New Delhi, Nov. 9 -- As audiences across the country have lined up to watch Ranbir Kapoor-starrer 'Ramayana', Valmiki's epic is a timeless work of art that has spawned several incarnations across India and abroad, including Southeast Asia.

While people in India are aware of the epic's versions by Valmiki, Goswami Tulsidas and Kamban, the epic travelled hundreds of years ago across the sea and found a home in the mainland and islands of Southeast Asia as well.

According to academic R K Mandal, "The spread of the Ramayana from India to Southeast Asia was closely tied to ancient trade and transportation routes, sea travel, religious proselytizing and diplomatic relations. Sanskrit culture was spread by traders, Brahmins, Buddhist monks and...