It has been believed that there is no evidence to determine the dates of events in the Ramayanic era. However, Sage Valmiki, the author of "Valmiki Ramayana" has recorded the dates of events in detail, by describing the positions of stars and planets. To make sense out of these astrological/astronomical recordings of Shri Valmiki by research & scientific analysis has not been a trivial task, and not many have attempted to do so. But what provided the workable foundation to date important landmarks in Ramayana is the fact that the ancient Indians had a prefect method of time measurement. They recorded the 'tithis', ays according to the nakshatra on which the moon prevailed, the months, the seasons and even the different Solstices. By therefore, noting a particular arrangement of the astronomical bodies, which occurs once in many thousand years, the dates of the events can be calculated. The correct astronomical records go to show that Valmiki has chronicled an account of a true story and also, that an advanced time measurement system was known to the Hindus (Indians) at least 9000 years ago.
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It should be noted that the Mahabharat has recorded a number of facts about Ramayan (and not otherwise). The precedence of the Ramayanic era to that of the Mahabharat can therefore be inferred. An attempt to fix the dates of the events in the Mahabharat era, mainly based on internal astronomical records has also been made by following the astronomical method.
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Genealogical links available from the Mahabharat and Puranas, Yuga calculations and some archaeological findings also provide clues to the dating of the Ramayanic era. Also, literary references to the characters from the Ramayanic Era provide limits after which the Ramayan could not have occurred. For example, Guru Valmiki (the author of Ramayana) is referred to in the Taittiriya Brahmana (dated to 4600 B.C) and therefore, Ramayana must have been before the Brahmana was composed. However, archaeological and literary methods can only provide approximate datelines and for determining the precise time of the Ramayanic events, astronomical calculations alone are considered useful. On the basis of these calculations, the dates of Ramayanic era have been worked out as follows:
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Rama’s Birth Date : 4 December, 7323 BC
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Rama – Seeta Married : 7 April 7307 BC
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Rama Exiled : 29 November 7306 BC
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Hanuman Enters Lanka : 1 September 7292 BC
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Hanuman Meets Seeta : 2 September 7292 BC
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Ram Setu ( Bridge) Built : 26 – 30 October 7292 BC
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War Begins : 3 November 7292 BC
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Kumbhakarna is Killed : 7 November 7292 BC
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Ravana is Killed by Rama : 15 November 7292 BC
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Rama Returns to Ayodhya : 6 December 7272 BC
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Information provided by Amit Bhadhuri
Ref: Dr. P. V. Vartak, Vastava Ramayan in Marathi, Vedvidnyana Mandal, Pune
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