Introduction
The mysterious and legendary process carries the prospect of the ultimate fate of ordinary people’s lives. The Epic of Gilgamesh was written around 2000 BC, while the Ramayana was composed around 1800 BC by the ancient Indians (Bhide et al. 501). Both accounts provide extraordinary evidence to show people at other times that different races and religions are united; they share ideas. In these stories, Gilgamesh and Ramayana take a long journey resulting in legendary tours that participated in the production of various models.
Character Traits
Common
Ramayana and Gilgamesh are both great legends of their ways of life. Gilgamesh participated in the war to know the best and determine who was qualified to rule. For example, in the most memorable battle of Enkidu and Gilgamesh, in Ramayana’s culture, to be sharp and informed, one must be patient and fulfill one’s selfless duty. Individuals need to achieve their sacred duty not by fighting or engaging with authority but by acting morally and modestly. Hinduism is associated with humility and allowing oneself to be, making life after death more interesting.
Whenever things go wrong, both have allies; the combination of powers suggests that a person is ruthless, as Gilgamesh admits that with Enkidu, there can be a relentless force. Gilgamesh and his companion fight Humbaba, a fearsome beast, gatekeeper, and worshiped king of distant lands. Ramayana, Sita, and Lakshman wander in the forest until Sita is seen by a wise man who falls hopelessly in love with her. Ramayana has to fight him to rescue his wife, and he goes with his colleague to get the Sita.
Differences
Gilgamesh took control of Mesopotamia on unfavorable terms. Many gods believed that Gilgamesh overstepped his social boundaries because he not only had sex with various single women but also married women against their will. Ramayana has every virtue of being an optimist and a down-to-earth person. He humbly follows the system as he fights for justice and his rights. The gods claimed he was brought into this world to defeat the demon, Ravana. He left for exile for a long time when asked to leave, and his brothers Lakshman and his wife asked to go with him. Ramayana gives women the right path and respects their way of life. The ruler of a neighboring kingdom embraced Sita and announced that he would unite her with anyone who could draw Shiva’s incomparable bow, and that is how Ramayana won Sita.
Gilgamesh is an exploiter as he sent Shamhat, the harlot of the sanctuary, to tame and seduce Enkidu for six days; he is no longer a wild monster who lives among creatures (Hammond and Alta 250). Soon, he learns the ways of humans, but he is ignored by the animals he is living with, and finally, the prostitutes convince him to come to live in the city. Instead of assuming a position of privilege after his banishment, Ramayana promised to serve his exile, disdaining his high place.
Culture Value
In Mesopotamia, run by Gilgamesh councils and more mature men, sex was seen as tied to their social value. Gilgamesh feels unusually strong due to his strong desire for sex. Many gods saw Gilgamesh as transgressing the boundaries of his race, as this defiled the women and prevented other men from being affected by their gender. Men are considered superior to women. In today’s findings, social attributes of directed work are used in various ways. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, direction works significantly; women are neither inferior nor smarter. By the same logic, they are not powerful, but men stand at the base of power, are more intelligent than women, and are also rulers. Women are used as sexual demonstrations and not taken seriously (Sonik 790). Gilgamesh would have sex with women, and it seemed like every woman had to make love to Gilgamesh first and then to his other half.
The Ramayana is a tool for Hindu children to adapt to their environment and a principle by which Hindu adults will later shape their lives and characters. Values such as spiritual tenacity, love, celibacy, devotion, compassion, justice, integrity, and information are promoted. The Ramayana portrays the perfection of humanity with Sita. The social characteristics of male-oriented occupations are described as outstanding, courageous, wise, godly, and intelligent. In stark contrast to the Epic of Gilgamesh, the boundaries between gender orientations are uniquely drawn. The Ramayana describes the value of vital power and the world of bonds that protect close family ties (Yulianti 16). Hindus highly value loyalty to their spouses, as evidenced by Sita’s trials, in which she strives to show her virtues to her significant other. Sita describes herself as a loving, caring spouse who obeys the wishes of her other half, reflecting the Hindu view of a wife’s role in marriage.
The values strengthened by the Ramayana in the political and social aspects of Hindu society can be seen in the interdependence of religious and cultural elements derived from the beliefs and practices of Hinduism itself. All this can be explained by the interdependence of religious and cultural aspects: moksha, karma, samsara, and dharma. Justice and righteousness appeal to individual and collective expectations of religious studies and civic duty.
Relationship with the Gods
People prayed and sacrificed to the gods of Mesopotamia for their freedom from Gilgamesh’s rule. Gilgamesh was a demigod who ruled Uruk and was considered a cruel ruler by his subjects. Enkidu, his human counterpart, is sent by the gods to answer their demands. After a bloody battle between Gilgamesh and Enkidu, Gilgamesh realizes that he has found a match for him. Enkidu was supposed to stop Gilgamesh from oppressing the people, but Gilgamesh and Enkidu became good friends after the war, so they set out on a journey together.
The gods punish evil sins, as seen in several scenes. Enkidu and Gilgamesh decide to raid trees in a distant forest inaccessible to humans. Seven years of famine were struck by a bull that fell from the sky. Enkidu cursed the gods but later realized he was wrong. However, the curse continued, and Enkidu’s condition worsened until he died. Flood stories on how gods chose to destroy humanity; Utnapishtim was told how the gods planned to build a great ship so that his family and the seeds of all living creatures could escape. The gods agreed they would no longer try to destroy humanity and regretted their actions.
Conclusion
Dreams are essential to society because they represent something. Gilgamesh’s mother explains that Gilgamesh’s strange dream signifies that a powerful friend will come to him. As was his custom, Gilgamesh would attend the wedding and sleep with the bride. However, the powerful Enkidu prevents Gilgamesh from doing so because he disapproves of Gilgamesh’s boasting, his treatment of women, and his slander of the sacred bond of marriage. This shows that dreams were used to warn someone about a possible danger or something.
Their gods are their helpers in times of need and trial. Dasharath had no children, and the god of fire gave him a shining bottle of nectar. The king gave his wives the nectar, and they eventually had sons: Lakshman, Bharat, and Rama. The gods saved Sita by showing Ramayana some of Sita’s ornaments. It led them to Sita’s, and they had to fight back the demon to free Sita.
Works Cited
Bhide, Shree Raksha, et al. “Feasibility of Using Counseling Techniques from Ramayana for Managing Negative Emotions: An Anecdotal Review and Analysis.” Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine 44.5 (2022): 499-503. Web.
Hammond, Dorothy, and Alta Jablow. “Gilgamesh and the Sundance Kid: The Myth of Male Friendship.” The Making of Masculinities. Routledge, 2018. 241-258. Web.
Sonik, Karen. “Minor and Marginal (ized)? Rethinking Women as Minor Characters in the Epic of Gilgamesh.” Journal of the American Oriental Society 141.4 (2021): 779-802. Web.
Yulianti, Ni Ketut Dewi. “Epic Ramayana as a Medium for Teaching Indonesian Culture and Language: A Perspective of Darmasiswa Students.” Lekesan: Interdisciplinary Journal of Asia Pacific Arts 3.1 (2020): 15-19. Web.