The oldest and most renowned version of the Ramayana written by Valmiki is dated back to the 8th century BC. It is an epic poem containing over 24,000 verses, divided into seven chapters.
This version highlights the miraculous and supernatural aspects of the story. It includes additional tales about Hanuman, the divine birth of Rama, and the adventures of other characters that are often not present in the mainstream versions.
The Cambodian version, Reamker, brings a Buddhist perspective to the epic story making it an integral part of Khmer culture. It is dramatized in classical dance performances and emphasizes themes of morality and leadership.
Written by the Tamil poet Kambar in the 12th century, this version offers a unique interpretation of the Ramayana. It presents Rama as an ideal king and explores themes of love, devotion, and righteousness, often integrating local culture and folklore.
Telugu adaptation of ramayana is penned by the famous poet Raganatha between 1300 and 1310 AD. This story is unique for its addition of squirrel incidents. It shows how a squirrel also helped Rama build a bridge to Lanka.
Also known as Kamba Ramayanam, is a Tamil retelling of the Ramayana composed by the poet Kambar in the 12th century. It is one of the most significant adaptations of the original Sanskrit epic attributed to Valmiki and holds a special place in Tamil literature and culture.
The Jawanese rendition of Ramayana has been adapted and widely represents the Indonesian version, including shadow puppetry (Wayang). Here Hanuman is considered king of monkeys, not vali or Sugriva like the original.