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History

Ramayana

What is ramayana?

· Sarah Mitchell

Key facts

Title Ramayana[3]
Language Sanskrit[3]
Attributed author Valmiki[3]
Main figure Rama[1]
Setting Ayodhya[1]
Genre epic poem[3]

The Ramayana is an ancient Indian epic poem in Sanskrit, traditionally attributed to the sage Valmiki, that tells the story of Rama, prince of Ayodhya, focusing on his exile and return.

Context

The Ramayana is an ancient Indian epic poem in Sanskrit, traditionally attributed to the sage Valmiki [3]. It tells the story of Rama, prince of Ayodhya, especially his exile and return, and is one of the two major epics of Indian tradition, alongside the Mahabharata [3]. The text is described as one of the two great epic poems of India [3]. The story centers on Rama's exile and return [1]. The Ramayana is said to be ancient and to have been composed probably not before 300 BCE [3]. One source says the Ramayana existed in oral tradition perhaps as far back as 1,500 BCE [2]. Another source says the earliest written text dates to 400 AD [2].

Documented claims

  • The Ramayana is one of the two great epic poems of India. [3]
  • The story centers on Rama's exile and return. [1]
  • The Ramayana is ancient and was probably composed not before 300 BCE. [3]
  • One source suggests the Ramayana existed in oral tradition as far back as 1,500 BCE. [2]
  • The earliest written text dates to 400 AD according to one source. [2]

Questions and answers

What is the Ramayana story about?

The Ramayana tells the story of Rama, prince of Ayodhya, focusing on his exile and return [1].

Why is Ramayana so famous?

The Ramayana is one of the two great epic poems of India, and its story of Rama's exile and return has made it a central text in Indian tradition [3].

Is Ramayana 7000 years old?

The dating of the Ramayana varies by source. Some sources suggest it existed in oral tradition as far back as 1,500 BCE, while others say it was composed not before 300 BCE [2] [3].

Sources

  1. Ramayana | MANAS - UCLA — southasia.ucla.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. 35. Origin and Development of Ramayana — ebooks.inflibnet.ac.in (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Story and Summary of the Ramayana - College of the Holy Cross — college.holycross.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in History