Differences in Ramayana Versions

[Guest guest]

Umadi,<br>Thanks for asking the question. If I am

not mistaken ( I hope some one will correct if I am),

Krittivasa Ojha composed the Bengali version of Ramayana

somewhere in the 14th Century. 14th Century Bengal was a

time when people were very aware of Kalidasa and his

works. Kalidasa's RAGHUVAMSHA is incorporated. The

ancestor Rama, the stories of Raghu, his son Aja and Aja's

son Dasharatha aapear in Raghuvamsha.<br>In the

Puranas, Rama is described as an avatar of Vishnu, but

Valmiki does not refer to him as God. <br>The basic story

of Ramayana though is the same, the major difference

with the Valmiki Ramayana and the Bengali version of

the Ramayana comes forth when the battle of Rama

takes place with Ravana. Krittivasa has some very vivid

battle descriptions, naming all the weapons and

describing them and also a very vivid description of Rama's

horse sacrifice (Ashwamedha Yagna) in the Uttara Kanda

(where Krittivasa also talks of the birth of Ravana).

<br>Another part where the Bengali Ramayana differs from the

original is when Luv and Kusha actually kill Rama and

Valmiki has to bring back all to life.<br>Apart from

these there are no major differences in the two

versions of Ramayana that I am aware of. I am not sure if

the Valmiki Ramayana has references to the ancestors

of Rama and SIta, but then I am not sure and would

love someone to tell me about that.