Which versions did you want the serial to follow? - Page 2

Valmiki Ramayan would be the obvious preference as it is considered more authentic, but since other versions

Well, all the other Ramayans have major deviations from Valmiki.

Tulsidas, for instance, has Indrajit downing Lakshman with his Shakti at the start of the war. Valmiki has Ravan doing it after Meghnad's death.

Valmiki has Rama having Lakshman leave Sita near his ashram. All the other versions that cover this have Lakshman abandon Sita in the middle of nowhere, while Ananda Ramayan, which the Sagars borrow heavily from, has Rama asking Lakshman to cut off Sita's hand (see the link to the first post, or Khalrika's description in the appropriate thread).

Adhyatma & Tulsidas both have Rama knowing about his divinity, and the Chaya Sita agnipariksha. Valmiki otoh has Sita actually walking through fire, and Agni-dev protecting her.

Valmiki doesn't have any account of Kush & Luv fighting Rama's army. It's there in Adhyatma, Padma Puran, Ananda Ramayan and Bhavabhuti.

In Valmiki, Parashuram meets Dasharath and Rama during their journey back from Ayodhya. In Tulsidas and Ananda Ramayan, he meets Rama and Janak at the Swayamvara itself.

So while the other versions may be derivatives of VR, using the above instances of their accounts necessarily means contradicting Valmiki.

Originally posted by: Chandraketu

Well, all the other Ramayans have major deviations from Valmiki.

Tulsidas, for instance, has Indrajit downing Lakshman with his Shakti at the start of the war. Valmiki has Ravan doing it after Meghnad's death.

Valmiki has Rama having Lakshman leave Sita near his ashram. All the other versions that cover this have Lakshman abandon Sita in the middle of nowhere, while Ananda Ramayan, which the Sagars borrow heavily from, has Rama asking Lakshman to cut off Sita's hand (see the link to the first post, or Khalrika's description in the appropriate thread).

Adhyatma & Tulsidas both have Rama knowing about his divinity, and the Chaya Sita agnipariksha. Valmiki otoh has Sita actually walking through fire, and Agni-dev protecting her.

Valmiki doesn't have any account of Kush & Luv fighting Rama's army. It's there in Adhyatma, Padma Puran, Ananda Ramayan and Bhavabhuti.

In Valmiki, Parashuram meets Dasharath and Rama during their journey back from Ayodhya. In Tulsidas and Ananda Ramayan, he meets Rama and Janak at the Swayamvara itself.

So while the other versions may be derivatives of VR, using the above instances of their accounts necessarily means contradicting Valmiki.

Originally posted by: chen2chic

Valmiki Ramayan would be the obvious preference as it is considered more authentic, but since other versions

are mostly developments from VR, they too are worth consideration. As long as there are not major deviations from the main story line, every version can be considered.

Another diff. bet. VR & KR as per what I know is that in KR Ram&Sita do see each other before the wedding. And also I think in KR, Ravan takes Sita along with the hut and the piece of land she was standing on. Vibs - Please correct me if I am wrong.

Yes, you are right on both the differences. Ram and Sita meet twice before their marriage - once when Ram first comes to Mithila, she sees him from her palace balcony as he passes by the garden below and then when she is presented to Dasarath before the marriage.

Ravan does take Sita along with the hut and the land she was standing in the Kambaramayan.

There are many more. Will post them soon.

I'm posting the differences I remember.

Kamba Ramayan and Valmiki Ramayan:



Ram meets Sita twice before their marriage. He sees her when he comes into the palace and walks by the gardens - Sita and Ram see each other and are enchanted be each other's beauty. Later Ram breaks Shiv Danush (no Swayamvar here) and Janak sends his message to Dasarath who comes with his relatives and friends to Mithila. Dasarath is welcomed and Sita is presented before them all. The day of the mariage is fixed and throughout the scene, Ram and Sita are lost in each other's beauty. It is also mentioned that they think about each other at nights.

In Kamba Ramayan, Kaushalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi too go to Mithila for the wedding.

