An exhaustive study
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The book unravels Rama's persona, bringing out its noble and benign attributes.
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`Ayodhyayile Sreeraman' by Acharya Barendra Bhushan; Rainbow Book Publishers, Changennur.
NO OTHER epic or classic has had such a profound and far-reaching impact on Malayalam as `The Ramayana,' be it Valmiki's, Bhasa's, Kambar's or that of Tulsi Das. And the saga of Rama has been retold in various Indian languages in a variety of forms such as `attakkatha,' `thullal,' `champu,' `paana,' `paattu' and `mahakavya,' accounting for scores of literary creations. The first-ever work on the Rama legend to surface in Malayalam was `Ramacharitam' that came out probably in the 12th century. And ever since, there has been a string of different versions representing a diversity of forms and styles, with Ezhuthachan's `Adhyatma Ramayanam' emerging as the finest of the lot, in rhyme, rhythm and rhapsodic quality.
Awakening people
Rainbow Book Publishers has recently brought out a volume on the `mass and majesty' of `The Ramayana' and the uniqueness of its hero. Titled `Ayodhyayile Sreeraman,' it seeks to portray Rama, the `divine' protagonist of many a myth and legend, in a precise historical perspective. Written by Acharya Narendra Bhushan, an authority on Vedic times and letters, the volume has emerged as an exhaustive study on Rama. The first part deals with the reference of the Rama fable in the Vedas and its variations in theme and treatment. It throws light on the impact of `The Ramayana' on Buddhist literature and other didactic writings. The different versions are featured subsequently, highlighting the splendour of each.
Analytic in approach and austere in style, Acharya Narendra Bhushan attempts to correct and clarify certain events and episodes that constitute `The Ramayana.' It unravels Rama's persona, bringing out its noble and benign attributes. The other characters too are subjected to close scrutiny in the subsequent sections.
Far from being pedantic, the author puts forth his views candidly, with a fair degree of conviction and clarity of expression. The volume is a valuable addition to the corpus of Rama.
SREEVARAHOM BALAKRISHNAN
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