Ramayana, a mythological tale ornate with the bravery and deeds of the protagonist, Shri Ramchandra, is not an epic or a ‘mythological tale’, of a single country, or nation. Neither does a particular religion claim right on Ramayana being sacred to it.

In fact, it is a moral principle, rather than a ‘mythological tale’, where the venerate Ramchandra, is rather an obedient son of a king emperor, than that of a prince, valiant at arms. Ramayana is where cultures and traditions of different regions of South East Asia mingle, and find their way into conglomeration.

Ramayana is probably the only epic in the world, to have almost different versions, in each of the countries, it shed its influence upon. Looking back at the Indian Valmiki Ramayana, the original Sanskrit Version, we are familiar with the bravery of Shri Ram, his brother Lakshman’s respect and love for him, and his wife, Sita’s fidelity and faithfulness towards her husband. Hanumana, the monkey deity, is considered to be the greatest devotee of the Maryada Purushottam.

Ramayana in India, has for several times, talked about wars like the Khara Dushana war, the Rama Ravana war, and others, which do not possess any similarities with the Buddhist version of the epic, where Rama ( called Ramapandit), is more of a benevolent king, rather than a Kshatriya warrior prince. During the times Ramayana was penned down in India, the Kshatriya rulers were considered to be brave, enlightened in administrative intellect, protect women, uphold their dynastic dignity, much like that of the knights of medieval European history. Putting the combination of all such characters into Rama, make him a Maryada Purushottam, from the Hindu perspective.

In case of the Buddhists, the peace loving religion, they consider harmony and virtues above everything else, thus having fondled these particular qualities into Rama, making him a qualified Buddhist, in the perspectives of their religion. What surprises more is the fact that the Buddhist epic excludes the main battle, for which Rama is a hero in Hinduism. There, Lakshmana and Sita are seen returning before the completion of their term in exile, while Rama remains. More such distinguishable features can be noticed in the Jain version, where Rama’s fidelity is not much stressed upon. Dasaratha is seen to have four wives, while Rama himself has four chief queens. Maithili, taken by many to be Sita, is followed by  Prabhavati, Ratinibha and Sridama. Does this imply that the Jains did not stress on fidelity as an important character of a man?

Much significance lays in the fact that Ayodhyan kings, better known as the Suryavanshi Rulers, were the forefathers of both of these religions. For Buddhism, Siddhartha belonged to a distant Suryavansh lineage of Kapilavastu. Or so, is documented in most of the Buddhist holy texts. For Jainism, the first Tirthankar, Rishabadatta, is taken to be a Suryavanshi ruler. His son, Bahubali, famous for the monolithic Bahubali sculpture, near Shravanabelagola, in Karnataka, is another Jain Prince, widely celebrated for his upright views and divine revelations.

From the Indian Ramayana, we come to know that Hanumana had in fact written another less documented Ramayana, a much more comprehensive one, than Valmiki did. But this, he tore up, on learning about the latter’s ego. An important symbolism for respect towards knowledge has been embodied, when Rama takes blessings from Ravana, before going into battle.

Ramayana had, after its completion, started spreading itself throughout South Asia. Today’s Ramayana, cannot be called Ramayana of a particular individual country, entity or religion. Earlier, Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism have been told about. Even Islam plays a major role in the epic, and what is more coruscating, is the fact that the Islamic character in Ramayana, is none other than the Almighty Allah, himself. Moreover, the addition of Islamic elements, into the epic, has another historical background for itself. Ramayana was written much earlier than the foundation of Islam, by Prophet Muhammad. Hiyakat Seri Rama, or the Ramayana of Malay, is where Allah is included as a superior deity. Ramayana spread much later into the country of Malay, and by the time it did, Islam was predominant in the region.

There, appeared convincingly, a long time gap, between the composition of the Sanskrit version and the spread to the Islamic countries. By then, Ramayana had lost its Indian originality and had been intermixed with the local cultural traditions of the place it passed through. The authors of Hiyakat Seri Rama, include much more local elements into the epic, embodying the local influence of the authors. Here, Lakshman is taken to be the main deity, the courageous one, praised for his bravery and faithfulness.

Another epic where this tradition is continued is Burmese version of the epic, where characters of Ramayana, are named in Burmified Sanskrit names. The difference in naming is the only difference, that appears here. As for the war, many books have varied opinions on it too. There is, as aforementioned, the Buddhist version, which does not mention of any duel, keeping no negative elements in the story. In the Indian Ramayana, the ten headed Demon king is killed by Rama, in a severe battle with the latter.

The Jain and other epics say, that Ravan was in reality killed by Lakshmana, Rama’s brother. Everyone, on the battlefield knew that Ravana had elixir in his belly. But, none would hit at it, in fear of breaking rules of the war. Finally, Lakshmana would do this particular task, in an intention to end the fierce duel. Like the versions of Malay and the Phra Lak Phra Ram, the Ramakien, national epic of Thailand, consider Hanumana as a heroic protagonist. Even the Guru Granth Sahib of Sikhism, takes influence from the mythological epic. Not only does Ramayana differ in words in books. In various dances, across the world, there is a great difference in the costumes worn by the troupe people. Ramayana is an epic, unbound to a nation, a culture, or a tradition. It is an essence in itself. Ramayana is perhaps the only magnanimous epic that has its influence, spread across some of the most revered religions of the world. From Buddhism to Islam, from Jainism to Sikhism, and from countries like India to Laos, it’s an epic of an inexorable, a humongous importance to classical and modern writers as well.