Ram Navami 2023: 11 Major Differences Between Valmiki Ramayan and Ramcharitmanas

Add as a preferred source on Google

Valmiki Ramayan and Ramcharitmanas are twin stars in the World of Ramayan literature that have been translated over several languages. Valmiki Ramayan is a work that was told by Lord Shiva to Parvathi scores of yugas ago. It is composed of 24,000 verses, divided into seven Kandas and 500 sargas.Many versions of Valmiki Ramayana have come up. Ramcharit manas is as popular as Original Ramayana.

However, there are some minor differences in some areas of both these texts, that do not make much difference but are worthy of a mention. For example, you can discern a change in the way both have dealt with certain major characters of Ramayana. Here are the changes perceived from a rational angle.

1. The exact date of the Valmiki Ramayana is not clear. But as per the scriptural information, it was written in Tretayuga. Goswami Tulsidas composed Ramcharitmanas in the 16th century AD, in Awadhi dialect. Although Tulsidas was an erudite scholar in Sanskrit, he chose to write in Awadhi, the dialect which he thought would reach the masses in a way they could understand easily.
2. Valmikis Ramayana is a series of 7 kandas or volumes. They were Bala Kanda, Ayodhya Kanda, Aranya Kanda, Kishkindha Kanda, Sundara Kanda, Yuddha Kanda, and Uttara Kanda respectively. Ramcharit Manas also has 7 kandas but he has renamed the yuddha kanda as Lanka Kanda.
3. Valmiki does not specifically talk about the lakshman rekha. Instead in his verses, he explains that Lakshman just withdrew from the scene tearfully with folded hands and left Sita there alone. He was unable to calm the Frantic Sita during the time Rama had gone out in search of the golden deer.. Tulsidas introduced the concept of Lakshman Rekha in Ramcharitmanas which caught the imagination of readers and is still being extensively used to describe situations where self-control is required. Tulsidas mentions that Lakshman drew a line around Goddess Sita so that she will not cross this line, with an intention to protect Goddess Sita.
4. In the depiction of Hanuman is quite different in both these versions. In Ramayana, Hanuman is depicted to be a person belonging to the Vanaras tribe with special powers. Tulsidas described Hanuman as a Monkey throughout. It looks like a mark of disrespect to Hanuman. But in reality, Tulsidas was a great devotee of Hanuman who composed Hanuman Chalisa, and Hanuman Bahuk.
5. King Janaka as per Valmiki Ramayana, never conducted Swayamvar of Sita. Once he saw that Rama was able to lift and break the shivdhanus, he got his daughter sita married to Rama. Ram Charit manas talks of swayamvar being organized for Sita and Ram was one of the princes who was able to accomplish the feat of lifting the Dhanus and marry Sita.
6. Valmiki has portrayed Sita to be an assertive and brave woman. Ramcharitmanas portrays her as submissive and soft spoken. Probably his image of sita was influenced by the ideals of a perfect woman in 16th century.
7. Valmikis Ramayana says that Sita was really abducted by Ravana. But Tulsidas ramcharitmanas says that Rama kept her in safe custody with Agnideva and then sent the maya sita to Ravan. In the Agnipariksha the real Sita came out of the fire.
8. Valmiki Ramayan depicts Rama to be a perfect human being in most of its verses whereas Tulsidas describes Rama as an incarnation of Vishnu.
9. According to Valmiki, Rama acquired the mastery over Shaastra and Shastra by regular dedicated practice whereas Tulsidas says that he was born gifted with perfection from his birth.
10. Valmiki Ramayana mentions that Rama left his mortal body in the Sarayu river, along with Lakshmana, and Sita vanished into mother earth. This is where Ramayana ends. But Tulsidas Ramcharitmanas ends with the description of the birth of Lava and Kusha and does not continue beyond that.
11. Valmiki Ramayan was the original source of Ramayan epic. But Ramcharitmanas was the version Tulsidas heard from Hanuman himself and then wrote it.

Disclaimer: The information is based on assumptions and information available on the internet and the accuracy or reliability is not guaranteed. Boldsky does not confirm any inputs or information related to the article and our only purpose is to deliver information. Kindly consult the concerned expert before practising or implementing any information and assumption.