Ramapiranai Karpom - Book Review in 'The Hindu'

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http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/br/stories/2003070800030300.htm

 

Study of Ramayana

 

RAMAPIRANAI KARPOM (Tamil): Paravakkottai Srimad Andavan Gopala

Desika Mahadesikan; Poundarikapuram Swami Asramam, 43-A/13, Asramam

Road, Srirangam, Tiruchi - 620006. Rs. 250.

 

IN THE book under review, the great and versatile scholar, Sri

Parvakottai Andavan Swami, deals with the Ayodhya Kanda of Ramayana.

Of the seven Kandas, the Ayodhya Kanda is full of suspense and

unexpected twists and turn of events, like the proposed coronation of

Rama and subsequent cancellation, Rama's repairing to the forests,

Dasaratha's death, failure of Bharata's efforts to bring back Rama

from the forest and the eventual coronation of Rama's sandals.

 

The contents of the book had earlier appeared serially in a Tamil

magazine and it is a pleasure now to read the same in book form,

which is a sequel to the earlier book, dealing with Balakanda of the

Ramayana, titled Sita Kalyanam.

 

The book opens with Dasaratha's desire and decision to crown his

darling son, Rama. The learned author takes up important slokas from

the Valmiki Ramayana and furnishes elegant and detailed

interpretation, maintaining continuity of the sequential events.

 

Quoting profusely from the Kamba Ramayana and the Tirukkural, he

compares and contrasts the intricate and finer points found in these

treasures.

 

Apt and illustrative stories are recounted at appropriate places, to

prove the point. Such stories, as a diversion, sustain the reader's

interest and act like spices, in kindling his attention.

 

Pertinent passages are quoted from Ananda Ramayana, Adhyatma Ramayana

and Bhoja Champu at several places and their implications are

explained, synthesising the same with the main stream of events.

 

The two important points of Vaishnavite philosophy viz.

self-surrender and service to devotees of God are highlighted at

appropriate places, drawing parallels from other holy texts. The

titles given to each chapter are themselves interesting and pregnant

with meaning.

 

The several alternative interpretations given by the author to two of

the famous slokas in Valmiki Ramayana viz... "Striyam purusha

vigraham" (Ayodhya Kanda 30-3) and "Ramam Dasaratham Viddhi... "

(Ayodhya Kanda 40-9) are novel, engrossing and thought provoking.

 

Rama's comprehensive and elaborate advice to Bharata on the duties

and responsibilities of the ruler of the country is of perennial

interest and importance and is applicable even today.

 

Some of the quotations have been given without indicating the source.

It would have been useful if the source had been indicated. Similarly

the exact verse number in the Kamba Ramayana could have been given,

in addition to indicating the chapter (as has been done).

 

While transliterating the Sanskrit verses in Tamil, words have not

been properly separated and spaced out in many places.

 

Colour photos of Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and Hanuman in the several

famous temples adorn the book, providing a visual treat.

 

The beauty of the book lies in that the Swami explains even intricate

and difficult points in simple Tamil, which can be understood and

appreciated by all.

 

V.N. GOPALA DESIKACHARIAR

 

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