994 (Part 1) of Valmiki Ramayan may not be a myth, but it contains some myths which are not difficult to identify.

Image and content being used only for Legitimate Review Purpose, which is well within the CopyRight Laws.
Our learned friend, who has in the past, sent us some good links about Aryan Migration Theory etc., which we have discussed partly, has now sent us a link on Ramayana. Title of the Article is: Three year long botanical study confirms Ramayan is not a myth (Apparently Intended Inference: Ramayan is history). Click here to go to http://www.sanskritimagazine.com/indian-religions/hinduism/three-year-long-botanical-study-confirms-ramayan-is-not-a-myth/. The authors of the Article, according to the linked web page are Shri M. AmritaLingam and Shri P. Sudhakar, who are reported to be working as Botanists with the CPR Environmental Education Centre, Chennai. I respect their views and their Researching spirit.

Since the last decade, Government of India, is under pressure in Courts, to clearly submit its view whether Ramayana was history, or Ramayana was a mythological belief. Archaeological Society of India, often representing the Government of India, for example in the Rama Setu case, initially submitted an affidavit that Ramayana was a mythological belief and that there is not adequate historical evidence. Later on the ASI went back, from its own statements. Basic reason for this volta face, appears to be that there is not enough archaeological evidence with foundations of excavations, stone inscriptions, copper inscriptions, etc. etc.

Whenever BJP comes into power, it tries to rewrite history, to prove that India is the Greatest Nation in the World, Everything wise originated in India, When the entire world is neck deep amidst ignorance and was naked, India taught the world to wear clothes etc. etc. Officials of ICHR (Indian Council of Historical Research), NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) etc. are either reshuffled, advised to to modify histories to reflect Indian Glories. New Excavations are made. New Books are written. Well, everybody loves their own country. There is also nothing wrong in believing that their Nation, Religions and Culture are the Greatest in the World, etc. etc.

Personal Views of ybrao-a-donkey, which are not intended to be imposed on others. I pray for forbearance from Readers, whose sentiments may be delicate

There are about 149 comments on the above linked linked article. I have not read all of them. Someday, I hope, I shall be able to read them.

The Researchers of the above article, might have taken great pains to compare the botanical plants described in Valmiki Ramayana, with the botanical plants, existing today in India. I greatly appreciate them. They might have found that the flora, fauna birds inclusive, exist even today. Hence, they have come to a conclusion that Ramayana was not a myth, and that Ramayana was history.

To my mind of half-knowledge, it appears that though India is a vast geographical land of great divergence, climatically it is a Monsoon Region with Tropical Forests + Evergreen Forests. Hence, its botanical plants, by and large will be similar though not same, with the exception of places like Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, parts of Arunachal Pradesh etc. Yet, we can find great varieties in plants and animals of different areas. There is not much to dispute about either similarities or variances.

Sage Valmiki, the Great Poet of Valmiki Ramayana, seems to have been born in the Valmiki Nagar District in North Bihar, or its neighborhoods in Nepal, North Bihar. Later he seems to have migrated and shifted his Hermitage to Eastern UP, somewhere in the Allahabad - Mirzapur - Sasaram route. If we go by Uttara Ramayana narrations, Sage Valmiki gave shelter to the pregnant Sita abandoned in Dandakaranya forest by Lakshmana, on orders from Shri Rama. From this, we may infer that Valmiki was a contemporary of Shri Rama, he might have been an Official biographer of Shri Rama, he might have received support in various ways from Shri Rama. Valmiki's disciples, including Shri Rama's sons Lava and Kusa sang the saga of Shri Rama in Shri Rama's court. Though there is no historical evidence for all these things, these things are not IMPOSSIBLE. They need not be fantasies or fiction or just beliefs, because they are humanly possible. There are no superhuman elements. There is a really great Telugu Geva color film of approx. 1963 year, by name "Lava Kusa", in which Late Shri N.T. Rama Rao acted as Shri Rama, Anjali Devi acted as Sita, Nagaiah acted as Sage Valmiki, Master Subrahmanyam acted as Kusa, and Master Nagaraju acted as Lava. For those who are not thorough with Uttara Ramayana (Ramayana post coronation of Shri Rama) can get a reasonable understanding of the story, though it is not exactly as portrayed in Valmiki's narration. The film is an audio visual delight. Link: Click here to view https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YKSmT7TnIo.

Historicity of Valmiki Ramayana

Right now I am neutral about the historicity of events in Valmiki Ramayana.

The above linked article (under review here) wishes that Indians have to take Ramayana as history because Sage Valmiki described the flora and fauna realistically and accurately.

