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The two epics, the Ramayan and the Mahabharat are two encyclopaedias of ancient Aryan life and wisdom, portraying an ideal civilization. The Ramayan is a perennial source of spiritual, cultural and artistic inspiration to all readers. Rama is the ideal son, the ideal ruler, the ideal husband and the ideal son. Sita is unique, the embodiment of the ideals of womanhood.
Bala kanda, Ayodhya kanda, Aranya kanda, Kishkinda kanda, Sundara kanda, Yuddha kanda, form the different sections of this great love story. Beginning with Valmiki and Narada, Bala kanda deals with Dasaratha and the birth of Rama, Vishvamitra taking the lads to the forest and ends with Sita kalyanam. The second part deals with Rama's banishment and Bharata's appeal. The third talks of Panchavati, dandaka forest, Shurpanakha, Shabari and Sita being taken to Ravana's Lanka. Kishkinda kanda deals with Rama's search for Sita while Sundara Kanda talks of Hanuman entering Lanka. Yudha Kanda talks of the war between humans, monkeys and the rakshasas, ending with the coronation of Rama.
Kamala Subramaniam's trilogy- Mahabharata, Srimad Bhagvatam and Ramayan, is a stupendous literary achievement. She was a literary person who left a legacy of good reading for the future generations. She established herself as a narrator in Mahabharata, while Srimad Bhagavatam soared to ecstatic devotional heights and she excelled herself in Ramayan, completing the trilogy of epics.
Bala kanda, Ayodhya kanda, Aranya kanda, Kishkinda kanda, Sundara kanda, Yuddha kanda, form the different sections of this great love story. Beginning with Valmiki and Narada, Bala kanda deals with Dasaratha and the birth of Rama, Vishvamitra taking the lads to the forest and ends with Sita kalyanam. The second part deals with Rama's banishment and Bharata's appeal. The third talks of Panchavati, dandaka forest, Shurpanakha, Shabari and Sita being taken to Ravana's Lanka. Kishkinda kanda deals with Rama's search for Sita while Sundara Kanda talks of Hanuman entering Lanka. Yudha Kanda talks of the war between humans, monkeys and the rakshasas, ending with the coronation of Rama.
Kamala Subramaniam's trilogy- Mahabharata, Srimad Bhagvatam and Ramayan, is a stupendous literary achievement. She was a literary person who left a legacy of good reading for the future generations. She established herself as a narrator in Mahabharata, while Srimad Bhagavatam soared to ecstatic devotional heights and she excelled herself in Ramayan, completing the trilogy of epics.
688 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 20, 2019
I considered Kamala Subramaniam's work as amazing piece of work. I always admired Bhartiya bhavans books for publishing such kind of work. I have read this work as trilogy. Everyone should read this Ramayana, Mahabharata and Srimad Bhagavatam.
June 5, 2021
The Ramayan depicts the ideals to which all people should aspire. Ram being the ideal person, taking sorrows and joys without any complaint and keeping himself under control, 'maryada purushottam', even though he had magnificent prowess. The character of Hanuman is inspiring too, and he too has ascended to the status of God. Mrs Subramaniam has portrayed the characters true to what I imagine Valmiki wrote, and has not made any real alterations to the text. It is engaging and its characters should be studied.
If there is only one thing I would say is a drawback, is that she uses lots of terminology such as Rakshasa, Danava, Devas which confuse the reader into thinking that this is based in a mystical fantastic land; These are communities of human people with this character, Rakshasa character means highly passionate, controlled by the senses and egoistic.
However if you can look past these small details which seem unrealistic, however give Ramayan some charm, we can truly uplift our lives by studying the characters.
Pranam to Mrs Subramaniam
If there is only one thing I would say is a drawback, is that she uses lots of terminology such as Rakshasa, Danava, Devas which confuse the reader into thinking that this is based in a mystical fantastic land; These are communities of human people with this character, Rakshasa character means highly passionate, controlled by the senses and egoistic.
However if you can look past these small details which seem unrealistic, however give Ramayan some charm, we can truly uplift our lives by studying the characters.
Pranam to Mrs Subramaniam
October 1, 2020
This is a pretty good retelling. It retains the flavor of the original, nor does it leave out too much. I like to keep a copy in my library
August 28, 2021
Great Book
Great Book. Very comprehensive yet concise. It is a "must have" book in every Hindu home. My salutations to the writer.
