There are hundreds of literary works that tell the divine stories of Lord Ram. The two popular versions include the Ramayan by Sage Valmiki and Shri Ramcharitmanas by Goswami Tulsidas ji. There is an interesting story of how Rishi Valmaki was blessed by Lord Hanuman to be reborn in Kaliyug (present time) as Tulsidas ji with a special purpose to write and sing the glories of Lord Ram in a local language.

Experts estimate that the Valmiki Ramayan may have been written anywhere between the 7th Century B.C. to 4th Century B.C. (Treta Yug) in Sanskrit language at the same time when Lord Ram was crowned as a King, while Shri Ramcharitmanas was written in Awadhi language in 1574 AD.

Goswami Tulidas ji has also elaborated on this point in Shri Ramcharitmanas. He says:

हरि अनंत हरि कथा अनंता। कहहिं सुनहिं बहुबिधि सब संता॥ रामचंद्र के चरित सुहाए। कलप कोटि लगिजाहिं न गाए॥

Meaning, the Lord is infinite and his stories are endless and are repeated time after time. Lord Ram’s glories are sung in many ways by Saints. Lord Ram has performed many beautiful acts or leela (लीला), even if one can try singing them for millions of years, it is impossible to sum them all up.

This is the main reason why there are so many Ramayans. Different versions of Ramayans can be attributed to the time in which Lord has these act or events, this is called Kalpa Bhed (Kalpa is the span of the life of the universe, each kalpa has been divided into four Yugas. The acts of the Lord performed in different yugas of kalpas sometimes have difference (bhed) in the set of events, which gives rise to the term कलपभेद or Kalpa bhed).

About Rishi Valmiki’s Ramayan and Hanuman Natak

Once Hanuman ji had engraved Ram Katha called Hanuman Natak on rock slabs with his own finger nails. During the same time Rishi Valmiki had also written the Ramayan. So Hanuman ji threw his version of Ramayan into the ocean in order to keep Valmiki’s Ramayan more popular. It is believed that the full essence of Hanuman Natak has been penned down in local Awadhi language by Tulsidas ji as Shri Ramcharitmanas in the present yuga.

Interesting fact about Sikhs:  Sikh Guru Gobind Singh use to recite Hanuman Natak to instill warrior spirit (Veer Ras) in his disciples. 

Hear Rishi Valmiki and Hanuman ji episode from Shri Rajendra Das Ji Maharaj

Lord Shiv has glorified Shri Ramcharitmanas by writing “Satyam Shivam Sundaram” meaning Truth, Godliness & Beauty on it.

About Shri Rajendra Das ji Maharaj

Swami Shri Rajendra Das ji Maharaj is a very benevolent and a highly regarded saint who mesmerizes all devotees with his Bhagwad Pravachan and Satsang. Maharaj ji is known for reciting stories of Bhagwan’s devotees from the Bhaktmaal scripture. Plus, he also recites many other kathas that include Shri Mahabharat, Valmilki Ramayan, Shri Ramcharitmanas, Vinay Patrika, Shiv Puran to name a few. He is a very disciplined saint with prime devotion towards Lord Krishna, Kishori Ji, Shri Ram, Sita ji and Hanuman ji. Swami ji’s life mission is to protect and render service to cows in India. Under his divine leadership, more than 8,000 cows are taken care of across four Gaushalas at Shri Jadkhor Gaudham located in Rajasthan, India.