What are the differences between Ramayana

and Mahabharata?

Always Good. asked 3 years ago

1. The Ramayana took place in the Treta Yuga and the Mahabharata in the Dwapar Yuga.
2. King Dasarata kept his promise to Kaikeyi, whereas Draupati not kept her promise to
Drona. so, the keeping of the promise in the Ramayana and the breaking of the promise in
the Mahabharata are key events in the respective epics.
3. In the Ramayana evil was represented by the Demons whereas in the Mahabharata the
Kauravas and their associates represented evil.
4. Though the women were far from equal, the women became bolder in the
Mahabharata. Draupadi is easily the boldest woman in Hindu mythology but there were
others. Ganga and Satyavati both put conditions for their marriage. Kunti had a child out
of wedlock.
What are the other differences you know from the Ramayana with Mahabharata?
2
The differences: Shri srividya rajagopalan sir gave a good answer. i want to give
some more differences.
Rama was helped by many people, animals and birds. Rama did last rites to a bird.
Rama's wife was kidnapped by the Ravan, the king of srilanka. He searched friends
for which he fought. He directly involved in a war with Ravan. He never showed as
an incarnation of mahavishnu. He did not do any miracles. He was teached Athithya
Hrudhayam by the sage Agastia. Rama coronated (pattabhisheka) himself. Rama
experienced vanavaasa. Rama sent Hanuman as an Ambassador to srilanka. Rama
never projected as a cunning character.
whereas krishna,
Krishna helped many people. Krishna showed miracles. Krishna not involved in the
war and only took charge of ''sarathy'' and never took weapon to fight. Krishna
showed Vishvaroopa Darshan 6 more times. Krishna teached Gita to Arjun. Krishna
never searched friends. Krishna himself gone as an ambassador. Krishna coronated
Yudhishtra and not like Rama. Krishna obtained punyabhalam from karna at the

death bed. Krishna projected as a cunning character.

i narrated the differences. i can come with more details if required.
3
=>n Maha Bharatha brothers(Kauravas and Pandavs) were fighting to "gain" a
STATE
=>In Ramayana brothers (Rama and Bharatha) were vying with each other to giveup their "Right" to a STATE.
=>In Ramayana brothers (Rama and Lakshmana) were ready to give up their Life to
protect the Honor of the Family's daughter -in law.
=>In Maha Bharatha brothers (Yudhishtra and Duryodhna/Karna) were ready to put
the daughter in-law of the Family as "bet" in Gambling and remove her clothes
(make her "Nude") publicly in Royal Court.
=>In Ramayana Enemy (Ravana) was asked by the Hero (Rama)
to go home and bring more weapons,next day to fight.
"Inru Poi Naalai Vaa".(Kamba Ramayanam)
=> In Maha Bharatha when a small boy warrior(Abhi Manyu) was standing
weaponless, 8 ATHI Rathis (Super-Topper Warriors) combinedly killed him.
=>Maha Bharatha teaches "what ONE should NOT do "
=> Ramayana Teaches "What ONE should do".

Ramayana
The Ramayana is one of the two great Indian epics. The Ramayana tells about life in
India around 1000 BCE and offers models in dharma. The hero, Rama, lived his
whole life by the rules of dharma; in fact, that was why Indian consider him heroic.
When Rama was a young boy, he was the perfect son. Later he was an ideal
husband to his faithful wife, Sita, and a responsible ruler of Aydohya. "Be as Rama,"
young Indians have been taught for 2,000 years; "Be as Sita.

Dharma:

dharma is like one's role in a play or position on a team. For the play to go well or
for the team to win, each person must "stay in character" or "play his position." If
each thing in the universe does its dharma, the universe functions smoothly. When
people or things violate their dharma, things fall apart.

What is dharma?
Dharma includes both good and righteous behavior according to
one's role in society, and the correct performance of one's role in
society in any given situation.

