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Difference Between Maanas and Raamaayan

How Many Shaap to Raavan?

(1) Maanas doesn't mention any Shaap to Raavan. Rather it mentions about an Amrit Kund in his navel. And that is why Raam was unable to kill him by in spite of many attempts until Vibheeshan opened this secret to Raam

(2) Raamaayan [starting from V-Raamaayan-7/7/16] describes many Shaap which indicated his death, on Raavan's head. 

1-First of all while he asked the Var for the first time from Brahmaa  Jee and then from Shiv Jee, he did not ask immortality from human beings and monkeys. Although it is not a Shaap but it is a means of his death.

2-When he was coming from his global victory he abducted many women from from Devtaa, Daanav and Raajarshi etc, so they gave him Shaap, "Because you looked at other wives that is why you will die because of a woman".

3-One Shaap he got from Kuber's son Nalkoobar. When Raavan was going to win Chandramaa and rested on Kailaash Parvat in the night, he saw Rambhaa Apsaraa going to Nalkoobar and raped her. She told everything to Nalkoobar. Nalkoobar gave Shaap to Raavan, "If you will touch any woman forcefully, without her wish, your head will break in seven pieces." That is why he could not touch any woman without their wish, including Seetaa. And this saved many a women's Dharm living in Raavan's women's palaces.

4-One Shaap was from Shiv's Gan Nandee who was in Vaanar form. When Raavan saw him like this, he laughed at him. Nandee gave him Shaap, "You have laughed at my Vaanar form, you and all Raakshas will be killed by Vaanar only.

5-Once he saw a beautiful woman on a Parvat doing Tapasyaa, he requested her to marry him, but she refused to marry him saying that her father wanted her to marry to Vishnu so she will marry only Vishnu and that is why she was doing Tapasyaa. On forcing by Raavan she said, "I will reborn to be the cause of your death". So she was born as Seetaa.
[Uttar Kaand]

About Raam and Raavan's Birth

(1) Maanas - Tulasee has listed several reasons in Maanas, 1/7-10, as who were Raavan, Kumbhkarn and Vibheeshan, such as (1) story of Shaap to Vishnu's Paarshad Jaya and Vijaya, (2) Naarad's pride and his Shaap to Vishnu - Vishnu's birth as human being, help from monkeys and separation from His wife, (3) Story of Raajaa Prataap Bhaanu (4) Var to Aditi and Kashyap, (5) Var to Manu and Shatroopaa

(2) Raamaayan - But Vaalmeeki Jee does not recognize any of these reasons for Raam or Raavan's birth, rather his Raam doesn't even know that He is the incarnation of God or He came on Prithvi to kill Raavan and Kumbhkarn. Rather in Uttar Kaand Agastya Mui comes and tells Him who He is and who was Raavan and Meghnaad. That He was the incarnation of Vishnu and Meghnaad was mightier than Raavan. [ V-Raamaayan-7/1/2] etc.

About Raam's Incarnation of Vishnu

(1) Maanas - Tulasee never forgets to remember Raam as Bhagvaan (God) even though, at the same time He is an ordinary human being and for the welfare of the world He is behaving like a human being.

(2) Raamaayan - Vaalmeeki's Raam has never recognized Himself as Bhagavaan (God). He has always considered Himself as a human being. Even in Uttar Kaand He asks Agastya Muni to tell Him as Who He is? 

About Ahalyaa Episode (Maanas, 1/12)

Tulasee's Maanas says that Raam touched His foot to the stone (Ahalyaa was converted in a stone after Gautam's Shaap) and brought it to life - Ahalyaa. This is confirmed at two places - (1) At the time of marriage to Seetaa when Seetaa is scared to touch Raam's feet lest She is changed - Maanas, 1/14. (2) At the time of crossing Gangaa River while going in exile, Guh Nishaad wishes to wash His feet first as he is also scared that Raam's feet's dust may change his boat into a woman - Maanas, 2/6.

While V-Raamaayan says that Gautam Rishi cursed Ahalyaa not to convert in the stone, but just to hide under the dust and she would be in her original form again when she would see Raam - not that Raam would touch her with His foot. So as Raam goes to the place where Ahalyaa was hidden unseen to other people, and Ahalyaa sees Him, she gets her own original form and is seen by all. Then Raam and Lakshman touch her feet.

Who was Ahalyaa (Valmiki Ramayan, 1/49)

Ahalyaa has been a mystery, because it is unclear whether she is a humanly lady or a Divine entity, or a tract of land.

