Read on Twitter
There are over 300 Ramayanas.
In the book "Ancient Geography of Ayodhya", Ram was born in Herat, Afghanistan.
The book "The Vedic People: Their History & Geography" also says that Ram was born in Afghanistan.
Thailand claims that the original Ayodhya is in Thailand.
#Thread
In the book "Ancient Geography of Ayodhya", Ram was born in Herat, Afghanistan.
The book "The Vedic People: Their History & Geography" also says that Ram was born in Afghanistan.
Thailand claims that the original Ayodhya is in Thailand.
#Thread
The best version of Ramayana is from Wayanad in Kerala. In Adiya Ramayana, Ravana is not an arch villain & Sita met him long before she met Rama, peaceably travelling to Lanka with him till Hanuman arrives on the scene to tell her of Rama’s love for her.
Adiya Ramayana is an oral tradition of the Adivasis of Wayanad.
In Tharuvana’s Wayanadan Ramayanam, when Hanuman sets Lanka aflame what goes up in flames are coconut trees, coffee plants and banana plantations.
In Tharuvana’s Wayanadan Ramayanam, when Hanuman sets Lanka aflame what goes up in flames are coconut trees, coffee plants and banana plantations.
The Adivasis and lower castes of Malabar had thier own Kavus and they were not allowed to enter temples till 1947.
In 1978 malayalam movie "Kanchana seetha", renowned director G Aravindan's tells Ramayana from a tribal background.
In 1978 malayalam movie "Kanchana seetha", renowned director G Aravindan's tells Ramayana from a tribal background.
The Tibetan version of Ramayana was discovered by FW Thomas in 1929 (Six Manuscripts). The Ravana of 'Valmiki Ramayana' is named as Dasagriva in 'Tibetan Ramayana' & Sita is the daughter of Dasagriva.
Sita was abandoned by Dasagriva at birth. Why?
Sita was abandoned by Dasagriva at birth. Why?
Dasagriva got a prophecy that Sita will bring harm to Dasagriva, so the baby Sita was put in a copper box and was abandoned to a river (unnamed).
Down stream, an Indian Farmer saved the baby Sita from the river (Like Moses). Tibetan Ramayana starts with the story of Dasagriva.
Down stream, an Indian Farmer saved the baby Sita from the river (Like Moses). Tibetan Ramayana starts with the story of Dasagriva.
King Rama falls in love with the peasant girl Sita. Rama is just a ordinary king with god like attributes.
Unlike Valmiki Ramayana, Tibetan Ramayana ends with a happy reunion of Rama, Sita and their sons.
Unlike Valmiki Ramayana, Tibetan Ramayana ends with a happy reunion of Rama, Sita and their sons.
In Lahaul (Himachal Pradesh), there is a different version of Ramayan.
Raavan is Sita's father, Ram falls in love with Sita, Kidnaps her and which eventually leads to a war between Raavan and Ram.
Raavan is Sita's father, Ram falls in love with Sita, Kidnaps her and which eventually leads to a war between Raavan and Ram.
Buddhists and Jains also have Ramayana traditions.
For Jains, Diwali has nothing to do with Lord Ram. To them the tradition is that when Mahavira, the 24th Tirtankha died, all the lights of the universe went out and the people had to illuminate their homes with lamps.
For Jains, Diwali has nothing to do with Lord Ram. To them the tradition is that when Mahavira, the 24th Tirtankha died, all the lights of the universe went out and the people had to illuminate their homes with lamps.
In the Jain Ramayana, Ravan is presented as a great and noble king. Hanuman and the other vanaras, belong to the Rakshasa - Asura lineage, who are not monkeys.
In the end, Lord Rama converts and becomes a Jain monk and Sita also becomes a Jain nun.
In the end, Lord Rama converts and becomes a Jain monk and Sita also becomes a Jain nun.
Why am i saying all this? AK Ramanujan's essay was banned by Delhi University.
In 2008, the essay attracted the ire of Hindutva activists because it talked about 300 different versions of the Ramayana.
In 2008, the essay attracted the ire of Hindutva activists because it talked about 300 different versions of the Ramayana.
n Aug 2014, RSS formed a committee, the Bharatiya Shiksha Niti Aayog, to “Indianise” the education system. It was headed by Dinanath Batra.
Later, Batra pressured the University of Delhi to remove from its syllabus, an essay by A K Ramanujan.
Later, Batra pressured the University of Delhi to remove from its syllabus, an essay by A K Ramanujan.
300 Ramayanas by A K Ramanujan contradicted the Hindu nationalist idea that there was only a single version (Valmiki) of the epic.
The others versions of Ramayana petrifies Indian nationalists.
The others versions of Ramayana petrifies Indian nationalists.
Ramayana in Doordarshan was the moment in the late 1980's which helped RSS to move Hindutva out of RSS shakhas and into the minds of ordinary Indians.
Before that, RSS had a minuscule presence in Indian Politics.
Before that, RSS had a minuscule presence in Indian Politics.
The religion which was present in Indian Subcontinent is not homogeneous like Abrahamic religions or like Brahmanism.
And this has been the biggest fear of RSS. Nothing scares Sanghis & RW like the intrinsic plurality of Indian mythologies.
#ThreadEnd
And this has been the biggest fear of RSS. Nothing scares Sanghis & RW like the intrinsic plurality of Indian mythologies.
#ThreadEnd
Which version came first? Noone knows and we might never know.
It's like Hindi Imposition, Valmiki version was the most accepted version in North India and Ramanand Sagar pushed the narrative in 1987.
It's like Hindi Imposition, Valmiki version was the most accepted version in North India and Ramanand Sagar pushed the narrative in 1987.
Oxford University students condemn Ramanujan essay ban. https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/oxford-university-ramayanas-ak-ramanujan-146983-2011-11-27
"Furthermore, though Rama is an incarnation of Visnu, in Thailand he is subordinate to Siva. He is seen as a human hero, and the Ramakirti is not regarded as a religious work or even as an exemplary work on which men and women may pattern themselves." https://twitter.com/Openthemag/status/130944123543896064
