The Epic Of The Ramayana

The original The Ramayana is a great epic that has stood the test of time, and has been influential yet controversial throughout history. R.K Narayan’s version has been the same; his composition of stories adds another layer to the already plentiful themes, leaving the reader satisfied with his brilliant description and insight. Through Narayan’s constant comparison that parallels Rama to a perfect specimen, he is demonstrating a “Straw Man” argument. Its effect illuminates Rama’s flaws rather than his seemingly perfect composure. Narayan consciously chooses moments at Rama’s darkest hours to transform him into the relatable human figure he was meant to become.

For instance, "The Ramayan," the story of Ram and Sita, and "The Mahabharat," the story of the Kauravs and the Pandavs, are epic tales that teach people about the way of life a person should lead.

In the Ramayana by Valmiki, Dasharatha is the King of Ayodhya and has three wives and four sons, Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna. Rama is the ideal and perfect son, and grows up with his brothers. He marries a woman name Sita. However, Bharata's mother is Kaikeyi, who resents Rama being crown king. She calls up a debt that Dasharatha owes her and asks for Rama to be exiled for fourteen years and her son Bharata be made crown prince instead. The devastated Dasharatha has no choice and Rama prepares to leave for exile. Sita and Lakshmana will not leave his side and follow him into the forest. While in the forest, Surpanakha becomes in love with Rama and is wounded by Lakshmana while trying to kill Sita. She

Both characters share qualities that qualifies them as the epic hero’s they are known to be. Gilgamesh is considered an epic hero because he’s two thirds god and Rama is thought of as the reincarnate of Vishnu, the god of preservation. Another similarity they share is their journeys that they each take, where they fight and defeat beasts, demons, and in Gilgamesh's case have journey within one’s self. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh goes on a journey/adventure to the forest with his best friend Enkidu to try and defeat Humbaba, the monster that guards the forest. Rama is banished to the forest when his father bypassed his right to be king, but he’s adventure comes when his wife Sita is kidnapped and he must rescue her from the demon king Ravana (“The Ramayana of Valmiki”). And the last reason why Rama and Gilgamesh are epic heroes is that the two represent the qualities of the time era. Gilgamesh is a strong man who treats women horribly, kills the innocent beast for glory, and is divine. Not only do these qualities of Gilgamesh represent the culture of his time period but also of a hero from this time. Rama also represents his time era as the ideal follower of dharma an important part of the Hindu religion. Even today he is worshiped by many in the Hindu religion as the reincarnate of Vishnu because of his devoted following in the way of the dharma (Hindery,

The Epic of Gilgamesh took place in the city of Uruk Mesopotamia, and the first story appears in 2100 B.C.E. Oedipus the King came to life in the city of Thebes in 429 B.C.E. The Ramayana of Valmiki was composed in 550 B.C.E. These three pieces of writings have distinct differences in time periods and setting. On the other hand, a similarity that these writings share is that each has its own hero. The time period and setting certainly have an impact in the actions that these heroes take, and the goals they wish to accomplish. Gilgamesh (Gilgamesh), Oedipus (Oedipus the king), and Ram (Ramayan) are all portrayed as heroes with different and similar characteristics such as dedication in helping others, loyalty, courage and during different time periods

The Ramayana focuses more on the need to obey and respect each other and one’s rightful duties. These dharmic beliefs focus on relationships. Lord Ram must obey his father, King Dasaratha, in his decision to take away his inheritance of the throne and must respect that decision. Although no one except for the new king, Bharata‘s, mother wanted him to leave and convinced the King that he must fulfil his oath he made to her many years ago. Rama strove to be the perfect son thus fulfilling his duty of obeying his father’s wishes. Even as Bharata begged him to take his place as ruler instead, Rama denied it on the basis that he had to obey his father and follow his every word.

You all must be aware of the epic tale of Ramayana that begins as Lord Rama was exiled to a forest for 14 years with his dear wife, Sita and brother Laxman. To get to the main point straight away, Sita, the epitome of grace and beauty was abducted by the main antagonist of the Ramayana written by Valmiki- Raavan. My mention on Valmiki as the writer is on purpose because it was according to him that Raavan was termed as the villain but in reality,

The epic story of Rama and Sita, as portrayed by Valmiki’s Ramayana and the modern day film Sita sings the Blues are two different versions of the same story which contain several contrasts as well as similarities. The Ramayana is the ancient version which was written by a sage named Valmiki in 550 B.C.E, featuring a love story between an ideal prince and an ideal woman. It outlines the adventures of Rama in his journey to find his abducted wife Sita. Rama is portrayed as an avatar, being the eighth incarnation of one of the Hindu gods Vishnu, while Sita is representing Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of light. The modern day version of the Ramayana is seen in Sita Sings the Blues, where the animator Nina Paley is relating her love story to that of Sita’s predicament. This paper will compare and contrast the epic story of Valmiki’s Ramayana and Sita Sings the Blues in the quest for power, honor, faithfulness and the conflict between good and evil.

Heroism and the concept of a hero have been subject to many changes, especially with respect to changes over time and in terms of how heroism is viewed by different cultures. The thing being explored in this chapter, primarily through the analysis of major heroic archetypes and characters, is how the ancient Indian heroic society takes the ideas of heroism, with specific focus on the epic poem ‘The Ramayana’. Along with the examining of the major characterstics of heroic archetypes, specifically the hero who works with a partner or companion, the hero who works alone and the figure of the hero who plays a background role in the context of the epic, there will also be a brief focus on the importance of the ability of

The Indian Epics contrast very remarkably from that portrayed in Western lands, revealing majesty of the Lord when he manifested in to the world in human form. Mahakavya (epics) known as a genre of Indian epic poetry in classical Sanskrit and earliest form of Indian literature influences the religious and cultural life of the whole India and much of Asia. These two main epic poems of Hinduism include, the Ramayana (The Story of Rama) and the Mahabharata (The Great Epic of India). Beside the question of their value of being good or worthy literature, they are among the most important and earliest literature of the world. For India, the land of spiritualism, the composition of these two great epics have been the sources of inspiration to most Indians. Both these epics existed in oral form as chants before they were written down. During ancient India, the tradition of oral was cherished much more greatly than anything in written form.

Kaikeyi is King Dasharatha’s third wife and also Rama’s step mom (mom). She is also an evil queen that can easily be manipulated. Queen Kaikeyi allowed Manthara, her maid to manipulate her into exiling Rama from his kingdom. Manthara knew Queen Kaikeyi’s weakness and used it to mislead her from the path of dharma. The Queen allowed her anger to get the best of her; as a result, she becomes her servant’s pet. Therefore, the Queen’s lack of autonomy makes her dangerous because whenever she feels attacked she will react like a wounded dog. The narrator writes, “Manthara’s words had the desired effect, for Kaikeyi was jealous of Kausalya” (Amar Chitra Katha 16).

We will start with the main character of the book Rama. Rama has many karma events that happens throughout the book, one being that he followed the golden deer into the woods even thought his brother Lakshmana told him not to and the result was that his wife was kidnapped. He was not there to help her because he was following the golden deer ( pg ). Another example of karma in Rama’s life is when he killed, Vila, the brother of and at the time the monkey ruler because of this Rama was able to have an army of monkey help him search for his wife ( pg ). A final example in Rama’s life is when

He even risked his life by battling Ravana in order to save her. After Rama defeated Ravana and saved Sita, he not only became King again, he was made Emperor of the World. He requested that his trustworthy brother Lakshmana become the yuvaraja, or prince, though he ultimately the position to his other brother Bharata, who ruled the kingdom while Rama was gone.

“Dharma is knowledge prominently directed to the achievement of desired happiness here (i.e. in this life) and hereafter by means of appropriate actions”. (Khan, Benjamin. The Concept of Dharma in Valmiki) Rama and Krishna have been set as perfect exemplars of Dharma in the texts of Ramayana and Mahabharata respectively. They are considered to be the reincarnations of God Visnu, a Supreme Being, and supposedly lived their lives according to the Dharmic (or right) way of life. However, the stories of Rama and Krishna in the texts include some of their actions, which are questionable to the act of Dharma. This may lead one to question Ram and Krishna as true exemplars of Dharma.

Dharma is the duty that people must fulfill in order to achieve their life’s purpose. In the Hindu religion, it is what guides the followers’ life choices and actions. Only the utmost just decisions and choices will lead down the path of obtaining dharma. At first glance, the Indian epic, The Ramayana, is a love story about a prince who is banished to the forest and an evil creature subsequently kidnaps his wife. However, it serves a much greater purpose in the Hindu culture. The Ramayana serves as a guide to living a life of moral righteousness. Rama and Sita are role models of how men and women should interact with each other and with society. There is multiple times throughout the epic that Rama faces morally difficult decisions that he flawlessly surpasses, a feat that his human peers surely would not have had the mental strength to accomplish. Rama is the supreme example of how to live a moral life. Rama’s dharma is to destroy evil, and throughout the book the difficult choices he makes and the heroic actions her performs are what guide him in his quest to fulfill his duty. Other characters in the epic, such as Ravana, are faced with the same moral dilemmas and chose incorrectly, which ultimately lead to their demise. Rama’s profound greatness is a result of his ability to place dharma above all other humanly desires and personal interests.