Pages

Showing posts with label Ramayana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ramayana. Show all posts

Monday, November 14, 2016

End of a project, another continues

Today the Ramayana came to an end. It has been a great experience re-reading the epic and retelling.

The vastness of Ramayana and Mahabharata can be easily compared - while the Ramayana is done, Mahabharata is just at the half way mark.

Monday, February 29, 2016

Ramayana Posts - Then and Now

In 2000/ 2001 when I had started writing about the Bengali Ramayana, I had reached till the point where Manthara convinces Kaikeyi to send Rama to the forests.

Not sure why, but I had stopped writing about the Ramayana then. Maybe it was due to work pressures.

Feels nice to see I have reached that point in the Ramayana blog today and if all is well, will carry on.

Monday, January 04, 2016

Frequency of Ramayana and Mahabharata posting

Starting this week, work will be on full swing.
I will try and post there as and when I can, but in case I am not able to, will keep that for the weekends.


Wednesday, December 16, 2015

First Ramayana Post

Just added an introduction. Will add more over the weekend when I get time.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Krittibasi Ramayan

I am going to start this again. I did this once and all my posts were floating all over the internet. I don't mind it floating around , but give me credit please!!

Instead of putting it here , I will put that in a different place - http://babubanglaramayanretell.blogspot.com/
Plan to start from Sunday.

Any comments/ suggestions???


Sunday, December 06, 2015

Krittivasa Ramayan - Opening Shloka / Vaishnava Influence

रामं लक्ष्मण-पूर्वजं रघुवरं सीतापतिं सुंदरम् ।
काकुत्स्थं करुणार्णवं गुणनिधिं विप्रप्रियं धार्मिकम् ।
राजेन्द्रं सत्यसंधं दशरथनयं श्यामलं शान्तमूर्तिम् ।
वन्दे लोकभिरामं रघुकुलतिलकं राघवं रावणारिम् ॥

रामाय रामभद्राय रामचंद्राय वेधसे ।
रघुनाथाय नाथाय सीताया: पतये नम:

Rama, the elder brother of Lakshmana, best of the scions of the Raghu, the husbandof Sita,
handsome Ocean of compassion, treasure of virtues, the most beloved of the religious people
 Lord emperor of kings, follower of truth, son of Dasharath, dark-complexioned, idol tranquillity
Salute to that which pleases the eyes of all people, the crown jewel of the Raghu dynasty and the enemy of Ravana

I salute to Ram, beloved Ram, moon like peaceful Ram
To Lord of Raghu Scion, Lord (of all), husband of Sita, I salute

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The above two shlokas are from the Rama Raksha Stotra attributed to a Rishi called Buddha Kaushika. Who this person was, is still a mystery. It is said, this Rishi was recited the entire Rama Raksha Stotra by Lord Shiva, in a dream.

The above two also form the opening lines for the Kriitibasi Ramayana, the Bengali Ramayan written by Krittivasa.

================================================

There are references to the Kalpataru tree (the tree that fulfils all wishes) and Goloka in the opening stanzas of the Bengali version of the epic. Both these, as per the Puranas are assciated with Krishna and not Narayana or Vishnu.

This also shows the influence of Vaishnava teachings in Bengal in that period.

Both Kriitivasa (or Krittibasa) and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu were from a similar period in Bengal. Krittivasa was born earlier. During the reign of the Pala kings in Bengal, Vaishnava influence was evident in the writings.

The love of Radha and Krishna became immortalized in Vaishnava Padabali.

==================================================

Vaishnava influence of love is evident in the Bengali Ramayana in places. Rama and Lakshmana have tears in their eyes when beg for forgiveness.

What we have today as the Krittibasi Ramayana may not be  100% of his work. He had written his work in the 14th / 15th century. In the last 3 - 4 centuries, people discovered his work, added some of their own shlokas and interpretations

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\

Irrespective of this, the 600 pages of the Bengali composition is a joy to read. In simple verse, it has many Bengali interpretations of customs (Rama's wedding is one such example, with Sita being offered Sankha and Pala as wedding bangles) and slight deviations from the Valmiki Ramayana (Mahiravana and Ahiravana is one, and Rama's Akal Bodhan).


=============================

Reading this gives that joy. It also reminds one that when this was being composed, Bhakti movement had started in Bengal.