F. Max Müller records in his ‘History of Sanskrit Literature’ the commentary of Kumaaril Bhatt, yet another ancient commentator on Raamaayan. “In the same manner, if it is said the Indra was the seducer of Ahalyaa. This does not imply that the God Indra committed such a crime, but Indra means the Sun and Ahalyaa the night, from [the words] "ahaH" means "the day" and "lil" means ‘the night’; and as the night is seduced and ruined by the Sun of the morning, there is Indra called the paramour of Ahalyaa.”

Did Shabaree Offer Self-bitten Berries to Raam?

So where is the scene of Raam eating fruits and eatables bitten and tasted by Shabaree here? Had this old woman not offered the fruits to the guests, or just said that they were available? We listen many stories and see many pictures telling that she gave many fruits after biting them with her own teeth to test the taste. All that is not in Vaalmeeki Raamaayan too. This amplification is from Padm Puraan.

Appearance of Shoorpankhaa Before Raam

(1) In Maanas, 3/4 Shoorpankhaa appears before Raam in a very  beautiful form. Later when she is unable to attract both Raam and Lakshman and feels that Seetaa was the hurdle in their marriage, then only she changes her form and appears in her original form.

(2) While in V-Raamaayan, 3/8/17, she appears in her original form.

Who informs Raavan about Panchvatee event?

(1) In Maanas - Shoorpankhaa goes to Raavan to inform him about Raam and Lakshman, her insult and Khar and Dooshan's death [Maanas-3/5]

(2) In Raamaayan [V-Raamaayan-3/12/31] - Akampan, a spy of Raavan, goes to Raavan to inform only about Raam and Lakshman and killing of Khar, Dooshan, Trishiraa and their 14,000 army. Luckily Raavan did not ask the triggering point of this huge killing, otherwise Akampan had to tell about his own sister Shoorpankhaa's approach to Raam also. Then Raavan might kill him in rage. So he doesn't even mention about Shoorpankhaa's insult.

Why Akampan Advises Raavan to Abduct Seetaa?

(1) In Maanas - Shoorpankhaa mentions to Raavan about Seetaa that "They have a beautiful woman also with them", but of course she never asks him to abduct her. [Maanas-3/5]

(2) In Raamaayan, - Akampan informs Raavan about the killing of har and Dooshan and advises Raavan to abduct Seetaa [V-Raamaayan-3/12/31] -
--Because he knows his Swaamee, that he was a womanizer, so he found a triggering point to kill Raam because Raam could not live without Seetaa. 
--OR, Looks like he is behaving saintly, so he is helping Raam to eliminate all Raakshas from the face of Prithvi by first bringing Seetaa to Lankaa, then forcing Raam to come to Lankaa to kill all Raakshas and take Seetaa with Him.

While threatening Seetaa to become his wife...

(1) In Maans - Raavan gives Seetaa the time limit of one month, if she does not become his wife, he will cut Her head by his sword. [Maanas-5/2]

(2) In Raamaayan - While in [V-Raamaayan, 3/21/56], he gives the time limit of 12 months, 1 year.

Establishment of Shiv Ling on Sea Coast

(1) In Maanas [Maanas-6/1] - establishment of Shiv Ling on the sea coast has been mentioned very prominently. [Its one reason is given, as Raam was going to kill Raavan who was a great devotee of Shiv, that is why it was necessary to please Shiv Jee before harming his Bhakt; or take permission to kill his Bhakt].

(2) In Raamaayan - But Vaalmeeki does not even mention it.

Angad-Raavan Dialogs (Lankaa/Yuddh Kaand)

(1) In Maanas [Maanas-6/7] - There is a detailed description of Angad-Raavan dialogs which fits there very logically. Especially the story of stamping his foot in Raavan's court and then to ask anybody to move it from its place is very popular in northern society. (Maybe because of reading Maanas all around there.)

(2) In Raamaayan - But Vaalmeeki Jee has only mentioned about it that Raam sent Angad to Raavan. he doesn't give any details.

Who threw Shakti to Lakshman, Meghnaad or Raavan? [Lankaa/Yuddh Kaand]

(1) Maanas [Maanas-6/12] - says Meghnaad threw the Shakti on Lakshman and it made Him unconscious. It even gives its name also - Veerghaatinee. Tulasee says - "Meghnaad was very happy to see Lakshman dead and he wanted to lift Him up but Lakshman was not only Lakshman, He was the incarnation of Shesh Jee who keeps the Prithvi on his head, how it was possible to lift Him even by thousands of Raakshas."

