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Ok, personally I believe Ramayan and Mahabharat are two different true stories.
But if you look at the stories, you will realize that "story framework" of Mahabharat is more or less (or you can also say exactly same) as that of Ramayan. i.e. Framework is same, just internals change (or shuffled here and there).
So here is my observation / comparison:
[*]It all begins because King has more than 1 wife and due to 2nd wife's demands
In Ramayana, Kaikayi demands Dasrath to give Rajya (Kingdom) to her son.
In Mahabharat, Satyavati has same demands from Shantanu
[*]OR same thing in another way, it all begins because:
In Ramayan, Queen (Kaikayi) wants her son to be next King
In Mahabharat, King (Dhritrashtra) wants his son to be next King
[*]Father of protagonist (King) dies because of shrap (curse). Curse is because he accidentally shoots his arrow at some one thinking its Mrig (Deer).
In Ramayana, Dasrath (father of Ram) hits arrow to Shravan. And parents curse him
In Mahabharat, Pandu (father of Pandavas) hits arrow at some saint, who curse him
[*]In both stories, ruling King is shown as representer King
In Ramayan, Bharat represents Ram as King
In Mahabharat, Dhritrashtra represents Pandu as King
[*]Both stories circle around one Woman. War happens with her as centre.
Sita in case of Ramayan
Draupadi in case of Mahabharat
[*]In both, there is one person who mis-guides antagonist
Manthara misguides Kaikayi in Ramayana
Shakuni misguides Duryodhan in Mahabharat
[*]In both, antagonist is known to be overall good person but one desire makes him evil
Ravan is good king / person but wants Sita
Duryodhan is also good person but wants Kingdom / hates Pandavas
[*]In both, female protagonist was not really born but evolves from nature
Sita evolves from Earth
Draupadi evolves from Agni
[*]In both, Female protagonist's father looks for best archer in world for her.
Swayamvar is held where even lifting the Dhanush (bow) is impossible task
[*]In both, Swayamvar Dhanush (bow) is Shiv-Dhanush
[*]In both, antagonist attempt to win Swayamvar but fails lift bow
Ravan in Mahabharat
Duryodhan in Mahabharat
[*]In both, antagonist "feels" insulted by female protagonist and wants to take revenge.
Sita laughs when Ravan falls when trying too hard to lift Dhanush (Bow)
Draupadi laughs when Duryodhan falls in water thinkings its land (Indraprasth)
[*]In both there is 13+ year exile for protagonist
For Ram for 14 years
For Pandavas, 12 + 1 (Agyatvash) = 13 years
[*]In both, protagonist fails to kill antagonist, till someone reveals the secret
Ram, can not kill Ravan till Vibhishan tells him to hit right in stomach.
Bheem can not kill Duryodhan till Krishna tells him to hit his thighs
[*]In both, the protagonist is called Maryada-Purushottam OR one who never leaves his Dharma
Ram in Ramayana
Yudhisthir in Mahabharat
[*]In both, one brother of Antognoist takes Protagonist's side and reveals secrets
Vibhishan in Ramayana
Yuyutsu (half brother) in Mahabharat
[*]In both, one brother opposes Antagonist but still takes his side in war and dies
Kumbhkarna in Ramayana
Vikarna (3rd of 100 brothers) in Mahabharat
[*]In both wars, Hanuman's help is sought
In Ramayan, he is direct participant in war.
In Mahabharat, he sits on Dhwaja (flag) of Arjun's chariot
[*]In both there is one-warrior in war doing magic attacks (which gets central attention)
Indrajeet for Ravan in Ramayan
Ghatotkacha for Yudhistir in Mahabharat
[/list]There may be other similarities.
Give your views!
.
.
.
Ok, personally I believe Ramayan and Mahabharat are two different true stories.
But if you look at the stories, you will realize that "story framework" of Mahabharat is more or less (or you can also say exactly same) as that of Ramayan. i.e. Framework is same, just internals change (or shuffled here and there).
So here is my observation / comparison:
[*]It all begins because King has more than 1 wife and due to 2nd wife's demands
In Ramayana, Kaikayi demands Dasrath to give Rajya (Kingdom) to her son.
In Mahabharat, Satyavati has same demands from Shantanu
[*]OR same thing in another way, it all begins because:
In Ramayan, Queen (Kaikayi) wants her son to be next King
In Mahabharat, King (Dhritrashtra) wants his son to be next King
[*]Father of protagonist (King) dies because of shrap (curse). Curse is because he accidentally shoots his arrow at some one thinking its Mrig (Deer).
In Ramayana, Dasrath (father of Ram) hits arrow to Shravan. And parents curse him
In Mahabharat, Pandu (father of Pandavas) hits arrow at some saint, who curse him
[*]In both stories, ruling King is shown as representer King
In Ramayan, Bharat represents Ram as King
In Mahabharat, Dhritrashtra represents Pandu as King
[*]Both stories circle around one Woman. War happens with her as centre.
Sita in case of Ramayan
Draupadi in case of Mahabharat
[*]In both, there is one person who mis-guides antagonist
Manthara misguides Kaikayi in Ramayana
Shakuni misguides Duryodhan in Mahabharat
[*]In both, antagonist is known to be overall good person but one desire makes him evil
Ravan is good king / person but wants Sita
Duryodhan is also good person but wants Kingdom / hates Pandavas
[*]In both, female protagonist was not really born but evolves from nature
Sita evolves from Earth
Draupadi evolves from Agni
[*]In both, Female protagonist's father looks for best archer in world for her.
Swayamvar is held where even lifting the Dhanush (bow) is impossible task
[*]In both, Swayamvar Dhanush (bow) is Shiv-Dhanush
[*]In both, antagonist attempt to win Swayamvar but fails lift bow
Ravan in Mahabharat
Duryodhan in Mahabharat
[*]In both, antagonist "feels" insulted by female protagonist and wants to take revenge.
Sita laughs when Ravan falls when trying too hard to lift Dhanush (Bow)
Draupadi laughs when Duryodhan falls in water thinkings its land (Indraprasth)
[*]In both there is 13+ year exile for protagonist
For Ram for 14 years
For Pandavas, 12 + 1 (Agyatvash) = 13 years
[*]In both, protagonist fails to kill antagonist, till someone reveals the secret
Ram, can not kill Ravan till Vibhishan tells him to hit right in stomach.
Bheem can not kill Duryodhan till Krishna tells him to hit his thighs
[*]In both, the protagonist is called Maryada-Purushottam OR one who never leaves his Dharma
Ram in Ramayana
Yudhisthir in Mahabharat
[*]In both, one brother of Antognoist takes Protagonist's side and reveals secrets
Vibhishan in Ramayana
Yuyutsu (half brother) in Mahabharat
[*]In both, one brother opposes Antagonist but still takes his side in war and dies
Kumbhkarna in Ramayana
Vikarna (3rd of 100 brothers) in Mahabharat
[*]In both wars, Hanuman's help is sought
In Ramayan, he is direct participant in war.
In Mahabharat, he sits on Dhwaja (flag) of Arjun's chariot
[*]In both there is one-warrior in war doing magic attacks (which gets central attention)
Indrajeet for Ravan in Ramayan
Ghatotkacha for Yudhistir in Mahabharat
[/list]There may be other similarities.
Give your views!