Based on my limited knowledge, I point out a few reasons why Ramayana can be considered history rather than completely a myth.
Ramayana is the story of Rama and Sita, written by the great saint Valmiki. He lived during the period ca.400 B.C. He is known as the Adi kavi or the first poet. Valmiki Ramayana is dated variously from 500 B.C. to 100 B.C.
Ramayana in a nut shell
Ramayana is a poetry written in Sanskrit. It deals chronologically with the major events in the life of Rama. The poem is divided into seven kandas and has 24,000 verses.
Bala kanda- describes the birth of Rama, his childhood and marriage to Sita.
Ayodhya kanda- describes Rama’s coronation and exile into the forest.
Aranya kanda- describes the forest life of Rama and the kidnapping of Sita by the demon king Ravana.
Kishkinda kanda- describes the meeting of Hanuman with Rama, destruction of Vanara king Vali and the coronation of his younger brother Sugriva.
Sundara kanda- describes the heroism of Hanuman, his flight to Lanka and meeting with Seeta.
Yudha kanda- describes the battle between Rama and Ravana.
Uthara kanda- describes the birth of Lav and Kush to Sita, their coronation to the throne of Ayodhya and Rama’s final departure from the world.
Reasons for Ramayana to be a true story
Astronomical Evidence
Traditionally the epic belongs to the Treta Yuga which dates back to 880,000 years in the past. According to Dr. P.V.Vartak Ramayana must have occurred 9600 years ago that is 7600B.C. approximately. The following are the dates given in his book “Vastav Ramayan”-
Rama's Birth Date 4th December 7323 B.C
Rama-Sita Married 7th April 7307 B.C
Rama Exiled 29th November 7306 B.C.
Hanuman enters Lanka 1st September 7292 B.C
Hanuman meets Sita 2nd September 7292 B.C.
Ramasethu (Bridge) built 26-30th Oct. 7292 B.C
The War begins 3rd November 7292 B.C
Kumbhakarna is killed 7th November 7292 B.C.
Ravana is killed by Rama 15th November 7292 B.C.
Rama returns to Ayodhya 6th December 7272 B.C.
The astronomical encodings by Valmiki was deciphered by noting the position and arrangemnt of astronomical bodies, which once in many thousand years. The correct astronomical record shows that Valmiki had chronicled an account of a true story.
Ramasethu – manmade
Ramasethu is a chain of limestone shoals between the islands of Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu and Mannar near north western Sri Lanka. There are various controversies regarding the geological evolution and age of Adam’s bridge or Ramasethu. It has been regarded as chain of shoals, coral reef, double tombolo, barrier reef etc. Recent studies done by the Geological Survey of India and NASA footage has revealed that it is a man made structure. The survey showed that the bridge was made up of sand and big rocks and rises vertically from the ocean bed to the surface. It was built since time immemorial and was definitely a human construction. Geological processes such as sand and independent rocks as found do not occur together naturally. The rocks were smooth and round which must have been taken from the mountains and the sand from the Rameswaram seaside. In addition a rich assemblage of Mesolithic tools and human fossils were found on both sides of the bridge by the Deparment of Earth science which again supports that it is man made
Hanuman – a Neanderthal man
Neanderthals are a sub species of Homo sapiens which are extinct now and they are believed to be found in Europe and parts of western and central Asia around 600,000 to 350,000 years ago. They were heavily built and had strong arms and bones. They had the same brain size as that of humans. Some studies show that they had red hair and pale skin color. The discovery of the hyoid bone suggests that speech was anatomically possible. The humans and Neanderthals could have co- existed during the same period. Thus based on the archeological discoveries and the time period when they existed, there is a possibility that Hanuman could have been a Neanderthal man. Perhaps Hanuman is a folk memory reference to Neanderthals.
Now the question arise, who were the demons mentioned in the epic poem? They could have been a sub species of humans called the Homo sapiens fossilis which were found in Europe and western Asia around 300,000 years ago. They were as intelligent as the Homo sapiens and there were cross fertilization (exogamy) between the various groups. Archeological findings show that they constructed permanent homes and were the authors of cave paintings. There must have been constant interaction between the various human species during the same period of time. Ravana and his clan must have been the members of this group. The Rakshasas described must have been the pre historic forest dwellers that practiced cannibalism, also one of the variant hominoids. The pre historic cave painting found in Edakkal, Wayanad might have a connection with the original Ramayana version (yet to be deciphered).
Places associated with Ramayana
In India
Ayodhya is the place where Rama was born.