Wednesday, December 02, 2015

Rishyasringa - The Deer horned One

There are stories of Rishyasringa in the versions of Ramayana I have read, but the version in the Mahabharata attracts more.

The basic story is the story, except while Rishyasringa does not have a big role in Ramayana, post Rama's birth, his story continues for a bit more in the Mahabharata.

This is in Book 3 of the Mahabharata - Vana Prava.

A bit of the background - Yudhistira had lost his kingdom in the game of dice. Roaming in the forests with his brothers, they were wondering what to do. Arjuna had then said he will go for meditation and try to get divine weapons, which would help them in the war.


While Arjuna was away, Yudhistira had met the sage Lomasa on the Risava mountain. The mountain was so divine that only the pure heart-ed ones could see it. That is where Vishwamitra had performed his penances. That is also where a rishi, Vibhandaka had performed his meditation and had a child, born from a doe.

Curious, Yudhistira wanted to know more and Lomasa had then narrated the story.

==============

In the clan of rsihi Kashyapa, was born Vibhandaka, who at a young age, having proceeded towards the banks of a lake and devoted himself to penances. He lived there for years, meditating.
Once while cleaning himself in the lake, he saw the celestial nymph Urvashi. (Ramayana says Indra had sent the nymph to distract the sage, who in the form of a doe had snuggled up to the sage). Seeing the nymph, the sage was filled with passion, discharged his semen in the lake of the water. A doe that happened to be there, drank up the water, and became pregnant with child.
The doe was a cursed nymph. She had been cursed by Brahma saying she would roam around like a doe and would be freed once she gave birth to a great saint.
The child born of the doe was Rishyasringa. The doe had left her mark on the child's forehead, and there was a horn on his head.
Rishyasringa, devoted to penances,  passed his days in the forest.Barring his father, he had not seen any other human and had lived his life in peace.
In the land of Anga, Lompada had once angered a rishi, who cursed the king that his kingdom would suffer from severe drought.
His priests told him to send for Rishyasringa. If he came, the rains would follow.
The king then  convened a meeting of his ministers,asking for a plan for getting a visit from Rishyasringa.  The ministers decided to send for the courtesans of the kingdom. Their job was to entice the saint and get him to come to the kingdom of Anga.
While all declined, fearing being cursed, an old woman in the group agreed to do the task. Taking many beautiful women, jewels, wealth, food and drink, the woman set forth towards the forest where the saint lived.

She built a floating hermitage, full of artificial trees and flowers. The trees were laden with sweets, and the artificial river was made from honey. She then had this hermitage steered towards the place where the saint lived and waited patiently.
One day she saw the saint along. She then sent her daughter to entice the saint.

Never having seen a woman before, the saint welcomed the woman. Acting as a saint herself, the woman enticed the saint to visit her hermitage. She also gave him sweets to eat, telling him these were fruits from her hermitage. She then left the saint alone.

When his father returned home, he saw his son sitting lonely. Hearing from his son what had happened, he tried to warn his son.
The next day when Vibhandaka left his ashrama, the woman came and this time she was successfully able to get the saint to leave with her.

The floating hermitage then went off to Anga in swift speed. As soon as it touched the shores of Anga, it started raining there.

The king then built roads leading to where Vibhandaka lived and welcomed the sage to Anga. In the meanwhile, he gave his daughter, Shanta to Rishyasringa as his wife. Vibhandaka was pleased to see his son happy. He blessed him and told him to leave and come back to his old ashrama, as soon as a  son was born to him.

Rama's sister

As per Ramayana, Rama did have a sister. She was the eldest child of Dasharatha and Kaushalya. When she was a child, the king of Anga, Lompada had visited Ayodhya. Lompada was Dashratha's brother in law, having married Vershini, sister of Kaushalya.

Lompada was also Dashratha's childhood friend.

Lompada was childless and had asked for Dasharatha's child, to be raised as the princess of Anga.

Dasharatha had agreed and Lompada had then formally adopted the child.

Valmiki Ramayana and the bengali version, Krittivasi Ramayana, both refer to this.

Shanta had married the sage Rishyasringa.

Wednesday, November 04, 2015

Ramayan on Star Plus

Saw the promos of Siya ke Ram today. Starts on 16th November on Star Plus. Same time when Hanuman airs on Sony.
This is supposed to be Ramayana from Sita's point of view.