Maryada Purushottama
Ramaavataram
As a person, Rama personifies the characteristics of an ideal person (purushottama)[6][30] who is to
be emulated. He had within him all the desirable virtues that any individual would seek to aspire,
and he fulfils all his moral obligations (maryada). Rama's purity and piety in his intentions and
actions inspires affection and devotion for him from a variety of characters from different
backgrounds. For example, he gave up his rightful claim to the throne, and agreed to go into
exile for fourteen years, to fulfill the vow that his father had given to Kaikeyi, one of King
Dashratha's wives. This is in spite of the fact that Kaikeyi's son, Bharat, begged him to return to
Ayodhya and said that he did not want to rule in place of Rama. But Rama considered his dharma
as a son above that of his own birthright and his life's ambition. For such supreme sacrifices, and
many other qualities, Rama is considered a maryada purushottamor the best of upholders of
Dharma, a basically human but exemplary figure[31] Some of his ideals are as follows:

Rama, Sita and Lakshman from the Ramayana

1. At the time when it was normal for kings to have more than one wife, Rama gave the ideal of
having a single wife. After Sita was banished, he was doing penance with a gold statue of Sita. In
Balakanda of Valmiki Ramayana it is written that Rama and Sita resided in each other's heart.
2. Rama always followed his promise at any cost. In fact, he went to forest to make his father's
promise to Kaikeyi true. Another instance was when, he had promised the Spirit of Time that
during their conversation, if anyone was to intrude, Rama would have pronounce an instant death
sentence upon the individual. They were intruded upon by his beloved younger brother
Lakshmana, and to keep his part of the promise, pronounced the death sentence. There are many
examples of Rama's promises which he kept. Most important are the promise to sages to save

their lives from Rakshasas, getting back Sugreeva's kingdom, making Vibhishana the king of
Lanka.
3. Excellent friend: Rama had very touching relations with his friends irrespective of their status.
Some of his friends are Nishada-raja Guha, King of Nishaadas (a caste whose profession was
hunting the birds), Sugreeva (the Vanara king) and Vibhishana a Rakshasa.
4. Even towards his enemies, Rama showed great nobility and virtue. To gather information
about the enemy army's strengths and weaknesses, Ravana sent two of his spies, Suka and
Sarana, to the Vanara camps. Disguised as Vanaras they blended into the enemy camp, but
Vibhishana saw through their deceit. The duo sought Rama's protection when the monkey
warriors thrashed them. Rama gave them refuge. Rama then asked them what their mission was
and whether they fulfilled it. After listening to them, he sent for a Vanara to give them a proper
tour of all the Vanara camps and give them all the information they desired about the major
soldiers and their strengths. He then told the spies to give this message to Ravana. "Tomorrow
morning, I will destroy all of Lanka. Keep all sides of your palace well defended and be ready
with all of your men by sunrise." The spies were greatly astonished with Rama's charisma,
courage, and adherence to the codes of war. After Rama gave them leave, they knew that their
king was bound to lose against this virtuous and courageous man. When Ravana first fought with
Rama, Rama defeated him to such an extent that Ravana lost his charioteer, horses, chariot, flag,
weapons and armor. Though the situation was at his advantage, Rama instead praised Ravana for
a great fight that day, and asked him to retire and take rest, as he must be quite tired. Ravana was
greatly embarrassed at this, but he was also gratified that Rama saved his life, and this led him to
consider for a moment whether to retreat and give Sita back...

Lesson # Four Lessons from Bhagavad Gita

As learnt in the First Workshop on The Gita, one of the important

parts of the Mahabharata is the Gita.

In a classic case of wrong thinking, Arjuna refuses to fight the war

citing his emotions and why thinks the war itself is inappropriate.

Krishna sets aside all his arguments and implores him to fight the war.

He gives him the an important message to fight the war without

expecting lowly fruits and advises him that one should perform ones
duties in accordance with Dharma and not be side-tracked into lesser
and inappropriate issues.