A Newly Discovered Version of the ‘Ramayana’ Stuns Scholars

A 6th century version of the Ramayana shows Ram and Sita as more human characters.

How old were Ram and Sita when they got married? On what date was Sita abducted by Ravana?

These are just some of the questions that may be answered in a new version of Ramayana found in the Asiatic Society Library in Kolkata.

The 6th century manuscript presents a sharp departure from the Valmiki Ramayana, the most popular and widely accepted version of the myth. In this newly discovered manuscript, Ram and Sita are shown as far more human, with emotions and flaws, than in other versions.

Ram here is more human than God, with follies like anger and failure. Some interesting details - like the ages of Sita and Rama at the time of marriage and the date when Sita was abducted by Ravana -are in this version.

Manabendu Bandyopadhyay, Scholar

The manuscript is also different in that it has just five khandas and not seven as is the case with other Ramayanas.

Interestingly in this version, there are just five kandas (sections) instead of the accepted seven. There is no Balakanda - the part that deals with Rama’s childhood - or Uttarkanda. This Ramayana ends with the return of Rama and Sita from exile and his ascension to the Ayodhya throne. 

Anasuya Bhowmick, lead scholar of the Asiatic Society to Times of India

The manuscript was discovered by accident by scholars working on the 6th century Vanhi (fire) Purana.

You can read more on the story in the Times of India.