Great Book. Very comprehensive yet concise. It is a "must have" book in every Hindu home. My salutations to the writer.
July 18, 2021
The Ramayana is considered one of the great epics of literature. You wouldn't know it by reading this rendition.
The two great epics of Hinduism are the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Both have been passed down the ages orally. In the last century, several different authors have attempted to capture that oral tradition in written prose. This author's version was written many decades ago and for a long time it was considered to be an authoritative one.
However, I was sorely disappointed by it.
1. Several short stories lifted from the Ramayana that have become household fables in India are missing. For instance, during the episode that Sita is abducted by Ravana, it is household lore that Lakshmana drew a line outside the hut that Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana lived in for Sita's protection, telling her that as long as she remained within the bounds, no harm could come to her. Of course, Ravana disguised as a hungry sage somehow coaxes her to step outside and the rest is history. This line came to be known as "Lakshmana rekha" (or "Lakshmana's line") and has entered everyday parlance in India, as in "My son/daughter, you must return home by 11:00 pm from your friends' party -- 11:00 pm is your Lakshmana rekha for tonight." In this rendition, Ravana isn't dressed as a sage, Sita is half naked as Ravana verbalizes how beautiful Sita is and includes her breasts in the description (Gasp!) and there is no Lakshmana rekha at all.
Another episode that is completely missing is how when Rama and Lakshmana meet Shabri, and Shabri offers them berries that she has collected, the brothers notice that every berry is partly eaten. When asked about that, Shabri humbly explains how she wanted the brothers to get only the sweet ones and therefore she took the trouble of tasting each and every one rejecting the ones that were not sweet enough. The meeting between Shabri and the brothers appears here but the half-eaten berries are completely missing. What would be the purpose of putting in an episode in a book where two brothers meet a random person and there is no significance to that meeting? Even the editors would edit such a thing out of the final version. Not here though.
In the big picture of things, I suppose some of these are excusable. What is not excusable is how the author deliberately ends the Ramayana without describing how Rama --- after his coronation and the birth of his twins --- ultimately rejects Sita and Sita asks Mother Earth to accept her -- the Earth opens up right then and there and Sita vanishes inside the fissure. This is absolutely one of the most important events in the Ramayana --- how can the author fail to relate it?!
2. A good author allows readers to decide for themselves the good and bad qualities of the characters in the plot. In this rendition, you are constantly told that Rama is handsome, compassionate, kind, loving, brave, just, etc., etc. If you delete those passages and judge Rama purely on his actions, you would not come to the same conclusion. Compared to many other great epics and stories where the qualities of the heroes emerge from their actions, Rama comes across as an unjust wimp. Honestly. Read this version of the Ramayana!
Lakshmana and Hanuman would be the heroes of this great epic.
3. Suppose Person X goes off on an adventure by themselves. You the reader are taken on that adventure with X. The adventure is described in full detail with descriptions of the locations, the various actors, the enemies and the events.
Person X returns to Person Y and has to relate their adventure to Y. In this rendition of the Ramayana, you the reader are subjected to the whole description all over again!! Weird! What. Is. The. Purpose. Of. Doing. This?
There are many other flaws some trivial and other serious to describe here. Someday I hope to read a much better version of this great epic. You might want to look elsewhere too.
The two great epics of Hinduism are the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Both have been passed down the ages orally. In the last century, several different authors have attempted to capture that oral tradition in written prose. This author's version was written many decades ago and for a long time it was considered to be an authoritative one.
However, I was sorely disappointed by it.
1. Several short stories lifted from the Ramayana that have become household fables in India are missing. For instance, during the episode that Sita is abducted by Ravana, it is household lore that Lakshmana drew a line outside the hut that Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana lived in for Sita's protection, telling her that as long as she remained within the bounds, no harm could come to her. Of course, Ravana disguised as a hungry sage somehow coaxes her to step outside and the rest is history. This line came to be known as "Lakshmana rekha" (or "Lakshmana's line") and has entered everyday parlance in India, as in "My son/daughter, you must return home by 11:00 pm from your friends' party -- 11:00 pm is your Lakshmana rekha for tonight." In this rendition, Ravana isn't dressed as a sage, Sita is half naked as Ravana verbalizes how beautiful Sita is and includes her breasts in the description (Gasp!) and there is no Lakshmana rekha at all.
