One of the longest epics Ramayana has its roots of veracity and authenticity in the prowess of Valmiki’s poesy. A scholar from Hyderabad, India, has opened a window in the finesse of Valmiki’s Ramayana through his poised commentary.
The commentary involves work of all Sargas and Kandas (chapters and events). I read it with a savour of my own pace, first learning all about the deciding narrative of Ramayana – a tale of highly revered god-like figure Rama who fights against the evils in the forest and later on takes head on battle with Ravana to rescue her wife from Sri Lanka.
The tone of the commentary is personal; however, it exudes the flawless inside knowledge of the author towards the mainstream narrative of epic saga of India: Ramayana. Three volumes in one book attempts to bridge the ancient wisdom of lord Rama with contemporary intellect and to introduce learnings and hidden insights to the younger generation, who for the truth, only have the actual Ramayana as a mere decoration at their homes. These volumes are meant for everybody regardless of their profession or social status, age or religion.
The best thing about the book is that no prior knowledge of the Vedas or Puranas or Ramayana is necessary to derive value from this book. The purpose of the commentary is to create awareness about Ramayana among the youth, and to guide them through reading the holy book. It busts several myths and clears out misunderstandings, with appropriate examples and comparisons taken from Western literature.
The author must have put in great effort to ensure that the book sparks out interest in delving deeper into the spiritual wisdom of Ramayana. It is certainly a powerful and useful book that’s going to help readers with personal transformation, learn more about Karma and duty. The shlokas shared along with their pronunciations as well as the translations are fairly understandable, well explained without compromising on the essence, and surely insightful. I was excited to pick up one volume after another. Living up to its expected application, this combined book of volumes serves as a useful guide to begin with, before stepping into the path of eternal knowledge of the sacred Hindu texts.
ibooksta 