Even before Kambar wrote the Ramavataram in Tamil in the 12th century AD, there are many ancient references to the story of Ramayana, implying that the story was familiar in the Tamil lands even before the Common Era. References to the story can be found in the
- Sangam literature of Akanaṉūṟu,(dated 400BC)[24] and
- Purananuru (dated 300 BC),[25][26]
- the twin epics of Silappatikaram (dated 2nd Century CE)[27] and
- Manimekalai (cantos 5, 17 and 18),[28][29][30] and the
- Alvar literature of Kulasekhara Alvar,
- Thirumangai Alvar,
- Andal and
- Nammalvar (dated between 5th and 10th Centuries CE).[31] Even the songs of the Nayanmars have references to Ravana and his devotion to Lord Siva
Source/Credits: https://hinducouncil.com.au/new/ramayana-around-the-world/
