Itihasas embody the values and virtues of our illustrious past and have a wide acclaim across various sections of the society. Ramayana is a topic of immense interest, specially in the current times due to certain events in the history of Bharatha. This book provides a different way of understanding Rsi Valmiki’s Epic through the perspectives of few of its central characters.
The format of the book is about understanding the main story of Ramayana through some of the central characters. This is a very interesting approach to the epic where the reader learns about the epics in a gradual manner where new information augments the previously discussed points i.e. incremental approach which builds the overall picture in a much more detailed and clear fashion.
One of the standout features of this book are the interesting anecdotes from other epics like Skanda Purana, Mahabharatha, Arthashastra etc. This provides a comprehensive view to the reader which is really beneficial.
Some of the slokas at the conclusion of a chapter are chosen with exquisite care and beautifully augments the narration. A case in point is the shloka at the culmination of the chapter “The Divine Inspiration”. The chapter on Bloodlines is very detailed and explained very well through the illustrations. Similarly, the section on “Arya Unarya” is excellent and very informative. The tidbit on Venkatesha Suprabhatham is expected to invoke some surprise in the readers when the source is revealed in the book. The section on various types of Shulkas like Virya Shulka, Rajya Shulka, Dhana Shulka etc is very well explained and highly informative.
Vasishta and Vishwamitra’s stories are intertwined and how one is the catalyst to the other’s transformation is very wonderfully captured. The authors observations from certain events in the epic and their ramifications on modern life is quite interesting and very informative. The summary towards the conclusion of the chapter “Kinship in Kishkinda” along with Sugriva’s atlas is top-notch.
Chapter 13 named “The Difficulty of Being Good” explains the perspectives of Vibhishana. Personally, I can understand the rationale for the title. However, the puritan in me finds this difficult as the name is also of a famous book by Gurucharan Das which provides a very interesting take on Mahabharatha. I wish the chapter was named slightly differently.
The book is mainly based on the CE and Valmiki Ramayana from Gita Press. This is truly commendable considering the multiple retellings, specially the local ones with their own anecdotes. Considering the Gita Press version as a reference, there are some specific points which I personally felt were generalised and specific details are missing from the book.
Point 1:
In the Summary Storyline, author has mentioned that Dasharatha had 3 wives, but no progeny. It is important to note that the Kausalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra were the main queens, but Dasaratha had 350 wives. In Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 34, we find the reference to the same
अर्ध सप्त शताः ताः तु प्रमदाः ताम्र लोचनाः |
कौसल्याम् परिवार्य अथ शनैः जग्मुर् धृत व्रताः || २-३४-१३
Encircling Kausalya, three hundred fifty women, steadfast in their vow(of devotion to their husband), with their eyes reddened, went there slowly.
Point 2:
In the chapter named “A Twist of Fate”, the author doesn’t elaborate on Lakshmana’s reactions on observing Bharatha’s army. In the subsequent chapter called “Soumitri”, again, this aspect is not touched upon. Lakshmana’s anger about the wrongs done to Sri Rama is legendary. His first response as captured in Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 96 is quite explicit.
यन् निमित्तम् भवान् राज्याच् च्युतो राघव शाश्वतीम् |
सम्प्राप्तो अयम् अरिर् वीर भरतो वध्य एव मे || २-९६-२२
O, Rama the warrior! By the reason of whom you were deprived of an eternal kingdom, such Bharata as a foe who is coming here, deserves to be slain by me.
Overall Summary:
This book is definitely very good and highly recommended for young minds as well as those starting with a more analytical study of the epic. For those familiar with the Samskruta / Valmiki Ramayan version, this book provides interesting anecdotes from other epics. Definitely Recommended Book.
On a related note, for those interested in much more deeper analysis of Ramayana, I highly recommend “Lectures on the Ramayana” by Rt. Hon. V. S. Srinivasa Sastri.
Shlokas Courtesy: http://valmikiramayan.pcriot.com/
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