Versions of Ramayana
Depending on the methods of counting, as many as three hundred versions of the Indian epic poem, the Ramayana, are known to exist. The oldest version is generally recognized to be the Sanskrit version attributed to the sage Valmiki.
The Ramayana has spread to many Asian countries outside of India, including Burma, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Mongolia, Vietnam and China. The original Valmiki version has been adapted or translated into various regional languages, which have often been marked more or less by plot twists and thematic adaptations. Some of the important adaptations of the classic tale include the 12th-century Tamil language Ramavataram, 14th-century Telugu language Sri Ranganatha Ramayanam, the Khmer Reamker, the Old Javanese Kakawin Ramayana, and the Thai Ramakien, the Lao Phra Lak Phra Lam, and the Burmese Yama Zatdaw.
The manifestation of the core themes of the original Ramayana is far broader even than can be understood from a consideration of the different languages in which it appears, as its essence has been expressed in a diverse array of regional cultures and artistic mediums. For instance, the Ramayana has been expressed or interpreted in Lkhaon Khmer dance theatre, in the Mappila Songs of the Muslims of Kerala and Lakshadweep, in the Indian operatic tradition of Yakshagana, and in the epic paintings still extant on, for instance, the walls of Thailand's Wat Phra Kaew palace temple. In Indonesia, the tales of the Ramayana appear reflected in ballet performances, masked danced drama, and Wayang shadow puppetry.Angkor Wat in Siem Reap also has mural scenes from the epic Battle of Lanka on one of its outer walls.
Ramayana
The Ramayana (/rɑːˈmɑːjənə/; Sanskrit: रामायणम्, Rāmāyaṇam, pronounced [rɑːˈmɑːjəɳəm]) is a Sanskrit epic poem ascribed to the Hindu sage and Sanskrit poet Valmiki. It is regarded as one of the two great works of Indian literature, along with the Mahabharata. The Ramayana also plays an important role in Hindu literature (smṛti). It depicts the duties of relationships, portraying ideal characters like the ideal father, the ideal servant, the ideal brother, the ideal wife and the ideal king. The name Ramayana is a tatpurusha compound of Rāma and ayana ("going, advancing"), translating to "Rama's Journey". The Ramayana consists of 24,000 verses in seven books (kāṇḍas) and 500 cantos (sargas) and tells the story of Rama (the seventh avatar of the Hindu supreme-god Vishnu), whose wife Sita is abducted by Ravana, the king of Lanka (current day Sri Lanka). Incidentally the first letter of every 1000 verses (total 24) make the Gayatri mantra. Thematically, the Ramayana explores human values and the concept of dharma.
Ramayan (2008 TV series)
Ramayan, based on Valmiki's Ramayan and Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas, as well as Chakbasta's Urdu Ramayan, is an Indian television series produced by Sagar Arts which aired on NDTV Imagine. It is also partly derived from portions of Kambar's Kambaramayanam, Bhavarth Ramayan (Ramayana in Marathi), Krittivasi Ramayan (Ramayana in Bengali) by Krittibas Ojha, Shree Rangnath Ramayana (Ramayana in Telugu) by Gona Budda Reddy, Ramchandra Charit Puranam (in Kannad) by Abhinavpamp Nagchandra, Adhyatama Ramayanam (in Malayalam) by Tunjath Ezhuthachan, Shree Anand Ramayan by Pt. Ramlagna Pandey.
It is a remake of the highly successful Ramayan that was created, written, and directed by Ramanand Sagar and which aired on Doordarshan from 1987 to 1988.
The show won the "Most Promising New Show of the Year" award at the Indiantelevision.com's New Talent Awards. In addition to this, Gurmeet Choudhary, who played the lead role of Lord Rama won the "Most Promising New Talent of Tomorrow" Award.
Ramayan (2012 TV series)
Ramayan: Sabke Jeevan Ka Aadhar—based on Valmiki's Ramayana and Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas—is an Indian television series produced by Sagar Arts which airs on Zee TV.
It is a simplified and technology-backed remake of the 1980s television series Ramayan that was created, written, and directed by Ramanand Sagar. New series were started on August 12, 2012 till September 1, 2013.
Historical synopsis
Ramayan narrates the tale of Ram who was the eldest of the 4 sons of Dasharath, the King of Ayodhya. Ram was to become the Ruler of Ayodhya after his father's retirement. But his stepmother, Kaikeyi, under the influence of Manthara, wanted her son Bharat to become the king.
Recalling that Dasharath had once promised to grant her any two boons that she asked of him, she demanded that Ram should be exiled to the forest for 14 years and that Bharat should be crowned ruler in his stead. The promise-bound and heartbroken Dasharath was compelled to keep his word. Reluctantly, he asks Ram to leave for the forest. Rama happily accepts the exile and leaves for the forest and reluctantly accepts the company of his wife, Sita, and younger brother Laxman. When Bharat learns that his mother is responsible for Ram's exile, he follows Ram and importunes him to return with him to Ayodhya. But, Ram refuses, so Bharat decides instead to obtain Ram's paduka (sandals) and places them on the throne as a gesture that Ram is the true king, ruling as his proxy and regent over Ayodhya.
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