Another episode that is completely missing is how when Rama and Lakshmana meet Shabri, and Shabri offers them berries that she has collected, the brothers notice that every berry is partly eaten. When asked about that, Shabri humbly explains how she wanted the brothers to get only the sweet ones and therefore she took the trouble of tasting each and every one rejecting the ones that were not sweet enough. The meeting between Shabri and the brothers appears here but the half-eaten berries are completely missing. What would be the purpose of putting in an episode in a book where two brothers meet a random person and there is no significance to that meeting? Even the editors would edit such a thing out of the final version. Not here though.
In the big picture of things, I suppose some of these are excusable. What is not excusable is how the author deliberately ends the Ramayana without describing how Rama --- after his coronation and the birth of his twins --- ultimately rejects Sita and Sita asks Mother Earth to accept her -- the Earth opens up right then and there and Sita vanishes inside the fissure. This is absolutely one of the most important events in the Ramayana --- how can the author fail to relate it?!
2. A good author allows readers to decide for themselves the good and bad qualities of the characters in the plot. In this rendition, you are constantly told that Rama is handsome, compassionate, kind, loving, brave, just, etc., etc. If you delete those passages and judge Rama purely on his actions, you would not come to the same conclusion. Compared to many other great epics and stories where the qualities of the heroes emerge from their actions, Rama comes across as an unjust wimp. Honestly. Read this version of the Ramayana!
Lakshmana and Hanuman would be the heroes of this great epic.
3. Suppose Person X goes off on an adventure by themselves. You the reader are taken on that adventure with X. The adventure is described in full detail with descriptions of the locations, the various actors, the enemies and the events.
Person X returns to Person Y and has to relate their adventure to Y. In this rendition of the Ramayana, you the reader are subjected to the whole description all over again!! Weird! What. Is. The. Purpose. Of. Doing. This?
There are many other flaws some trivial and other serious to describe here. Someday I hope to read a much better version of this great epic. You might want to look elsewhere too.
November 4, 2024
Kamala Subramaniam's rendition of the Ramayana offers a unique perspective on this ancient epic, aiming to present the story in a way that resonates with contemporary readers while remaining faithful to its roots.
Subramaniam's Ramayana is celebrated for its narrative depth and emotional richness. It explores the trials and tribulations faced by Lord Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana, delving into themes of dharma (righteousness), loyalty, and sacrifice. The author skillfully weaves together the complexities of human emotions and moral dilemmas that define the characters' journeys.
One notable aspect of Subramaniam's work is her portrayal of Lord Rama. The narrative emphasizes his struggles with duty and personal loss, particularly during Sita's abduction and subsequent trials.
The author also highlights the roles of secondary characters like Lakshmana and Hanuman, who are depicted as heroic figures in their own right. Their loyalty and bravery serve to enrich the story, providing a counterbalance to Rama's more contemplative nature.
The Ramayana remains a significant cultural touchstone in Indian mythological literature, and Subramaniam's version is praised for making this epic accessible to modern audiences. Her work has been described as offering an "epic spine" to readers, connecting them deeply with Indian cultural heritage.
Subramaniam's Ramayana is celebrated for its narrative depth and emotional richness. It explores the trials and tribulations faced by Lord Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana, delving into themes of dharma (righteousness), loyalty, and sacrifice. The author skillfully weaves together the complexities of human emotions and moral dilemmas that define the characters' journeys.
One notable aspect of Subramaniam's work is her portrayal of Lord Rama. The narrative emphasizes his struggles with duty and personal loss, particularly during Sita's abduction and subsequent trials.
The author also highlights the roles of secondary characters like Lakshmana and Hanuman, who are depicted as heroic figures in their own right. Their loyalty and bravery serve to enrich the story, providing a counterbalance to Rama's more contemplative nature.
The Ramayana remains a significant cultural touchstone in Indian mythological literature, and Subramaniam's version is praised for making this epic accessible to modern audiences. Her work has been described as offering an "epic spine" to readers, connecting them deeply with Indian cultural heritage.
June 9, 2023
Most readable translation of the beautiful itihāsa.
Swami Krishnananda wrote: If the religion of the Hindus had exhausted itself in the visions of the Vedas, Hinduism would have died out long ago and remained today as a memory, like the cultures of Babylon, Greece or Egypt. The awe-inspiring Brahman had to be made accessible to all. The itihāsas and purāṇas came to the help of the general man. The Ramayana and the Mahabharata are the towering itihāsas of India, that have saturated the Indian mind in religious thought. The religion that the common Hindu knows and practices is the religion of the itihāsas and purāṇas. It is this prolific literature that has made India spiritual in character (Short History of Religious and Philosophic Thought, Pages 42-44).
