The Ramayan and the Mahabharat..

1. Author- Ramayan was written by sage Vamiki and Mahabharat by maharishi vyasha

2. Writer and events- Ramayana was written before it occured and Mahabharata was written as it occured

3. Begining- Ramayan Begins from Lav and Kush it includes the history of the previous seven generations and Mahabharata begins from King Janmejay and includes the history of the previous seven generations

4. 100 sons- In ramayana Born to Sage Vasishtha and in mahabharata Born to Dhrutarashtra

5. The royal secret [path to Final Liberation (Moksha)]- In Ramayana Was revealed by Ravan to Lakshman when the former was dying in Mahabharata was revealed by Bhishmacharya to Yudhishthir when the former was on His deathbed

6. Reading- Ramayana Should be done beforethe Mahabharat. One is able to understand the limitations and implied meaning from it. Mahabharata should be read After the Ramayan. If read before then one begins to feel that one should also have several gopis like Krushna!
2. Rama and Krushna


1. Birth

A. Lineage- Rama to Ikshvaku and Krushna to Yadu

B. Dynasty- Ram- surya, krushna - chandra

C. Place- Ram- Palace, Krushna- Prison

D. Era (yug)- Ram- Treta , Krushna- Dwapar

E. Date (tithi)- Ram was born on Ninth day (navami) of the Hindu lunar fortnight (complete number) and Krushna was born on Eighth day (ashtami) of the Hindu lunar fortnight (reducing number) [See second post]

F. Time- Ram at 12 Noon, Krushna at Midnight i.e zero hours

G. Complexion- Ram is Blue, Krushna is Bluish black

2. Family life

A. Brothers

1. Order among the siblings- Ram was Eldest whereas Krushna was Youngest ( eighth )



2. The brother who was an incarnation of Shesh - Lakshman, Rama's younger brother and Balaram, Krushna's elder brother. He had to listen to Krushna on every occasion despite being older to Him.



3. Brotherly, Guru-disciple relationship- Rama and Bharat and Krushna and Arjun(They shared a brotherly relationship).



B. Childhood -

Ram child hood Was spent in royal spendour in the palace but Krushna had to face several killers who wanted to slay Him and spend in village and rural areas



C. Wife/Companion



1. Number- Ram had only one wife whereas Krushna had 16108



2. Relationship- Rama and Sita were husband and wife whereas Krushna and the gopis shared a Guru-disciple relationship.



D. Abduction

Sita was abducted by Ravan wheres Krushna abducted Rukmini

E. The search

1. For whom?- After Sita was abducted, Rama went in search of Her The Kouravs went in search of the Pandavs when they were living in exile (adnyatvas).

2. Assistance- Ram received assistance from several people. Krushna helped the Pandavs during this period.

3. Political life


First slaying of a woman- Ram- Tarika and Krushna Putana
Son of the Sun deity- Ram protected Sugreev son of the son deity whereas Krushna made Arjun slay Karna, son of the Sun deity
Son of Lord Indra- Ram slayed Vali, the son of Indra whereas Krushna helped Arjun, son of Indra on the battlefield
Accepting others' advice- Ram often accepted whereas Krushna never accepted
Mission- Ram mission was to Set an example to others by carrying it out Himself whereas Undertook it Himself and often also got it done from others
Acquisition of the title Shri [Shri (opulence) itself comes to the one who deserves it]- First Ram Name was Rama. After slaying Ravan it became Shrirama similarly First His Name was Krushna. After slaying Kansa it became Shrikrushna
Abandonment of a woman- Ram even deserted His wife according to the circumstances but Krushna ,Despite criticism of beingwith the gopis , never
abandoned them
Ideal king- Ram was Rule of Righteousness(Ramarajya) but Krushna never ascended the throne
Behaviour during the period of prosperity and adverse times- Ram illustrated how a king should behave during the prosperous period and Krushna showed how a king should behave during the adverse times.

4. Religious life

A. Living within the limitations of Righteousness (Dharma)- For Ram its always, hence He is called the Supreme limit of Righteousness (Maryada-purushottam). (Nowadays limitations are called bondages!) But for Krushna its Depending on the situation, at times He crossed the limitations of Righteousness; but in reality since He was one beyond the three components, The Supreme Being performing the divine sport (Lilapurushottam) and The Absolute Supreme Being (Purnapurushottam) He was always beyond limitations. (Only those who are within the three components are bound by norms and restrictions, righteous limitations, etc.)

B. Living and teaching others- Ram lived it Himself But Krushna Besides living it Himself He taught it to others-Hence the quote goes Krushna vande Jagatgurum (Salutation O Lord Krushna, the teacher of the universe')

C. Guidance to society- Ram did it through unity of family and krushna By performing various actions in the society

D. Spread of Righteousness- Ram- through righteous behaviour , Krushna - According to the situation even by crossing the limitations of Righteousness

E. The yogi and the one engrossed in worldly pleasures- Ram was a yogi yet He led a worldly life and krushna ,Though He led a life of worldly pleasures He was a yogi (The Lord of Yoga - Yogeshvar)

F. Miracles- Since Brahman is obscured by the covering of the Great Illusion (Maya) Ram did not perform
miracles whereas Great Illusion is surrounded by Brahman. Hence even in childhood Krushna performed miracles

5. Type of life led outwardly

Ram experienced several unhappy events whereas Krushna was always happy

6. Incarnations and others


A. Impression of the people regarding His temperament- Ram- Composed, serious, Krushna- Naughty, mischievous

B. How did people behave with Him?- Ram-They were reserved, Krushna- They were open, free

C. Feeling of the common man for Him- Ram- Respect, Krushna- love

7. Renunciation of the body

A. Method- Ram- Jalsamadhi, Krushna- Pretence of being injured with a hunter's arrow

B. Perishing of the inhabitants of the city after the renunciation of the body- After Rama's renunciation of the body inhabitants of Ayodhya renounced their bodies in the Sharayu river whereas Before the end of Krushna's incarnation inhabitants of Dvaraka fought amongst themselves and died. After His renunciation Dvaraka too got submerged[See second post]

8. According to the science of kalas (kalashastra)

Ram- 12 kalas, Krushn- 16 kalas [See second post]

10. Progress in spiritual practice from the seeker's point of view

As one chants Rama's Name, one can merge into Him By chanting Krushna's Name one does not acquire His form; because the entire universe itself is composed of Krushna!

source
http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1127914
corrections welcome..