Ramayana: India's Immortal Tale of Adventure, Love, and Wisdom - Softcover

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9781887089067: Ramayana: India's Immortal Tale of Adventure, Love, and Wisdom

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1887089063 ISBN 13: 9781887089067

Publisher: Torchlight Publishing,U.S., 2004

A dramatised version of India's famous epic, containing all the details of the main narrative. Prince Rama, an avatara of the divine Vishnu, is banished to the forest on the eve of his coronation by the evil machinations of a royal maidservant. While there with his beautiful wife Sita he encounters and kills many fierce demons and eventually has his wife kidnapped by their mighty leader, Ravana. He then enlists the help of a band of celestial apes known as the Vanaras, who scour the earth and find her in Ravana's island lair, Lanka. Rama and the apes construct a great ocean bridge to Lanka and a terrible war ensues for the sake of Sita.

Written in a modern, flowing style, this book offers Western readers an excellent opportunity to become acquainted with this much loved work, originally composed in Sanskrit poetry. With its profound spiritual undertones and themes, this ancient tale has influenced every aspect of Indian society over the millenia, and remains to this day the most popular sacred work in the subcontinent.

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From the Author:

Brief description of book
This is a novelised adaptation of the ancient Indian classic. It contains all the essential narrative of the original Sanskrit text, but written in a contemporary style. I have tried to make it as readable as possible, using the techniques of character development and dramatisation to draw the reader into the action. I think in that regard this version is more or less unique. By weaving in other spiritual commentaries on this profound text, another unique feature, I have also tried to offer the reader the benefit of the wisdom of ancient India’s seers and sages.

It was my love for this wonderful book which made me write my adaptation, and I hope I have been able to share that love with others. Whether you enjoy it simply as a great adventure story, or you enter deeply into its spiritual messages, you will surely find it an engaging read. All in all, I would say it is as authentic and complete a version as you are likely to find outside of scholarly translations, but a whole lot easier to read. If you enjoy this, then look out for my adaptation of the Mahabharata, another Indian classic, due to be published in Spring 1999.

Happy reading! Krishna Dharma (Ken Anderson) Author

Synopsis:

The Ramayana (Journey of Rama) is possibly the world's oldest literature. Cherished throughout India and much of Asia for centuries, it has been faithfully preserved and passed on through poems, folk tales, music, dance, drama, sculpture, painting, even film and graphic novels. This story and its characters have captured the hearts and minds of countless generations. Revered through the ages for its moral and spiritual wisdom, it is an uplifting tale of romance and high adventure, recounting the odyssey of Rama, a great King of ancient India.

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