I personally believe that the basic story of Ramayana might have taken place. But Valmiki Ramayana in circulation today, contains a number of myths, though basic story may not be a myth. If the historical content of the Ramayana is to be raised, it will be necessary to identify and set aside (we have no right to modify) THE IMPOSSIBLE EVENTS, which are fantasies. Then it becomes easier, to acknowledge Valmiki Ramayana at least as part-history.

My approx. 195 Aritcles/blogposts with proof from Valmiki Ramayana

Keeping the need to raise the historical content of Valmiki Ramayana, and set aside the mythical parts, I have written a set of 195 articles/blog posts with evidence from Valmiki Ramayana. Link to these articles: Click here to go to https://ramayanayb.blogspot.com.. After considerable thinking, I have added the adjective suffixes "Valmiki Ramayana humanified and humanised". Reason: If Valmiki Ramayana is to contain elements of history, it must be 'human' in its attributes.

Some examples of myths in Valmiki Ramayana

Mythical content	ybdonkey's view
In the above picture, Vanaras were shown as monkeys with tails.	Vanaras were forest dwellers. vana=forest. nara=humans. VanaNaras over Centuries of usage, might have become vAnaras. Or they may be vana charAs. chara=Those who move. vanacharAs=those who move in forests. Where is the question of their having tails?
Ravana abducted Sita in Pushpaka aircraft. Ancient Indians knew Aircraft making.	Ravana abducted Sita in a cart pulled by donkeys with gold horns. For proof of Valmki Ramayana's verse, pl. see my above linked Ramayanayb blog.
Rama's ancestor 'Sagara' had excavated the Ocean. Ocean=sAgar.	King Sagara might have dug a big tank called sAgara. It is humanly impossible to excavate an Ocean
Shri Rama was a Great Builder. He built the Rama Setu bridge, linking India and Sri Lanka.	Lanka itself might have been in Eastern UP / Chattisgadh / Jharkhand. Shri Rama was not a Great Builder. Else why should he need Tribal King Guha's boat to cross the River Ganga. Prince Rama helped Dasaratha in ruling Ayodhya for about 17 years after Rama's marriage. If he was a Great Builder, he would have built bridges on Rivers Ganga, Sarayu, Gomati, Yamuna. For crossing River Yamuna, Lakshmana made a country basket-boat with bamboos, creepers, leaves (called puTTi or pinnIs in Telugu). They could have used a bridge. Can our Researchers show at least a single bridge built by Rama across any River in India? If Rama Setu can survive thousands of years, why didn't other structures built by Shri Rama survive?

These botanists referred in the above linked Research are very great. I appeal to them to research on the following FRUITS, used by 15-16th Century Telugu poet, DhoorjaTi, in his book Sri Kalahasti Mahatmyam. These are the fruits which the devotee TinnaDu (also known as Kannappa, Kannappa Nayanar in South India), offered to Lord Shiva.

Chapter 3, Verse 63 of Sri Kalahasti mahatmyam, by 15-16 CE Poet Dhurjati.
నేరెడి పండులు, నెలయుట్టి పండులుఁ, nErEDu panDlu, nelayuTTi panDlu
గొండమామిడి పండ్లు, దొండ పండ్లుఁ, konDa mAmiDi panDlu, donDa panDlu,
బాల పండులు, నెమ్మి పండులు, బరివంక pAla panDlu, nemmi panDlu, barivanka fruits
పండులుఁ, జిటిముటి పండ్లుఁ, గలివి panDlu, chiTimuTi panDlu, kalivi panDlu,
పండులుఁ, దొడివెంద పండ్లుఁ, దుమ్మికి పండ్లు, panDlu, toDivendi panDlu, tummiki panDlu,
జాన పండులు, గంగ రేఁగుఁ బండ్లు, jAna panDlu, ganga rEgu panDlu,
వెలగ పండులు, పుల్ల వెలగ పండులు, మోవి velaga panDlu, pulla velaga panDlu, mOvi
పండ్లు, నంకెన పండ్లు, బలుసు పండ్లు, mOvi panDlu, nankena panDlu, balusu panDlu

బీర పండ్లును, బిచ్చుక బీర పండ్లుఁ, bIra panDlu, piccuka bIra panDlu,
గొమ్మి పండ్లీత పండ్లును, గొంజి పండ్లు, kommi panDlu, Ita panDlu, gonji panDlu,
మేడి పండ్లును మొదలుగాఁ గూడిమాడి mEdi panDlu, modalugA kUDi mADi,
చెంచెతలు తెత్తు రిత్తు విచ్చేయు మయ్య cencetalu tettu rittu viccEya vayya.

To come back and continue adding / deleting / modifying. सशेष. ఇంకా ఉంది.