Also, Bharat, Lakshman and Shathrugan's marriage is fixed with Mandvi, Urmila and Shrutkitri respectively after Ram's marriage. I am not sure if all 3 are mentioned to be Kushadwaj's daughters. I'll check it up.




Kaikeyi does not let Ram meet Dasarath and sends him away saying that the King and his father has banished him and given the crown to Bharat and that he has to start immediately. She stands at the entrance to Dasarath's palace. (I'll check up if Ram tries to meet his father again.)

Lakshman hears the news and dons his armour and takes his weapons and starts for war with Dasarath and Kaikeyi. He gives his bow a mighty twang which is heard by Ram (he was speaking to Sumitra at that time). He pacifies Lakshman and brings him to Sumitra's palace.

Here, Kaikeyi's maids bring the vanvaas attire to give it to Ram. Lakshman gets it from them and asks permission to his mother to go along with his brother to the forest. Sumitra says, "Go with Ram with as his servant and not as an exiled prince. If anything endangers Ram's life, save his even at the cost of your own. Come back when he returns after 14 years."

It was after this he meets Janaki and she too convinces Ram to take her with him.

I'm not sure if these events are the same in Valmiki Ramayan too. Please let me know if I have made any mistakes.

Dasarath declares that Kaikeyi is not his wife and Bharat is not his son for what Kaikeyi had asked of him. Bharat was not allowed to do the last rites for Dasarath. Shathrugan is the one who performs it.

When they all start for the forest to bring Ram back, Shathrugan sees Manthra trying to push her way through and get out of Ayodhya. Shathrugan gets so angry, he gets down from his chariot and takes hold of her and wounds her. Bharat stops him before he kills her.

I think Bharat asks for the padukas which Ram was wearing (I'll confirm this after I have checked it).


Ram's bow breaks during the fight with Khar, Dushan and Trisiras and he takes up the bow he had left with Varuna.

Its Shurpanakha who first instigates Ravan to get Sita.

Ravan tears the Earth along with the hut and Sita and flies away.

In Kamba Ramayan, the rakshasi Ayomukhi tries to seduce Lakshman and when he refuses, she carries him off to her cave. He cuts off her nose and ears and goes back to Ram. I'm not sure if Valmiki Ramayan mentions Lakshman being carried off.



Does Hanuman meet Vibhishan in Valmiki Ramayan? In Kamba Ramayan, Hanuman sees Vibhishan's home during his search in Lanka and determines that Vibhishan is a good person but does not meet him in person.

Vibhishan tell Ravan the story of Hiranya and how he was killed because as a result of being evil. Vibhishan gets kicked out of Lanka and comes to Ram with his 4 ministers and surrenders to him.

Ravan creates a Maya Janak to convince Sita to forget Ram and marry Ram instead. (I'm not sure if its the same in Valmiki Ramayan. I think Ravan creates an illusion of Ram's head and broken bow and presents them to Sita in Valmiki Ramayan.)

Only Lakshman is hit by the Nagapasha sent forth by Indrajeet and later its only Lakshman who is hit by Indrajeet's Brahmastra. Here, Hanumaan goes to get the medicinal herbs and returns with the whole mountain. Indrajeet creates a Maya Sita and kills her in the battlefield. Ram swoons on hearing this from Hanuman but is later revived and consoled by Vibhishan. Lakshman sets forth to destroy the Nikhumbila Yaaga and kills Indrajeet.

Ravan hits Lakshman with his Shakthi and Lakshman is fataly wounded - Hanuman gets the herbs again and they revive him. I think in Valmiki Ramayan, Ram mourns for his brother at this point. In Kamba Ramayan, the vanars, Vibhishan and Hanuman revive Lakshman and then everyone go to Ram and then tell him what had happened. Ram embraces Hanuman.

Mandodari falls upon her husband's body and laments. In the end she dies upon him.

When Dasarath appears, Ram asks that he accepts Kaikeyi and Bharat as his wife and son again and pardons them. Dasarath accepts.

