The Ramayana is generally considered to be older than the Mahabharata.
The Ramayana is attributed to the sage Valmiki and is believed to have been composed around the 5th century BCE to the 4th century BCE, although some estimates suggest it could have been written even earlier. This epic narrates the life of Lord Rama, his wife Sita, and his loyal companion Hanuman, focusing on the themes of duty, righteousness, and the ideal characteristics of husband, wife, and brother.
In contrast, the Mahabharata, attributed to the sage Vyasa, is believed to have been composed later, with estimates placing its composition between the 4th century BCE and the 4th century CE. The Mahabharata tells the story of the Kurukshetra War and explores the moral and philosophical dilemmas faced by its characters, particularly through the Bhagavad Gita, a key philosophical text that is part of this epic.
While both epics are foundational texts in Indian literature and culture, the prevailing scholarly consensus is that the Ramayana predates the Mahabharata.