The oldest version is generally recognized to be the Sanskrit version attributed to the sage Narada, the Mula Ramayana. Narada passed on the knowledge to Valmiki, who authored Valmiki Ramayana, the present oldest available version of Ramayana.

• Adhyatma Ramayanaor spiritual Ramayana is extracted from the Brahmanda Purana, traditionally ascribed to Vyasa. It is thought to be the inspiration for Tulsidas’ Ramcharitmanas in Awadhi. While the Valmiki Ramayana emphasizes Rama’s human nature, the Adhyatam Ramayana tells the story from the perspective of his divinity. It is organized into seven Kandas, parallel to Valmiki’s.
• Vasistha Ramayana(more commonly known as Yoga Vasistha) is traditionally attributed to Valmiki. It is principally a dialogue between Vasistha and Rama in which Vasistha advances many of the principle tenets of Advaita Vedanta. It includes many anecdotes and illustrative stories, but does not recount Valmiki’s story of Rama in detail.
• Vasudevahiṇḍī (circa 4th century CE) authored around 4th-5th century CE by Saṅghadāsagaṇī Vāchaka, in Maharashtra Prakrit.
• Daśagrīvā Rākṣasa Charitrām Vadham (circa 6th century CE) this manuscript from Kolkata contains five kandas: Balakanda and Uttarakanda are missing. This version portrays Rama as more of a human than God.
• Laghu Yoga Vasishtha(circa 10th century) by Abhinanda of Kashmir, is an abbreviated version of the original Yoga Vasistha.
• Ananda Ramayana(circa 15th century CE) this is traditionally attributed to Valmiki. While it briefly recounts the traditional story of Rama, it is composed primarily of stories peripheral, though related, to Valmiki’s narrative. This ramayana treats the last years of Rama’s life and includes Ravana’s abduction of Sita and Rama’s installation of the Shiva Lingam at Rameswaram.
• Agastya Ramayana is also traditionally attributed to Agastya.
• Adbhuta Ramayana, traditionally attributed to Valmiki, includes related stories of Rama. Its emphasis is on the role of Sita, and includes an expanded story of the circumstances of her birth as well as an account of her defeat of Ravana’s elder brother, known as Mahiravana and with 1000 heads.