Bharat gets ready to enter the fire and is stopped at the last minute by Hanuman who comes there in the guise of a Brahman.



This is all I remember. There may be more. If anyone recalls any other differences, please let me know.

Vibs

Thanks for posting all this. Can you also post the account of Shurpanakha's seduction of Rama?

My comments inline

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

I'm posting the differences I remember.

Kamba Ramayan and Valmiki Ramayan:

In Kamba Ramayan, Kaushalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi too go to Mithila for the wedding.

Well, this is not just a difference in account, but a cultural difference as well, since the new m-i-l's are supposed to welcome the new bahus at the new home.😕

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

Kaikeyi does not let Ram meet Dasarath and sends him away saying that the King and his father has banished him and given the crown to Bharat and that he has to start immediately. She stands at the entrance to Dasarath's palace. (I'll check up if Ram tries to meet his father again.)

In Valmiki, not only does Dasharath meet Rama, but he orders that all his 350 wives be brought in to meet him.

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

Lakshman hears the news and dons his armour and takes his weapons and starts for war with Dasarath and Kaikeyi. He gives his bow a mighty twang which is heard by Ram (he was speaking to Sumitra at that time). He pacifies Lakshman and brings him to Sumitra's palace.

In Valmiki, Laksman doesn't twang his bow, but does react angrily when he sees Kaushalya crying about the exile. Rama was there too, not with Sumitra.

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

Here, Kaikeyi's maids bring the vanvaas attire to give it to Ram. Lakshman gets it from them and asks permission to his mother to go along with his brother to the forest. Sumitra says, "Go with Ram with as his servant and not as an exiled prince. If anything endangers Ram's life, save his even at the cost of your own. Come back when he returns after 14 years."

It was after this he meets Janaki and she too convinces Ram to take her with him.

I'm not sure if these events are the same in Valmiki Ramayan too. Please let me know if I have made any mistakes.

In Valmiki, Lakshman volunteers to go on his own accord, and says that Kaushalya & Sumitra would be well taken care of by Bharat. There is no record of Sumitra asking him to go, as in Kamban and in the serial. Also, there is nothing in Valmiki about Lakshman asking Urmila not to cry for 14 years. Does Kamban mention anything about that?

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

Dasarath declares that Kaikeyi is not his wife and Bharat is not his son for what Kaikeyi had asked of him. Bharat was not allowed to do the last rites for Dasarath. Shathrugan is the one who performs it.

Re: Bharat, Dasharath says that if Bharat is happy to accept the throne, then his soul would reject any oblations offered by him. At the funeral, Bharat is the one who performs the last rites.

What is unclear from Valmiki is whether Kaikeyi attended. I've seen some, like Ramesh Menon, interpret it as Kaikeyi not daring to attend the funeral out of fear of reprisals. Neither is explicitly stated in the original.

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

When they all start for the forest to bring Ram back, Shathrugan sees Manthra trying to push her way through and get out of Ayodhya. Shathrugan gets so angry, he gets down from his chariot and takes hold of her and wounds her. Bharat stops him before he kills her.

In Valmiki, what happened was that Manthara was at the Eastern gate (of the palace presumably) fully decked in her best jewellery. The dwaarpals seized her and took her to Shatrughan, and told him that she was the one responsible for Rama's exile and Dasharath's death. Shatrughan exploded and announced that she'd receive the fruits of her sins, and starts dragging her (presumably by the hair?). Her jewellery is scattered all over the floor. Kaikeyi tries to intervene, but Shatrughan verbally abuses her, and she turns to Bharat. Finally, Bharat tells Shatrughan that since a woman can't be killed, he has to let her go, and that if that wasn't the custom, he would have killed Kaikeyi. However, were Rama to hear that Manthara had been killed, he'd probably disown them both. So Shatrughan backed off.

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

Ram's bow breaks during the fight with Khar, Dushan and Trisiras and he takes up the bow he had left with Varuna.

