Indians, and followers of Lord Rama all over the world, are waiting with bated breath for the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ (consecration) of Ram Lalla, the infant Lord Ram in Ayodhya on January 22.
For learners in general and for students in particular, it will do good to know about Rama’s story. Because, the Ramayana is not just one of the greatest epics of Hindu mythology but also an educational medium that teaches the code of conduct or ‘Dharma’ through the ages.
The Ramayana, traditionally ascribed to the Maharishi Valmiki, narrates the life of Rama, a prince of Ayodhya in the kingdom of Kosala.
There are various versions of the Ramayana which you can read, the most popular ones being:
Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas
Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas is an epic poem in the Awadhi language, based on the Ramayana, and composed by the 16th-century Indian bhakti poet Tulsidas.
Gorakhpur-based Gita Press’s manager has recently said that the increased demand for Ramcharitmanas, in the wake of the consecration ceremony of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, depleted their entire stock.
Kamba Ramayana
This is a Tamil version of the Ramayana composed in the 12th century by Kamban. It is considered one of the greatest literary works in Tamil literature.
The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic by R.K. Narayan
This particular telling of the Ramayana by R.K. Narayan is based on classical versions by Valmiki (in Sanskrit) and Kamban (in Tamil).
This book is a good option for those wishing to read the Ramayana but getting bogged down by its length and depth. R.K. Narayan preserves the depth of the original epic while making the story more approachable to people looking for a less intimidating version of the legendary tale.
Other than these, there are also a couple of popular imaginative retellings of the Ramayana such as:
Ramayana Series by Ashok K. Banker
The Ramayana series by Ashok K. Banker includes books such as the Prince of Ayodhya (2003), Siege of Mithila (2003), Demons of Chitrakut (2004), Armies of Hanuman (2005), Bridge of Rama (2005), King of Ayodhya (2006) etc.
This contemporary adaptation used fast-paced storytelling to present a fresh viewpoint.
The Forest of Enchantments by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
The Forest of Enchantments is a modern-day retelling of the Ramayana where Sita is placed at the centre of the story.
It is also a very human story of some of the other women in the epic who are often misunderstood: Kaikeyi, Surpanakha, Mandodari. The book is about women’s struggle to retain autonomy in a world that privileges men.