• Andhra Pradesh – The Sri Ranganatha Ramayanam was adapted by Gona Budda Reddy and is the Telugu version of the Ramayana between 1300 and 1310 CE. The Molla Ramayanamu was adapted by poet Molla. The most extensive work in Telugu is that of Sri Viswanadha Satyanarayana, called the Srimadramayana Kalpavrikshamu. This is a free re-telling of the Valmiki Ramayana. It was awarded the first Jnanpith award in Telugu, for which the poet was later acclaimed as Kavi Samrat.
• Assam – a) The Assamese Saptakanda Ramayana or Katha Ramayana in the 14th century written by Madhava Kandali. b) Giti-Ramayan or Durgabari-Ramayan in the 16th century written by Durgabar Kayastha.
• Bengal– The Bengali Krittivasi Ramayan written by Krittibas Ojha in the 15th century; this is the most revered and most popular version of the epic in Bengal. The Adbhut Acharjer Ramayana by Nityananda Acharya in the 16th or 17th century, which was very close to the original work by sage Valmiki. Dwija Lakshmana’s Ramayana of the 18th century.
• Bihar – In Maithili language popular in the Mithila region of present Bihar, Chanda Jha (1831–1907)’s Mithila Bhasha Ramayana Lal Das (1856–1921)’s Mithilabhasha Ramayana – Rameshwar Charit Mithila Ramayan – Lal Das. Ramlochan Sharan (1889–1971)’s Ramayana
• Goa – Ramayanu written by Krishnadasa Shama in the 15th century in Kardalipura, Goa in Konkani, manuscripts found in Portugal.
• Gujarat – The Tulsi-Krta Ramayana is a Gujarati adaptation of Tulsidas’ Ramcharitamanas in the 17th century, by the poet Premanand Swami. The Giradhara Ramayana is also a prominent retelling of Ramayana in Gujarati by the 18th-century poet Giradhara Gosvami.
• Jammu and Kashmir – The Kashmiri Ramavatara Charita was written in the 19th century.
• Karnataka – The Classical Kannada versions of the Ramayana – the Kumudendu Ramayana(a Jain version), written in the 13th century and the Kumara-Valmiki Torave Ramayana, written in the 16th century. There is another version titled Ramachandra Charita Purana written by Nagachandra during the 12th century (1149 CE). Two prose works were written by Nanadalike Lakshminarayana (‘Muddanna’) entitled Adbhuta Ramayana (1895) and Ramaswamedham (1898).
• Kerala– The earliest known extant poetic work in Malayalam is Ramacharitam, based on Yuddha Kanda written by Cheeraman 12th century. The Kannassa Ramayanam written by Niranam Rama Panicker in the 14th century, Adhyathmaramayanam Kilippattu written by Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan in the 16th century (The most popular one) and “Mappila Ramayanam.” among the Muslims.
• Maharashtra – The Marathi Bhavartha Ramayana written by Sant Eknath in the 16th century. There is also a reference of a Ramayana being translated into old Marathi during the 12th or 13th century.
• Odisha – The Jagamohana Ramayana or Dandi Ramayana composed by Balarama Dasa in early 16th century is the prevalent version in Odisha.[25] Another adaptation Vilanka Ramayana was written as a poem by Sarala Das in 15th century. After that Raghunath Bhanja of Gumusar wrote Raghunath Vilasa, and his grandson poet Upendra Bhanja wrote Baidehisha Vilasa in 17th century. Bisi Ramayana or Bichitra Ramayana written by Biswanath Khuntia is the most popular in stage performances as Ramleela. The Ramkatha is found in the folk and tribal traditions of Odisha.
• Uttar Pradesh (Awadh) – The Ramcharitmanas was written by Goswami Tulsidas in the 16th century.
• Tamil Nadu – The Tamil Kambaramayanam, a popular version, written by poet Kamban in the 12th century.

• Buddhism – Dasarata Jataka. This version is notable for regarding Rama as a bodhisattva (on the path to Buddhahood) and depicting him and Sita as siblings who marry. As the Buddha is supposed to have come from the Ikshvaku clan (of Rama) this symbolised his dynastic merits.[citation needed]
• Jainism – Paumachariyam, the most influential among the Jain versions is written as a polemic against Sanskrit versions asserting that all characters in the Ramayana were mere mortals who engaged in conflict over moral issues. The only superhuman feat mentioned is Ravana’s ability to fly through the clouds (meghavahana). All characters are depicted as Jains and the Rama, Sita and Lakshmana visit Jain pilgrimage sites rather than ashrams (as in Valmiki ramayana) during their stay in the forest.

The Ramayana has spread to many Asian countries outside of India, including Burma, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Mongolia, Vietnam and China.

• Central Asia
• Khotan Kingdom
• The Khotanese version is somewhat similar to the Tibetan version
• East Asia
• China, Tibet – found in several manuscripts from Dunhuang
• Yunnan – Langka Sip Hor (Tai Lü language)
• Japan – Ramaenna or Ramaensho
• Southeast Asia
• Cambodia – Reamker
• Indonesia:
• Bali – Ramakavaca
• Java – Kakawin Ramayana, Yogesvara Ramayana
• Sumatera – Ramayana Swarnadwipa
• Laos – Phra Lak Phra Lam, Gvay Dvorahbi
• Malaysia – Hikayat Seri Rama, Hikayat Maharaja Wana
• Myanmar (Burma) – Yama Zatdaw (Yamayana)
• Philippines
• Mindanao – Maharadia Lawana, Darangen (Moro)
• Thailand – Ramakien
• Kingdom of Lan Na – Phommachak
• Vietnam – Truyện Dạ Thoa Vương or Truyện Dạ Xoa Vương
• Champa – Déwa Mâno
• South Asia
• Nepal – Siddhi Ramayan (Nepal Bhasa), Bhanubhaktako Ramayan (Nepali language)
• Sri Lanka – Dasaratha Jataka, Janakiharan