Nothing like that in Valmiki. Incidentally, didn't Rama use the Vishnu bow he had received from Parashurama?

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

Its Shurpanakha who first instigates Ravan to get Sita.

In Valmiki, it's Akampana.

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

Ravan tears the Earth along with the hut and Sita and flies away.

One of those eternal differences🥱

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

In Kamba Ramayan, the rakshasi Ayomukhi tries to seduce Lakshman and when he refuses, she carries him off to her cave. He cuts off her nose and ears and goes back to Ram. I'm not sure if Valmiki Ramayan mentions Lakshman being carried off.

There is no Ayomukhi in Valmiki. Who was she?

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

Does Hanuman meet Vibhishan in Valmiki Ramayan? In Kamba Ramayan, Hanuman sees Vibhishan's home during his search in Lanka and determines that Vibhishan is a good person but does not meet him in person.

No, in Valmiki, Hanuman never meets Vibhishan, although both the Sagar serials have that he did. IMO, this was actually a major slander on Vibhishan that these other accounts that think they are embellishing his character do.

Once Ravan kicked Vibhishan out, it's fair to argue that the latter had few options but to join Rama. But if prior to that, Vibhishan were to give such info to Ravan's enemies, that would have been adharm on his part. Valmiki doesn't depict him as being guilty of such an act, but unfortunately, the others do. And in doing that, they are unwittingly slandering him.

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

Vibhishan tell Ravan the story of Hiranya and how he was killed because as a result of being evil. Vibhishan gets kicked out of Lanka and comes to Ram with his 4 ministers and surrenders to him.

In Valmiki, Vibhishan tells Ravan a lot of things. The story of Hiranya isn't one of them.

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

Ravan creates a Maya Janak to convince Sita to forget Ram and marry Ravan instead. (I'm not sure if its the same in Valmiki Ramayan. I think Ravan creates an illusion of Ram's head and broken bow and presents them to Sita in Valmiki Ramayan.)

Just as you describe.

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

Only Lakshman is hit by the Nagapasha sent forth by Indrajeet and later its only Lakshman who is hit by Indrajeet's Brahmastra. Here, Hanumaan goes to get the medicinal herbs and returns with the whole mountain. Indrajeet creates a Maya Sita and kills her in the battlefield. Ram swoons on hearing this from Hanuman but is later revived and consoled by Vibhishan. Lakshman sets forth to destroy the Nikhumbila Yaaga and kills Indrajeet.

For Naagpash, Hanuman gets the mountain? Wasn't Garuda involved in this one? Then how many times does Hanuman get the mountain?

In Valmiki too, Meghnad kills maya Sita in front of Hanuman.

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

Ravan hits Lakshman with his Shakthi and Lakshman is fataly wounded - Hanuman gets the herbs again and they revive him. I think in Valmiki Ramayan, Ram mourns for his brother at this point. In Kamba Ramayan, the vanars, Vibhishan and Hanuman revive Lakshman and then everyone go to Ram and then tell him what had happened. Ram embraces Hanuman.

In Valmiki, Rama pulls the Shakti out of Lakshman and breaks it, or else, it would have returned to Ravan. While he is at it, Ravan keeps shooting at him, but finally, Rama sends a bunch of arrows in Ravan's direction, forcing him to flee. He then turns his attention back towards Lakshman.

In Kamban, is there any mention of Sushen? In Valmiki, he is Sugriv's uncle; in RCM, he is Ravan's vaid whom Hanuman smuggles out of Lanka (as shown in the serial).

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

Mandodari falls upon her husband's body and laments. In the end she dies upon him.

In Valmiki, I think she becomes unconscious.

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

When Dasarath appears, Ram asks that he accepts Kaikeyi and Bharat as his wife and son again and pardons them. Dasarath accepts.

In Valmiki, he only asks for Kaikeyi to be forgiven, since Bharat didn't invoke the condition that would have caused Dasharath disowning him.