Hope the makers don't go about writing their own version of the epic.

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Ramayan in other sacred texts

I am coming across references to the Ramayana in many other texts.
Srimad Bhagwad Purana has a reference to Rama and killing of Ravana. This book takes it further and talks about descendants of Rama.

Then there is Devi Bhagwad Purana. This Purana talks about Devi and her greatness. This Purana incidentally also has Ramayana here.This also talks about how Rama performed Navaratri and worshiped the Goddess.

This story of Rama praying to the Goddess does not find a mention in the Valmiki Ramayana, but is there Krittibasi Ramayan, the Bengali version of the epic.

This also gets to think about Ramayana. As this is mentioned in the various texts, was Ramayana something that had happened.

Also, who was Veda Vyasa, the author of Mahabharata and the Puranas? Was this a person  or a group of people, who knew the Vedas and had mastered them (A-Bhayas), thus getting a title Veda Vyasa?

No clue.

Its good to read and trying to understand and at the most, enjoy them.

Monday, October 26, 2015

Ramayan in Mahabharat - Conclusion

Kumbhakarna was killed by Rama as per Ramayana, but here Lakshmana has a bigger role in the war, and he is the one that kills the demon.

There is no account for Hanumana, fetching the mountain, for medicine.

Vibhishana has an active role in the war.

Sita's fire sacrifice is not mentioned here.

When Yudhistira after hearing the story of Rama, asked Markandeya what had Draupadi done that she should face this fate. How should chaste pure wives behave. It is then, that the rishi started telling the princes, the story of Savitri.


Angada saluted Ravana and conveyed Rama's message. Release Sita and will go in peace. Hearing Angada speak, the angered Rakshashas tried to attack him, but he fought and fled from Ravana's court. Seeing this, Rama launched an attack on Lanka. Accompanied with Lakshmana and Vibhishana, started showering arrows in all directions. Many Rakshashas died. Skilled worriers like Indrajit (Ravana's son) tried their best but could not contain the army of men, monkeys and bears. Vibhishana fought and killed many Rakshasha warriors. War stopped at sunset.
Seeing the fate of his army, Ravana gave orders to get Kumbhakarna to get ready for battle. Kumbhakarna was woken up. Awake, he got ready for battle.
The giant rakshasha came to the battlefield and started eating up monkeys, grabbing them and pushing them down his throat. He pounced on Sugriva and tried to eat him, but was stopped by Lakshamana. Brandishing a brahmastra, Lakshmana killed Kumbhakarna.

Hearing of heroic warriors falling in battle, Ravana asked Indrajit to go to battle. Indrajit came and challenged Lakshama to battle. Lakshmana was able to live up to the challenge. Sensing defeat, Indrajit made himself invisible and started showering arrows. Rama and Lakshamana fell down senseless. Seeing them fall, Indrajit, thinking them dead, left the battle field.

Vibhishana was fighting in another part of the battle. Hearing of Rama's fall, he quickly arrived. Knowing the art of medicine, he brought Rama and Lakshmana brought back to sense and got their wounds dressed. Then he gave Rama, water that was a gift from Kubera. Applying that water on the eyes, would make all invisible creatures visible.

Getting up, Lakshmana wanted to take revenge on Indrajit. Indrajit, surprised, returned to the battlefield. In the battle that followed, Indrajit was killed by Lakshmana.

Ravana, on hearing the news of his son's death wanted to kill Sita but was advised against killing any women by his well wishers. Agreeing, Ravana went to the battlefield.

Knowing that a fierce battle would take place, Indra sent his chariot for Rama.  In the battle that followed, Rama killed Ravana. Rama then crowned Vibhishana as the new king on Lanka. Rama then went to Sita and told her she was free. He also told her, as he was not aware of her purity, she was free to go where she wanted. Brahma then appeared and told Rama that Sita was pure.

Accompanied by his renaming army, Rama and Lakshmama returned back from Lanka, along with Sita. Crowing Angada as the king of Kishkindhya, Rama, Lakshmana and Sita, realizing their time of exile was over, went over to Nandigrama, where Bharata was staying. United, all brothers went back to their kingdom.

Thus ends the Ramayan as told by Rishi Markandeya.