Jaambvaan suggested Hanumaan to go to Lankaa to bring Raakshas' Vaidya Sushen along with his house and he guided Hanumaan to bring some herbs from Himaalaya Parvat. On the way he met Bharat also. Later when Lakshman got all right Hanumaan took Sushen back as he brought him from there.

(2) Raamaayan [V-Raamaayan, 6/40/100-101] - says that when Raavan came into battlefield to fight with Raam and Raam came forward to fight with Raavan, Lakshman asked permission to fight with him which Raam readily gave. Then Raavan threw Shakti at Lakshman. Of course it made him unconscious, but Hanumaan never went to Lankaa to bring Sushen, rather Sugreev's father-in-law Sushen treated him - of course through the herbs brought from Mahodaya Parvat. And thus Hanumaan never met Kaalnemi and Bharat also.

Meeting with Kaalnemi and Bharat

(1) In Maanas - After Meghnaad hit Lakshman with his Veerghaatinee Power, and Hanumaan brings Vaidya Sushen from Lankaa, Hanuman goes to bring Sanjeevanee herb from Himaalaya [which seems sensible], he meets Kaalnemi while going there [Maanas-12/2], and Bharat while coming from there to Raam [Maanas-13/2].

(2) In Raamaayan - Here Raavan hits Lakshman with Amogh Power [ V-Raamaayan-6/40/100], and only Sugreev's father-in-law Sushen treats him. He sends Hanumaan to Mahodaya Parvat to bring the herb and Hanumaan brings just like that. There s no mention of Kaalemi or Bharat here. Thus Hanumaan neither meets Kaalnemi nor Bharat on his way.

While killing Raavan (Lankaa/Yuddh Kaand)

(1) In Maanas - Maanas describes it "Trijataa says "Hey princess, Raam is not killing Raavan because you are always in Raavan's mind. And you always live in Raam's heart, if Raam kills Raavan, then he will kill you, and if He will kill you, He will kill Himself, and since Tri-Lok is in Him, so by killing Raavan this Tri-Lok will also be destroyed. When fighting continuously, Raavan will not think about you, then only Raam will kill him."

(2) In Raamaayan - Raamaayan has no mention of all this - Seetaa asking about Raavan's killing and then Trijataa telling Her as why Raam was not killing Raavan. 

While killing Raavan (Lankaa/Yuddh Kaand)

(1) In Maanas - Vibheeshan helps Raam  to kill Raavan. He says to Raam - "Raavan has Amrit in his navel that is why he is not being killed. Unless you break that Amrit Kund, he wouldn't die." Then Raam had to shoot 31 arrows to kill him - 10 for his 10 heads, 20 for his 20 arms and one for his navel to break the Amrit pot there. Before this He was shooting only 30 arrows - 10 arrows for his heads and 20 arrows for his arms, but in this way his heads and arms used to grow again as soon as they were cut. He had a Vardaan for this.

(2) In Raamaayan - Maatali advises Raam to use Brahmaastra to kill Raavan, but still Raam uses another weapon (given by Agastya Rishi) to kill him and just kills him.

Entering of Seetaa into Fire

(1) In Maanas - Tulasee's Seetaa is always holy and pure. He has nicely put a scene, in which Raam asks Seetaa to enter into fire because He wanted to do some Leelaa as a human being, so he wanted to keep Her safe with Agni Dev. And since not even Lakshman could know it, He had to retrieve Her back from Agni, that is why it was necessary to ask Seetaa to enter fire. Agni Dev finally brought His original Seetaa back.

(2) In Raamaayan - While Vaalmeeki's Seetaa is an ordinary Satee Pativrataa woman proving Herself pure at time to time. There is no mention of such incident [putting Seetaa with Agni Dev after Khar-Dooshan Vadh] in Vaalmeeki's Raamaayan, but She had to enter Agni at the time of returning from Raavan's Lankaa.

Raam's fight With Lav and Kush
We hear a lot about the reference of the holding Ashwamedh Yagya horse by Lav and Kush and defeating Bharat, Lakshman, and Shatrughn by them in fighting while they wanted to get their horse back. But when Raam comes to fight with them, Seetaa requests Vaalmeeki Jee to stop Her children fighting with their father.

(1) In Maanas - Maanas doesn't describe Raam's life after His crowning.

(2) In Raamaayan - But Vaalmeeki Raamaayan's story flow also doesn't go that way.

Then where does this reference come from? This story comes in Padm Puraan, Paataal Khand.

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