Mithila now in Nepal was where Sita was found by Janaka in a furrow. It was here Rama and Sita got married
Rama, Lakshmana and Sita left Ayodhya and went to Sringaverapura – modern Sringverpur in U.P
Nasik has many places of importance as Tapovan, Ramakund, Lakshmanakund etc
Panchavati near Bhadrachalam in A.P. is where Ravana abducted Sita
Kishkinda near Hampi is where Rama met Sugriva and Hanuman
Anjanadri near Hospet is the birth place of Hanuman
Sugriva lived near the banks of Pampa in Rishyamukha; Sabari a hermit too lived near Pampa in a hermitage located atop a hill now called Sabarimala
Rameshwaram is where the Vanaras built the bridge to Lanka from Dhanushkodi
Sita Ganga a river near Adam’s peak (Sri Pada) legend says that Sita bathed here
Rhumassala kanda in Galle district is a huge mound like hill strangely out of place in the landscape. Legend says that it is a chunk of the Himalayas that Hanuman brought for curing Lakshmana
Kataragama, an ancient jungle shrine in the south- east region was where Sita was brought in a palanquin after releasing from captivity
Nuvara Eliya near Hakgala and Bandarawela, is supposed to be the location of Ravana’s vast pleasure garden
Talaimannar in the north- west region is where the Ramasethu ends
Conclusion
Ramayana is a revered sacred text of India and all the characters are fundamental to the cultural consciousness of India. It contains the teachings of the ancient Indian sages. Ramayana has been growing and changing through centuries. Every era has its own version of Ramayana. Scholars, historians, archeologists, philosophers, politicians etc have their versions. Every Indian has a version of his/her own. As an ordinary individual I believe that Ramayana must have been a prehistoric folklore that had passed on for ages and Valmiki, a Sanskrit scholar and a truth seeker during his sojourn must have heard the folklores from the other sages or Dravidian chieftains. Later he must have incorporated the folklore to the biography of an Aryan king and queen to glorify their deeds. Some of the discrepancies in the text of Valmiki Ramayana make me feel so. In Bala Kanda the author describes the Northern plains to a great extent with reference to the Mahajanapadas of his time. In Uttara kanda the author himself is a character. In Aranya kanda the geography of central and south India are vaguely described and the knowledge of the location of Sri Lanka also lacks detail. However, Ramayana is an extraordinary poetic piece with a moral. Valmiki’s knowledge of astronomy, anthropology and his apprehension of Vymanika Shastra (Pushpakavimana) are noteworthy.
Ramayana is the story of Rama and Sita, written by the great saint Valmiki. He lived during the period ca.400 B.C. He is known as the Adi kavi or the first poet. Valmiki Ramayana is dated variously from 500 B.C. to 100 B.C.
Ramayana in a nut shell
Ramayana is a poetry written in Sanskrit. It deals chronologically with the major events in the life of Rama. The poem is divided into seven kandas and has 24,000 verses.
Bala kanda- describes the birth of Rama, his childhood and marriage to Sita.
Ayodhya kanda- describes Rama’s coronation and exile into the forest.
Aranya kanda- describes the forest life of Rama and the kidnapping of Sita by the demon king Ravana.
Kishkinda kanda- describes the meeting of Hanuman with Rama, destruction of Vanara king Vali and the coronation of his younger brother Sugriva.
Sundara kanda- describes the heroism of Hanuman, his flight to Lanka and meeting with Seeta.
Yudha kanda- describes the battle between Rama and Ravana.
Uthara kanda- describes the birth of Lav and Kush to Sita, their coronation to the throne of Ayodhya and Rama’s final departure from the world.
Reasons for Ramayana to be a true story
Astronomical Evidence
Traditionally the epic belongs to the Treta Yuga which dates back to 880,000 years in the past. According to Dr. P.V.Vartak Ramayana must have occurred 9600 years ago that is 7600B.C. approximately. The following are the dates given in his book “Vastav Ramayan”-
Rama's Birth Date 4th December 7323 B.C
Rama-Sita Married 7th April 7307 B.C
Rama Exiled 29th November 7306 B.C.
Hanuman enters Lanka 1st September 7292 B.C
Hanuman meets Sita 2nd September 7292 B.C.
Ramasethu (Bridge) built 26-30th Oct. 7292 B.C
The War begins 3rd November 7292 B.C
Kumbhakarna is killed 7th November 7292 B.C.
Ravana is killed by Rama 15th November 7292 B.C.
Rama returns to Ayodhya 6th December 7272 B.C.
The astronomical encodings by Valmiki was deciphered by noting the position and arrangemnt of astronomical bodies, which once in many thousand years. The correct astronomical record shows that Valmiki had chronicled an account of a true story.