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

Bharat gets ready to enter the fire and is stopped at the last minute by Hanuman who comes there in the guise of a Brahman.

This is all I remember. There may be more. If anyone recalls any other differences, please let me know.

Nothing that melodramatic in Valmiki. Hanuman just gives Bharat that message, and Bharat offers Hanuman 100 cows, villages and maidens for giving him this news.

Thanks for completing the differences. I didn't have time to include what cam in Valmiki Ramayan and I was not sure of some events in Valmiki Ramayan.

Originally posted by: Chandraketu

Vibs

Thanks for posting all this. Can you also post the account of Shurpanakha's seduction of Rama?

My comments inline

Well, this is not just a difference in account, but a cultural difference as well, since the new m-i-l's are supposed to welcome the new bahus at the new home.😕

In Valmiki, not only does Dasharath meet Rama, but he orders that all his 350 wives be brought in to meet him.

In Valmiki, Laksman doesn't twang his bow, but does react angrily when he sees Kaushalya crying about the exile. Rama was there too, not with Sumitra.

In Valmiki, Lakshman volunteers to go on his own accord, and says that Kaushalya & Sumitra would be well taken care of by Bharat. There is no record of Sumitra asking him to go, as in Kamban and in the serial. Also, there is nothing in Valmiki about Lakshman asking Urmila not to cry for 14 years. Does Kamban mention anything about that?

Here too Lakshman expresses his desire to go to the forest with Ram and seeks Sumitra's permission and blessings. Nothing is mentioned about Lakshman asking Urmila or even speaking to her before leaving for the forest. Does Valmiki Ramayan have a Lakshman - Urmila farewell before the 3 of them went to the forest? Besides, Sita was the one who first volunteers to go with Ram in Valmiki Ramayan, isn't it? Or was it Lakshman?

Originally posted by: Chandraketu

Re: Bharat, Dasharath says that if Bharat is happy to accept the throne, then his soul would reject any oblations offered by him. At the funeral, Bharat is the one who performs the last rites.

What is unclear from Valmiki is whether Kaikeyi attended. I've seen some, like Ramesh Menon, interpret it as Kaikeyi not daring to attend the funeral out of fear of reprisals. Neither is explicitly stated in the original.

I too have read that Kaikeyi dared not attend from Ramesh Menon's book. I read in another person's account that Queen Kaushalya and the rest of the women went for the funeral but it was not mentioned clearly as to whether Kaikeyi did attend the funeral. Some of the South Indian folktales and other authors and some dramas say that Kaikeyi was not allowed to attend as she was disowned by Dasarath.

Originally posted by: Chandraketu

In Valmiki, what happened was that Manthara was at the Eastern gate (of the palace presumably) fully decked in her best jewellery. The dwaarpals seized her and took her to Shatrughan, and told him that she was the one responsible for Rama's exile and Dasharath's death. Shatrughan exploded and announced that she'd receive the fruits of her sins, and starts dragging her (presumably by the hair?). Her jewellery is scattered all over the floor. Kaikeyi tries to intervene, but Shatrughan verbally abuses her, and she turns to Bharat. Finally, Bharat tells Shatrughan that since a woman can't be killed, he has to let her go, and that if that wasn't the custom, he would have killed Kaikeyi. However, were Rama to hear that Manthara had been killed, he'd probably disown them both. So Shatrughan backed off.

I thought Manthra came to meet Bharat and Shathrugan or she showed herself at the gate (didn't know which one) decked with a lot of jewels and as you said the gate keeper pushed her in and told Shathrugan that she was the reason for all the grief.

Originally posted by: Chandraketu

Nothing like that in Valmiki. Incidentally, didn't Rama use the Vishnu bow he had received from Parashurama?

I'm not sure of which bow he was using at that time. Going by the subtitles in the original Kambaramayan book I have, Ram's bow breaks and he gets the bow he left in Varun Dev's care. The prose version of Kambaramayan I have does not mention this at all.

I think, Ram breaks his own bow by his own strength - but I'm not sure. Couldn't interpret the verses correctly. Will get back with a proper translation.

