Ramayana: India's Immortal Tale of Adventure, Love and Wisdom by Krishna Dharma Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Ramayana: India's Immortal Tale of Adventure, Love and Wisdom
Book Review: A very famous story but...
Summary: 3 Stars
I read this book with great interest. Certainly the story of Rama's tale is exciting and one that is recounted many time in the East. However, in reading the story, one thing kept getting in the way: the book keeps praising the virtues of Brahmins non-stop. After a while, this ceaseless glorification of Brahmins became extremely annoying, at least for a non-Indian like me. I am speculating here but the story of Ramayana probably had a big influence in the way the caste system in India evolve through the centuries.Book Review: Retelling of a Classic Work of World Literature
Summary: 5 Stars
Krishna Dharma's retelling of the Ramayana excels at conveying the greatness of this ancient story. The battles in the story are larger-than-life, the emotions intense.I was put off a little by Rama's behavior from time to time, especially when you consider who he really is. The outcome of the story was utterly obvious from the moment we become aware of Rama's true identity; however, the twist in the story that occurs near the end caught me off guard.
There are other versions of the Ramayana that I've recently become aware of. One portrays the villain, Ravana, as the real hero; if this were one of Homer's poems, Ravana could definitely qualify as a great hero.
I highly recommend Krishna Dharma's retelling. He knows the story well enough, and is creative enough a writer, to fully convey all the messages and emotions the Ramayana attempts to send your way. The artwork is also very beautiful.
Book Review: The Heartbreak of the King
Summary: 5 Stars
Rama is the most perfect of King Dasarath's sons. He is wise and kind, devout, respectful, and a fearsome warrior. In the course of his youthful exploits he has fallen in love with Sita, who he now brings back in triumph to his father's city of Ayodhya. But, on the very day he is to be named Dasarath's heir, treachery takes place. Banished from Ajodhya by the machinations of one of Dasarath's jealous wives, Rama and Sita undertake an unconceivable adventure to rid the world of evil and return to Rama what is rightfully his.And so begins one of the oldest and most spectacular adventures in literary history. Perhaps the oldest Indian epic, 'The Ramayana' is a grand story, a cautionary tale, and a vivid picture of the Vedic culture of one of the world's larger countries. This story, like told in 'The Mahabharata,' is deeply embedded in Indian culture. The tales display many of the key beliefs that have shaped Indian thought for centuries. For a student of the area, searching for common threads, they are required reading. For many this is still a text of religious importance. As Dharma quotes, "This legend is the bestower of longevity, the enhancer of fortune, and the dispeller of sins.
Certainly, in addition to these virtues, 'The Ramayana' is a font of creative ideas. For those of us who get bogged down in Western approaches and answers it is an opportunity to see how other cultures have come to deal with questions that are common to all. As such it is a lesson in the ingeniousness of the human mind and the great commonalties of the human spirit. The difference in context and the epic scale can be a source of inspiration as well as outstanding entertainment.
This edition was created by Krishna Dharma, a Vaishnava priest and well-known translator of Sanskrit writings, is not so much a word for word translation as it is a detailed retelling. As such its style and rhythm is better adapted to Western tastes than stricter, more academic fare. On the other hand, Krishna Dharma leaves little out, and truly captures the feeling of the original. As such this is a massive accomplishment. The inclusion of various illustrations, both black and white and color enhance its value and impressiveness. Previous to buying this copy my exposure to the legend has been via excerpts, descriptions, and reenactments. These were adequate to their purpose, but reading the story in its proper sequence has added much to my experience.
Book Review: Excellent Book
Summary: 5 Stars
I found this book very interesting and easy to read. I was so enraptured by the story that I have read it more than ten times since I bought the book. The author has brought alived the characters throughout his story, so when you are reading, It just like you are watching the story. I found this book is helpful for those new readers and also for those first readers of this story. Once you have read the story, you will find interesting and you will surely would like to read other books written by the same author, especially the "Mahabharata".Book Review: Author's comments
Summary: 5 Stars
Ramayana must rank as one of the most loved and revered books of all time. A part of India's ancient Vedas, it is a beautiful story of romance and adventure. It recounts the history of Rama, said be an incarnation of the Godhead, and his divine consort Sita. Filled with magic and mysticism, it entrances the reader and stirs deeply moving emotions. At the same time its profound spiritual messages leave one feeling uplifted and enriched. This is a novelisation of the classic. It contains all the essential narrative of the original Sanskrit poem, but written in a contemporary style. Whilst adhering closely to the original, 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. By weaving in other spiritual commentaries on this sacred text, I have also tried to offer the reader the benefit of the wisdom of India's seers and sages. As I am sure you will discover when your read the book, that wisdom is as relevant in today's stressful world as it was thousands of years ago, when it was first written.It was my love for this wonderful book which prompted me to 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 meaning, you will surely find it an engaging read. All in all, I would say that this is as authentic and complete a version as you are likely to find outside of scholarly translations, but it is a lot easier to read. If you enjoy this, then you might like to try my novelisation of the Mahabharata, the other great Indian epic, which is also published by Torchlight.