Sunday, August 7, 2011

A story titled "ramyana" ..



It’s 1am and I’ve just finished 6 parts of Ramayana today .
And here I am , wide awake …replaying the entire epic in my mind

Ramayana always meant something special to me . I never saw it on tv…or read it .My entire knowledge of it ( and quite a substantial one at that ) came from what I heard from my nani’s mother …
She was frail , ancient , always wrapped in a spotless white sari . And somehow the story she narrated stuck with me . I don’t remember the words ..or the expressions ..or where did she tell it .
But the Ramayana I have always known …is her Ramayana .

So when I picked up this series ..I was excited . To see as to how much of my memory actually adhered to the main story .
Halfway through , I was lost …in an ecstasy so divine I could feel it pulsating in my brain  .
For it is a book of idealism …which shows you that if you are right …NOTHING …and I repeat ,nothing can touch you.
It is your faith in yourself and your principles that brings you victory .

Dasaratha , the ancient legendary warrior king fighting a losing battle between his ‘dharma’ and his love for his sons ( and wives )
Kaushalya , the kshatriya queen who bears it all with grace .
Kaikeyi , the warrior queen … assertive , proud , untamed . and yet a mother misled by those around her .
Manthara , the shrewd selfish cunning wielder of words ( and power )

Lakshman , the fighter ..who holds his head high . and love for his brother utmost .
Sita , the warrior princess who upholds her honour , dignity and her conviction for her husband .No matter what crosses her path !
Hanuman , the witty , all powerful  , braveheart who serves his Lord with a devotion so strong .. it manifests as his own shakti !
Jambhvan , the age old wise bear who watches it all with sad eyes and lends a hand to those lost around him .

Ravana , a maharishi in Himself . The sage…the sinner…the artist..the warrior…the just…the cunning … the master strategist ..the impulsive punisher .
Mandodhari , beautiful , serene , head-strong … knowing her place in the palace and yet ruling it all with an iron fist !
Suparnakha , the sexy lusty revengeful yaksi-rakshasi …ever on the lookout .

So many …so many more of them . Each character is a book in itself !
As you see the internal politics … the bravery ..the loyalty … the treachery ….every element of drama that unfolds …
You will realize that the book is all about how you FACE your fears . How it is easy to slip on the wrong path …and yet everyone has the inner courage to stick to what they believe is right .
How an army of puny vanars and bears went clashing against the mighty asuras .
Based on just the ove and devotion for that one figure , Rama
Read it … I am out of words to express what I want to . But you will realize it once your turn the pages …

And as far as Rama is concerned … I can’t ( or rather , won’t )describe him
For to all of us … He is what we want Him to be …
“Jai siyaram ”

6 comments:

  1. Akshay, without further ado I would like you to read two versions of the historical/mythological facets of this epic...the original(that of the Valmiki) and the 17th century version of Goswami Tulsidas...I do not know which version you are going through (probably Sri Ramcharit Manas) being a north Indian...we will have a debate then...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ramayana is an eductaion in itself...
    very well said...
    I've always been inspired by it; be it nani's recital/Dad's teachings/Mom's learnings/My readings...:)

    ReplyDelete
  3. @erratic thoughts - Exactly , noone tells it like nanis do :D

    ReplyDelete
  4. ooohhh i loved it ....simply awesome...
    but somehow i lyk mahabharat more...coz its more real!

    ReplyDelete
  5. i know ... mahabharat is right up our sleeve :-D

    ReplyDelete
  6. someone's really reading, eh?
    and there's for a reason why we should read history and mythology-because somehow or the other, we'd find that things repeat...the places n people change but situations remain pretty much the same:-)

    ReplyDelete