Besides, isn't that the same bow Ram gives to Varun - the one he gets from Parasuram?

It is possible that Ram may have had another bow but not to take it when he faced an army of 14000 powerful demons is quite strange.

Originally posted by: Chandraketu

In Valmiki, it's Akampana.

In Kamba Ramayan, Surpanakha tries to seduce Ram only. She does not go after Lakshman. It is a long chapter. Surpanakha goes after Sita to kill her and is stopped by Lakshman and he cuts off her nose and ears. She wails out and after the death of Khar, Dushan and Trisiras, she reaches Lanka and tells Ravan that she was not to blame at all. She spotted the dame Sita and thought she should be Ravan's and hence went to get her and so the two men brought her to this state and killed Khar Dushan and Trisiras. This is what she said to Ravan.

Originally posted by: Chandraketu

One of those eternal differences🥱

I agree with you regarding this. And in some versions, Vibhishan is said to have gone to every battle and was near Ram or Lakshman and telling them constantly which astra to use for retaliation of the Asura's attacks.

Here too he tells Ravan alot of things but a major part is Hiranya's story.

Just as you describe.

Lakshman is revived from the Nagapasha by Garuda. Its for the Brahmastra, Hanuman gets the mountain.

In Valmiki, Rama pulls the Shakti out of Lakshman and breaks it, or else, it would have returned to Ravan. While he is at it, Ravan keeps shooting at him, but finally, Rama sends a bunch of arrows in Ravan's direction, forcing him to flee. He then turns his attention back towards Lakshman.

In Kamban, is there any mention of Sushen? In Valmiki, he is Sugriv's uncle; in RCM, he is Ravan's vaid whom Hanuman smuggles out of Lanka (as shown in the serial).

During the times Lakshman faints Ram is not there in the battle field along with Lakshman.

One other translation of Valmiki's Ramayan mentioned that Ram mourned for his brother but not breaking the Shakthi. I read about Ram breaking Ravan's shakthi only in Ramesh Menon's - here it is described that the weapon breaks when Ram touches it.

No mention of Sushen in Kamba Ramayana. It is described that when the smell (or the air around the herbs) reached the warriors they got up with their full strength. Hanuman brings the mountain twice - once when Lakshman was hit by the Brahmastra and once when he was hit by Ravan's Shakthi.

I thought that even in Valmiki Ramayan Hanuman goes on a quest for herbs twice - When Lakshman and Ram were hurt (am I right here?) by the Brahmastra, Hanuman is sent to the Himalayas to get the gerbs and when Ravan's Shakthi fells Lakshman Hanuman is sent to get herbs from the peak Mahodhya. This again is from Griffith's translation.

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

Mandodari falls upon her husband's body and laments. In the end she dies upon him.

In Valmiki, I think she becomes unconscious.

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

When Dasarath appears, Ram asks that he accepts Kaikeyi and Bharat as his wife and son again and pardons them. Dasarath accepts.

In Valmiki, he only asks for Kaikeyi to be forgiven, since Bharat didn't invoke the condition that would have caused Dasharath disowning him.

Originally posted by: Chandraketu

Nothing that melodramatic in Valmiki. Hanuman just gives Bharat that message, and Bharat offers Hanuman 100 cows, villages and maidens for giving him this news.

I remember reading this too.

Originally posted by: Chandraketu

There is no Ayomukhi in Valmiki. Who was she?

Ayomukhi was another demoness who comes for Lakshman just like Shurpanakha comes for Ram. After Jatayu's death Ram, full of greif wanders with Lakshman till dusk. He felt thirsty and asked Lakshman to bring water. When he goes in search of water, he sees Ayomukhi looking at him with lustful eyes and he thinks. "These Rakshasas do not think about anything else except leading a lustful life. He asks her who she is and why she has come there. She introduces herself and tries to seduce him. He threatens to cut off her ears and nose and she in turn thinks that she can carry him off to her cave and keep him there. She instantly carries him off on her shoulders and flies away to her cave. (Lakshman haran too??? 😆 - The first time I read this, I thought my eyes were decieving me)

In the meanwhile, Ram was worried that Lakshman had not returned even after a very long time. He searches for him and panicked as he could not find him. Filled with grief that he has lost both the people most dear to him thinks that he should end his life too. That moment he hears an ear piercing and terrifying scream.

