How many days the war between Shri Rama and Ravana continued?

 

This question might have cropped up due to the presence of the following sloka in the Yuddha Kanda of Ramayana.

देवदानवयक्षाणां पिशाचोरगरक्षसाम् |
पश्यतां तन्महायुद्धं सप्तरात्रमवर्तत ||६-१०७-६५

While the gods, the demons, Yakshas the super-natural beings, the devils, the serpents and the ogres were witnessing, that great battle occurred for seven days.

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The question is a genuine one.

However, we have to cross check the events that occurred before and after the Great war between Shri Rama and Ravana in Lanka.

1) Lakshmana killed Indrajit on the 14th day of dark half of this month, ie., kRShNa pakSha chaturdashi and the Minister of Ravana advised him to proceed to war with Shri Rama on amAvAsya day.

अभ्युत्थानं त्वमद्यैव कृष्णपक्षचतुर्दशीम् || ९२-६-६६
कृत्वा निर्याह्यमावास्यां विजयाय बलैर्वृतः |

"Making yourself ready today itself, the fourteenth day of the dark half of this month, you along with the armies, sally forth tomorrow, the moonless day, to victory."

2) As advised, the army of Ravana proceeded to war on the following day, ie., on amAvAsya day.

स संग्रामो महाभीमः सूर्यस्योदयनं प्रति || ९३-६-८
रक्षसान् वानराणान् च तुमुलः समपद्यत |

Towards sun-rise, that very terrific battle became tumultuous between demons and monkeys.

3) After the eliminiation of Ravana, coronating Vibhishana as the King of Lanka, Shri Rama reached the ashrama of Sage Bharadwaja on the panchami, ie., 5 day in the bright half of lunar month.

पूर्णे चतुर्दशे वर्षे पञ्चम्यां लक्ष्मणाग्रजः |
भरद्वाजाश्रमं प्राप्य ववन्दे नियतो मुनिम् || ६-१२४-१

After the fourteenth year of exile, on the fifth day of the bright half of lunar month Sri Rama and Lakshmana reached Bharadwaja's hermitage. They bent their heads down (as a mark of respect) and offered salutations.

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It indicates that the time gap between the occurrence of the war between Shri Rama and Ravana and Shri Rama reaching the ashrama of Sage Bharadwaja is only 5 days.

Hence, the sloka, which indicates the occurrence of war between Shri Rama and Ravana for seven days must be an interpolated one.

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Let us look into the issue in detail.

• Lakshmana killed Indrajit on the kRShNa pakShachaturdashi
• the army of Ravana proceeded to war on the amAvAsya day.
• Shri Rama and Ravana confront each other with various arrows and missiles. Ravana throws a spear on Lakshmana. As it penetrates Lakshmana's bossom, Lakshmana falls down unconscious. Shri Rama hurls hails of arrows on Ravana from his flaming bow. Ravana takes to his heels out of fear.
• Shri Hanuman brings Mount Mahodara . Lakshmana regains consciousness, after getting treated with that herb by Sushena.
• Shri Rama and Ravana fight their final war.
• Shri Rama employs on Ravana, Brahma astra. That arrow kills him.
• All the wives of Ravana lament and Vibhishana performs the funeral of Ravana.
• Vibhishana, to instal him as the King of Lanka
• Indra grants the boon and all the dead monkeys are restored to life.
• Vibhishana arranges the aerial car, Pushpaka to transport Rama and others to Ayodhya stating that it would take them to Ayodhya in 1 day.

                  एवमुक्तस्तु काकुत्स्थं प्रत्युवाच विभीषणः |
                  अह्ना त्वां प्रापयिष्यामि ताम् पुरीं पार्थिवात्मज || ६-१२१-८

Hearing the words of Rama, Vibhishana replied : "O prince! I will get you t that City in a day."

• All the Vanaras, Vibhishana start on their aerial journey in Pushpaka
• Seeing the City of Kishkindha, Sita wishes the wives of other monkey-chiefs with Tara and other beloved wives of Sugreeva to accompany them
• All the wives of the Vanaras ascended Pushpaka
• Shri Rama, travelling in the aerial car towards Ayodhya, lands at the hermitage of Bharadwaja the sage.

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Hence, going by the events, we can infer that the Great war between Shri Rama and Ravana happened for 1 day (approx.), but not for 7 days.