Extended narrative poem on the life and works of Rāma (Hindu deity); with exhaustive interpretative notes.

The epic story of Rama, which is part of the Indian collective consciousness, has been retold in many regional languages. Pre-eminent among the many vernacular retellings of the Ramayana is the twelfth-century Tamil version by Kamban. The son of a temple drummer, Kamban is reputed to have had an impressive mastery of Tamil and Sanskrit classics. Fascinated by the lore of Ramayana, he immersed himself totally in it. Though Kamban acknowledges his indebtedness to the Sanskrit version of the Ramayana by Valmiki, his is an independent work, enriched by various religious, philosophical and literary influences. The Kamba Ramayana differs from Valmiki's in significant ways. Though cast in the heroic mould of a Purushotama or 'the best among men', Valmiki's Rama is still a man. Kamban, on the other hand, never allows the reader to forget the godhood of Rama. His Ravana too, though flawed, is a heroic figure. While Valmiki's diction is sparse and direct, Kamban's exuberant prose sparkles with wit and inventiveness. Translated into English by the late P.S. Sundaram, this edition has been abridged and edited by his long-time friend N.S. Jagannathan. translation retains the magic and poetry of the original. A major new addition to the Penguin Classics The classic Tamil work now finally available in an accessible single volume edition

The Story Of Rama And Sita Has A Unique Status In The Literature Of Almost Every Language Of Asia, Thanks To Its Extolment Of A Value-Based Life As Superior To One That Prizes Power Or Pelf; It Belongs To The World. This Book Offers A Critical And Comparative Study Of The Earliest Valmiki'S Classic In Sanskrit, Known As Adi-Kavya, And The First Version In The Tamil Language, Which Arose Ten Centuries Later. The Author, Mr. K.S. Srinivasan, Is A Recognised Scholar In The Field.

Verse work on Rāma, Hindu deity, by Kampar, 9th century Tamil poet.

The foundations of Hinduism are the eternal and super sensuous truths discovered by ancient Indian sages. Most of them are unknown. The truths discovered by them are known as the Vedas. Sages are the great souls who have found out the truth and devoted their life, energy and experience for the welfare of the people. They are extraordinary human beings having great wisdom, vast experience and character worthy of imitation. They gifted everything to the world without seeking fame or any kind of gain. Welfare of the world was their sole objective. According to Hindu chronology, the period of the ancient sages is till the end of Dwapara Yuga, which is about 5000 years back. The penetration of these sages in the subjects they dealt with is very profound and clear. The later generation just interpreted their work and followed their footsteps. India has been blessed from time immemorial by the advent of innumerable sages. In this book you can read the stories of some of these known sages.

Extended narrative poem on the life and works of Rāma (Hindu deity); with exhaustive interpretative notes.

101 Mystics Of India Is A Valuable Compilation By The Scholar-Artist-Author V. K. Subramanian, Whose Ten-Volume Series Sacred Songs Of India- The Result Of Loving And Laborious Research Spread Over Several Years Is Already Before The Discerning Public. 101 Mystic Of India Will Be An Invaluable Reference Book To Scholars Of Indiloogy And To All Those Sons And Daughters Of India Who Live Scattered Across The Globe A Precious Reminder Of Their Spiritual Heritage.

One of India’s greatest epics, the Ramayana pervades the country’s moral and cultural consciousness. For generations it has served as a bedtime story for Indian children, while at the same time engaging the interest of philosophers and theologians. Believed to have been composed by Valmiki sometime between the eighth and sixth centuries BCE, the Ramayana tells the tragic and magical story of Rama, the prince of Ayodhya, an incarnation of Lord Visnu, born to rid the earth of the terrible demon Ravana. An idealized heroic tale ending with the inevitable triumph of good over evil, the Ramayana is also an intensely personal story of family relationships, love and loss, duty and honor, of harem intrigue, petty jealousies, and destructive ambitions. All this played out in a universe populated by larger-than-life humans, gods and celestial beings, wondrous animals and terrifying demons. With her magnificent translation and superb introduction, Arshia Sattar has successfully bridged both time and space to bring this ancient classic to modern English readers.