri Tulasidas are very popular and known for their beauty of language and diction. It is also called as the Tulsi Ramayan.
Shri Ranganatha Ramayanamu – It is one of the famous adaptations of Shri Valmiki Ramayan in Telugu, written by the great poet Shri Gona Buddha Reddy in the 14th century. Written in Dwipada metre this work contains 17, 290 verses summing down to seven kands of Ramayan. It was in this Ramayan that the story of Shri Ram and the squirrel was added to make one understand the compassion of Shri Ram towards all living beings.
Krittivasi Ramayan – This is the popular adaption in the Bengali language written by the great Bengali poet Shri Krittibas Ojha written in the 15th century. This is also called as the Sriram Panchali. The most striking feature of this Ramayan is that it reflects the society of Bengal during the times as part of the story line, thus denoting the influence of society on literature.
Kamba Ramayan – Authored by the great Tamil Poet, Kambar, This is also popular by the name Ramavataram. Kamba Ramayan is divided into six chapters. The Sundara Kand is considered the most auspicious one. Kamba Ramayan is known for dwelling not only into the story of Shri Ram, but also talking about many spiritual concepts combined with the story line of Ramayan.
Adhyatma Ramayan Kilapattu – Written by the Malayali poet Thunchaththu Ramanuja Ezhuthachan, this Malayali version of Ramayan is in a song format, wherein the poet ascribes that a parrot has recited the story of Shri Ram and thus being written down. It is popularly recited during the Kartik month in every Hindu household and temples of Kerala, as an auspicious ritual.
Many more versions like the Kannada version of Kumudendu Ramayan, the Assamese version of Katha Ramayan, the Maharashtra region’s Bhavartha Ramayan, the Kashmir’s popular Ramavatara Charita, the Konkani Ramayanu and many more are prominent as regional flavours of Ramayan. It is the beauty of the way that the life of a young prince of Ayodhya’s was penned down, understanding the essence of his personality, identity and his mission towards Dharma which since eternal times is being called the Ramayan.