This table consists of notable versions of the Ramayana according to the different countries with the names of the books and a brief description of the versions.
Country | Book Name | Short Description |
India | Valmiki Ramayana | The original Sanskrit version, attributed to Sage Valmiki. It is the oldest and most authentic account of Lord Rama's life and adventures. |
India | Ramcharitmanas | Tulsidas, Awadh, a precious rendition that has gone on to be regarded much throughout North India adaptation of the original with much more devotional overtone tasted in it. |
Thailand | Ramakien | The Thai reworking of the Ramayana. It is directly based on Thai culture and Buddhism, which presents Rama as rebirth of the Buddha and puts stress on moral virtues. |
Indonesia | Kakawin Ramayana | A Javanese version from the 9th century, replete with Hindu-Javanese culture espousing local values and fusing various indigenous elements of folklore. |
Cambodia | Reamker | This Cambodian version focuses on the moral lessons of the Ramayana on karma and loyalty and incorporates Hinduism into the Khmer culture. |
Laos | Phra Lak Phra Lam | This Lao rendition is a slightly hybridized version that mixes in some local mythological elements with Buddhist philosophy in portraying the characters and adjusting the story for Lao culture. |
Burma (Myanmar) | Yama Zatdaw | This is the Burmese version of the Ramayana and presents the integrating Buddhist elements; also, it is performed on the traditional theater and dance. |
Nepal
| Bhanubhakta Ramayana | This version of Bhanubhakta Acharya in Nepali in the 19th century, and one of most important literary productions of Nepal, unfolds the tale for a Nepali audience. |
Malaysia | Hikayat Seri Rama | A Kyrgyz written Malaysian variant in Malay type, which combines Islamic and Hindu traditions with indigenous traditions, whereby the epic is put forward to enlighten the heroism and moral traits of Rama. |
Philippines | Maharadia Lawana | This adapts the culture of Islam in the southern Philippines, by which elements of the Islamic culture are exemplified in the presentation of the Ramayana story by the Maranao people. |
Sri Lanka | Janakiharanaya | It is a Sinhalese equivalent that portrays the whole scenario on the kidnapping of Sita (Janaki) by Ravana, focusing on the Salangans and folklore in Sri Lanka. |
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