Ramasethu – manmade
Ramasethu is a chain of limestone shoals between the islands of Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu and Mannar near north western Sri Lanka. There are various controversies regarding the geological evolution and age of Adam’s bridge or Ramasethu. It has been regarded as chain of shoals, coral reef, double tombolo, barrier reef etc. Recent studies done by the Geological Survey of India and NASA footage has revealed that it is a man made structure. The survey showed that the bridge was made up of sand and big rocks and rises vertically from the ocean bed to the surface. It was built since time immemorial and was definitely a human construction. Geological processes such as sand and independent rocks as found do not occur together naturally. The rocks were smooth and round which must have been taken from the mountains and the sand from the Rameswaram seaside. In addition a rich assemblage of Mesolithic tools and human fossils were found on both sides of the bridge by the Deparment of Earth science which again supports that it is man made
Hanuman – a Neanderthal man
Neanderthals are a sub species of Homo sapiens which are extinct now and they are believed to be found in Europe and parts of western and central Asia around 600,000 to 350,000 years ago. They were heavily built and had strong arms and bones. They had the same brain size as that of humans. Some studies show that they had red hair and pale skin color. The discovery of the hyoid bone suggests that speech was anatomically possible. The humans and Neanderthals could have co- existed during the same period. Thus based on the archeological discoveries and the time period when they existed, there is a possibility that Hanuman could have been a Neanderthal man. Perhaps Hanuman is a folk memory reference to Neanderthals.
Now the question arise, who were the demons mentioned in the epic poem? They could have been a sub species of humans called the Homo sapiens fossilis which were found in Europe and western Asia around 300,000 years ago. They were as intelligent as the Homo sapiens and there were cross fertilization (exogamy) between the various groups. Archeological findings show that they constructed permanent homes and were the authors of cave paintings. There must have been constant interaction between the various human species during the same period of time. Ravana and his clan must have been the members of this group. The Rakshasas described must have been the pre historic forest dwellers that practiced cannibalism, also one of the variant hominoids. The pre historic cave painting found in Edakkal, Wayanad might have a connection with the original Ramayana version (yet to be deciphered).
Places associated with Ramayana
In India
Ayodhya is the place where Rama was born.
Mithila now in Nepal was where Sita was found by Janaka in a furrow. It was here Rama and Sita got married
Rama, Lakshmana and Sita left Ayodhya and went to Sringaverapura – modern Sringverpur in U.P
Nasik has many places of importance as Tapovan, Ramakund, Lakshmanakund etc
Panchavati near Bhadrachalam in A.P. is where Ravana abducted Sita
Kishkinda near Hampi is where Rama met Sugriva and Hanuman
Anjanadri near Hospet is the birth place of Hanuman
Sugriva lived near the banks of Pampa in Rishyamukha; Sabari a hermit too lived near Pampa in a hermitage located atop a hill now called Sabarimala
Rameshwaram is where the Vanaras built the bridge to Lanka from Dhanushkodi
Sita Ganga a river near Adam’s peak (Sri Pada) legend says that Sita bathed here
Rhumassala kanda in Galle district is a huge mound like hill strangely out of place in the landscape. Legend says that it is a chunk of the Himalayas that Hanuman brought for curing Lakshmana
Kataragama, an ancient jungle shrine in the south- east region was where Sita was brought in a palanquin after releasing from captivity
Nuvara Eliya near Hakgala and Bandarawela, is supposed to be the location of Ravana’s vast pleasure garden
Talaimannar in the north- west region is where the Ramasethu ends
Conclusion
Ramayana is a revered sacred text of India and all the characters are fundamental to the cultural consciousness of India. It contains the teachings of the ancient Indian sages. Ramayana has been growing and changing through centuries. Every era has its own version of Ramayana. Scholars, historians, archeologists, philosophers, politicians etc have their versions. Every Indian has a version of his/her own. As an ordinary individual I believe that Ramayana must have been a prehistoric folklore that had passed on for ages and Valmiki, a Sanskrit scholar and a truth seeker during his sojourn must have heard the folklores from the other sages or Dravidian chieftains. Later he must have incorporated the folklore to the biography of an Aryan king and queen to glorify their deeds. Some of the discrepancies in the text of Valmiki Ramayana make me feel so. In Bala Kanda the author describes the Northern plains to a great extent with reference to the Mahajanapadas of his time. In Uttara kanda the author himself is a character. In Aranya kanda the geography of central and south India are vaguely described and the knowledge of the location of Sri Lanka also lacks detail. However, Ramayana is an extraordinary poetic piece with a moral. Valmiki’s knowledge of astronomy, anthropology and his apprehension of Vymanika Shastra (Pushpakavimana) are noteworthy.
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