1&
.Ramayana does not contemplate the existence of complex states, while by the end of the fifth century B.C. we hear of powerful kingdoms set up in Hindustan.
7. The conquest of Ceylon by Vij'aya took place in the 5tb century B. C» Even before this the island was darkly known-and the popular belief was that monsters and giants infested the country. The Ramayana, therefore, which makes no reference to Vifaya's conquest and represents the ruler thereof as a ten-headed monster must be as signed to an age far early in the centuries before Christ.
8. "The whole of India south of the V^dhya, chain is
described as one interminable forest inhabited by harlarous
aborigines who are described as monkeys and bears of {iler-
ent kinds. The banks of the Grodavari and the Kristett river
wire colonised by the Aryans early in the Rationalistic period
and great empires like that of the Andhras rose to power and
started hew schools of science and learning peverai centuries
before Christ. The Ramayana in iporlgijaal shape must
therefore be referred to a period long anterior to the Aryan
subjugation of Southern India."—Duff.
Regarding the authenticity and signification of the I3iii*a^ rive itself various theories have been advanced, of wii^l Ac most important are summarised below :^—
L P/of. Weter.— (Ik the Ramayana we•S^g^^^.-f^m jif verv outset in the region of allegory and ws (0®Iy i^ove
upon historical ground in soferas thealle^^^
historical fact, ^., to the ispreM c^ ^<^^ the
south more especially to CeyJcM^ tt^ ,d^ft$$&®j$ are li^4th century, but may be somewhat