Just like most of the world's renowned Epics, multiple versions exist of India's
most well known historical Epic, Ramayana. With over 300 identified variants of
Ramayana existing across the world, it is one of the most revered and followed Epics
in the world.
The Ramayana as followed in Northern India. (Ram Charit Manas by Tulsidas in Hindi)
Differs from the version most prevalent in Southern India (Ramayanam by Kamban in
Tamil) and the rest of South East Asia. There is an extensive tradition of oral
story telling based on the Ramayana in Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos, Vietnam,
Indonesia and Maldives.Ramayana comprises of seven chapters (known as "Kands"),
namely, Bal Kand, Ayodhya Kand, Aranya Kand, Kishkindha Kand, Sunder Kand, Yuddh
Kand (Lanka Kand and Uttar Khand, that narrate the major events in the life of Lord
Ram in a chronological order.· The Bal Kand describes the birth of Lord Ram,
his childhood and his marriage to Sita.
1) The Ayodhya Kand describes the preparations for Lord Ram's coronation and his
subsequent exile into forest.
2) The third part, Aranya Kand, describes Lord Ram's life in the forest during exile
and the kidnapping of Sita by the Demon King, Ravan.
3) The fourth part, Kishkinda Kand, describes the meeting of Hanuman with Lord Ram,
destruction of Vanara King, Vali, and the coronation of his younger brother Sugriva
for the Kingdom of Kishkindha.
4) The Sundar Kand narrates the heroism of Hanuman, his flight to Lanka and meeting
with Sita
5) The Yuddh Kand describes the battle between the armies of Lord Ram and the Demon
King, Ravan
6) The last part, Uttar Kand, describes the birth of Luv and Kush to Sita, their
coronation to the throne of Ayodhya and Lord Ram's final departure from the world.
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