Itihāsa is not fiction. Itihāsa means "so it has been." The two itihāsas contain legendary or traditional history, heroic history, historical evidence, and historical story.
Swami Krishnananda wrote: If the religion of the Hindus had exhausted itself in the visions of the Vedas, Hinduism would have died out long ago and remained today as a memory, like the cultures of Babylon, Greece or Egypt. The awe-inspiring Brahman had to be made accessible to all. The itihāsas and purāṇas came to the help of the general man. The Ramayana and the Mahabharata are the towering itihāsas of India, that have saturated the Indian mind in religious thought. The religion that the common Hindu knows and practices is the religion of the itihāsas and purāṇas. It is this prolific literature that has made India spiritual in character (Short History of Religious and Philosophic Thought, Pages 42-44).
Itihāsa is not fiction. Itihāsa means "so it has been." The two itihāsas contain legendary or traditional history, heroic history, historical evidence, and historical story.
April 9, 2024
The Ramayana's core themes resonate with readers across cultures and time. The struggle between good and evil, the importance of upholding dharma (duty), and the power of love and loyalty are timeless. From the noble Rama and the steadfast Sita to the wily Hanuman and the vengeful Ravana, the Ramayana is filled with unforgettable characters who embody various aspects of the human condition. The Ramayana offers a glimpse into ancient Indian society, its customs, beliefs, and philosophical underpinnings.
The Ramayana is a literary masterpiece that has captivated audiences for millennia. Its rich themes, complex characters, and enduring story make it a must-read for anyone interested in mythology, religion, or simply a captivating tale. Whether you approach it as a religious text, a historical document or a work of pure fiction, the Ramayana has something to offer everyone.
The Ramayana is a literary masterpiece that has captivated audiences for millennia. Its rich themes, complex characters, and enduring story make it a must-read for anyone interested in mythology, religion, or simply a captivating tale. Whether you approach it as a religious text, a historical document or a work of pure fiction, the Ramayana has something to offer everyone.
March 30, 2023
Very Adapt and simple but written with devotion to the greatest ever event in our history
Thank you Madam ! May you have achieved the blessings at the feet of the Lord .
Thank you .
Thank you Madam ! May you have achieved the blessings at the feet of the Lord .
Thank you .
September 17, 2023
Epic
Lovely English rendering. This is my first time at reading ramayana. Descriptions and narration are unique. I now desire to read the original
Lovely English rendering. This is my first time at reading ramayana. Descriptions and narration are unique. I now desire to read the original
October 12, 2024
Exceptional! Epic ! Spellbound! 12000 years old story still so alive .
June 25, 2018
I always wanted to read Kamala Subramaniam's works. I read online Ramayana's not as highly regarded as the other 2 prominent works, yet I gave it a shot. This was a pretty good read when considering the facts that its a translation and written ~35-40years back.
Ramayana's more poetic than Mahabharata and a darn tough translation. There were quite some places where I was like 'meh' but there were also quite some places where I felt the poetic tone from the read. The English translation impacted the work quite a bit. But, that's a chance a reader must take.
According to me, she did a pretty good job w/ Bala Kanda & Ayodhya Kanda. Aranya Kanda felt dragged at some places but, I got to read few interesting points which was not explained in movies or other works. Kishkindha Kanda picked up pace and Sundara Kanda was extremely well written. Yuddha Kanda had many problems but, never too off.
Learnt few more things about Ramayana, which is always good. Overall a compelling read. 4.5/5!
Ramayana's more poetic than Mahabharata and a darn tough translation. There were quite some places where I was like 'meh' but there were also quite some places where I felt the poetic tone from the read. The English translation impacted the work quite a bit. But, that's a chance a reader must take.
According to me, she did a pretty good job w/ Bala Kanda & Ayodhya Kanda. Aranya Kanda felt dragged at some places but, I got to read few interesting points which was not explained in movies or other works. Kishkindha Kanda picked up pace and Sundara Kanda was extremely well written. Yuddha Kanda had many problems but, never too off.
Learnt few more things about Ramayana, which is always good. Overall a compelling read. 4.5/5!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews