Mandodari’s Ravanayana


Book Description

In eternal dusk a ravaged Mandodari sits waiting... sitting there, alone a thousand years… scarred and naked without a shred of clothing, no defense against the elements, animal or man - questioning fate - challenging the ultimate. Her body filled with scars stand testimony to her suffering. Her desolate surroundings echo death and destruction. What were the sins committed by her to warrant such a punishment? Was it the hand of God or man? Would her silence reveal the answer? For the first time, after a thousand years Mandodari breaks her silence… She opens up with the secrets of her life. Was it a regular childhood she had? An ordinary husband? Was an ordinary life possible with Ravana, the great Lord of Lankapuri as her husband? Oh! Ravana – the name that brings loath and fear. Who was he? Did he really have ten heads? Was he the jealous, lustful and selfish one as history says? Is Ravana really an evil demon as he is being portrayed? Was Ravana a loser, just because he didn’t win the war? Was it an ethical war? Why was he murdered? Was it fair dragging Mandodari naked and molesting her in front of the whole army? Who was to blame, Rama or Ravana? Or was it her karma? Who decides karma? Is it always right? It is only Mandodari, who can explain… Enough! The questions of a thousand years will be answered now. History will be re-written. This story is not Ramayana. It is Ravanayana . . . Yes, it is Mandodari’s Ravanayana. . .




Mandodari


Book Description

Borrowing from Sanghadasa's Jaina version of the Ramayana, Mandodari-one of the least known characters of the Hindu epic-is finally given a voice. Considered to be one of the most beautiful apsaras, she was married off to the mighty Ravana, the legendary king of Lanka. In her story, she speaks about her struggles after her marriage, her insecurities and her pious nature that challenged her husband's growing aspirations. She narrates the rise of Ravana's power and the blunders he made that ultimately caused the downfall of Lanka. Despite her husband's faults, Mandodari loved him and advised him to follow the path of righteousness. Ravana's defeat in a thirteen-day war turned him into a villain. But what if he were the real hero on his side of the war? What if his downfall was a result of scheming to push him out of power? This is Mandodari's story.




Lanka


Book Description

The stupendous work by Kavalam Balachandran, in which he endeavours to demythify and reconstrue the saga of Ramayana from a diametrically opposite perspective, is a landmark event. Indeed, it is the fruit of a long haul of research, imagination and logical thought process by which faces, places and events are reoriented to concoct a plausible narrative. Do read it to the end, as this genre of books does not happen every now and then. -Dr. Alex Paikada Writer, Historian and Poet




Indian Epic Values


Book Description

The volume contains thirty contributions to the theme of the classical Indian epic Ramayana. These are revised and occasionally enlarged versions of papers read at the International Ramanaya Conference, held at the University of Leuven in July 1991 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Sanskrit and Indological studies in Leuven and in Belgium. The annotated papers, in English, have been grouped in three chapters: 1. Valmiki's Ramayana and Sanskrit epic literature; 2. International impact: translations and adaptations, reception of Sanskrit language and literature in the scholarly world; 3. Universal human values in Ramayana. The index of names, titles and key words will prove useful for reference and occasional cross-reference.




Ramayana


Book Description

This translation originally published: 1976.




Raghava : The optimal of Ishvanku


Book Description

This book is based on the dynasty of Ishvanku ‘s rullar life story and the origin of the Ikshvaku dynasty along with the life story and struggle of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita. Here ,the author only considered the human features and characters of Lord Rama. As Lord Rama was considered the greatest king of Ikshvaku dynasty, though there are many great kings who were born in this gynecology, but the way Rama followed his commitment and truthfulness, he became immortal on the earth and god-like futures. The scarification of Rama and Sita and their ascetic life give steer people to become decent men. Though there were many great kings like Ishvanku, Mandhata, Bhagirathi, Dileepa and Harishchandra in this great dynasty, the god-like feature of Rama is always adorable for everyone. Rama was not only a decent son, a husband , brother ,king and father but also a great solitaire and successful ruler of Kosala.)




Myth and the Mind


Book Description

Indian mythology is a teeming storehouse of heroes and heroines, who are psychological studies in themselves. Did you know, for instance, how Krishna’s son, who was his father’s alter ego, tackled the curse to be the destroyer of his entire clan? Did you know that sage Gargi was the only lady amongst legendary sages who competed for the prize for the greatest sage in the sub-continent? Did you know that Sahadev, the youngest Pandava, had qualities lacking in any of his other, better-known brothers? Did you know that Shakuni is actually a tragic hero? Myth and the Mind is a collection of six short stories about very interesting personalities in Indian mythology. These men and women are all great, and they are all human beings in whom we will all discover a small part of ourselves.




The Untold Villain Of Ramayana


Book Description

"Prepare for an exhilarating journey through the untold twists and hidden perspectives of the Ramayana. This epic saga glorifies the journey of Shri Rama, "The Greatest Of All Time". But what if Ravana, often seen as the ultimate villain, was misunderstood? As we peel back the layers of a hidden conspiracy, the true Untold Villain of the Ramayana emerges, revealing a story far more complex than ever imagined filled with Twist till end. Also, witness the awe-inspiring saga of Mahavir Panchmukhi Hanuman, a tale long overshadowed, now brought to light in all its grandeur




A Theatre of Their Own: Indian Women Playwrights in Perspective


Book Description

In an age where academic curriculum has essentially pushed theatre studies into ‘post-script’, and the cultural ‘space’ of making and watching theatre has been largely usurped by the immense popularity of television and ‘mainstream’ cinemas, it is important to understand why theatre still remains a ‘space’ to be reckoned as one’s ‘own’. This book argues for a ‘theatre’ of ‘their own’ of the Indian women playwrights (and directors), and explores the possibilities that modern Indian theatre can provide as an instrument of subjective as well as social/ political/ cultural articulations and at the same time analyses the course of Indian theatre which gradually underwent broadening of thematic and dramaturgic scope in order to accommodate the independent voices of the women playwrights and directors.




Devi Purana


Book Description

Srimad Devi Bhagavatam, also known as Devi Purana, is one of the many works of Maharishi Veda Vyasa. Consisting of 18,000 verses, it is divided into 12 chapters and numerous sections. Though classified as an upapurana (sub-Purana), it is the only Purana that Veda Vyasa terms 'Mahapurana', or the great Purana, at the end of each chapter. Vyasa's narration reiterates that the Supreme Goddess or the Divine Mother, as described in all scriptures, is the one beyond and above the Trinity of Gods and all Devas. The stories in the book not only establish this but also describe various manifestations of the Devi. All the Puranas are essentially collections of stories, through a narrator called Suta, who heard these from his guru, Vyasa. These, in their original form, are woven like a web and are not easy to comprehend since there is no defined order, be it chronological or otherwise. Dinesh Bhatia segregates and simplifies the stories as well as their underlying philosophies in order to present them in a simple and comprehensible way. He also reorganises the flow of stories as a direct narration by Vyasa to King Janamejaya, the grandson of Abhimanyu, while retaining the essence of the original work.