Lakshman who was taken away freed himself from her grasp and cut off her ears and nose. She screamed loudly that was heard by Ram. He immediately realised that it was a demoness in danger and used the Agneyastra to shed light on his surroundings. By that light he saw what had happened and rushed to Lakshman. Lakshman saw him coming and went to him. He explained what had happened. Ram praised Lakshman for his bravery. They then used the Varunastra to get water and stayed in a mountain cave (certainly not Ayomukhi's) till dawn.This was from the Kamba Ramayan.

Ayomukhi is not mentioned in Valmiki Ramayan? 😕This incident happens just after Jatayu's death and before their encounter with Kabandha.

I thought that Ayomukhi met both Ram and Lakshman in Valmiki Ramayan. Griffith's translation of Valmiki Ramayan into English verse mentions this incident.

There in a mountain's woody side
A cave the royal brothers spied,
With dread abysses deep as hell,
Where darkness never ceased to dwell.
When, pressing on, the lords of men
Stood near the entrance of the den,
They saw within the dark recess
A huge misshapen giantess;
A thing the timid heart that shook
With fearful shape and savage look.
Terrific fiend, her voice was fierce,
Long were her teeth to rend and pierce.
The monster gorged her horrid feast
Of flesh of many a savage beast,
While her long locks, at random flung,
Dishevelled o'er her shoulders hung.
Their eyes the royal brothers raised,
And on the fearful monster gazed.
Forth from her den she came and glanced
At Lakshman as he first advanced,
Her eager arms to hold him spread,
And 'Come and be my love' she said,
Then as she held him to her breast,
The prince in words like these addressed:
'Behold thy treasure fond and fair:
Ayomukhi the name I bear.

In thickets of each lofty hill,
On islets of each brook and rill,
With me delighted shalt thou play,
And live for many a lengthened day.'
Enraged he heard the monster woo;
His ready sword he swiftly drew,
And the sharp steel that quelled his foes
Cut through her breast and ear and nose.
Thus mangled by his vengeful sword
In rage and pain the demon roared,
And hideous with her awful face
Sped to her secret dwelling place.

After reading this I thought that Ayomukhi was mentioned in the Valmiki Ramayan.

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

After reading this I thought that Ayomukhi was mentioned in the Valmiki Ramayan.

Vibs

I apologize - you're right, she was there between Jatayu and Kabandh (3:69):

Originally posted by: Valmiki

Then they proceeded towards south-west in search of Seetaa (as said by Jataayu). They were going on a dry path, it was without water and very difficult to walk as it was surrounded by thick trees, creepers and was thus blocked by them. It was horrid looking. So they moved fast to cross it. After going for 3 Krosh they entered Kraunch forest. There were beautiful trees flowering there. They searched Seetaa there also. After crossing this forest for 3 Krosh, they arrived in Matang Muni's Aashram. This place was very horrid because there were many violent animals and many dense trees. While seaching for Seetaa, Lakshman saw a cave which was very large, dark and deep in a mountain.

Near that cave, both brothers saw a huge and horrified faced Raakshasee. Her hair was loose and she looked very fierce. She was Ayomukhee. She came in front of them and caught Lakshman by hand. Lakshman was going ahead of Raam saying, "Let us romance". She said - "You have won me, so you be my husband. You live with me in this forest, on mountaintops, on sandy isles till the end of our lives." and was about to embrace Him that seeing this Lakshman cut her nose, one ear and one breast with His sword in anger. She cried and ran away where she came from. Then Raam and Lakshman entered the dense forest.

Wow, the things I learn every day🤓