Ramayana of Valmiki and Kamban- Epilogue

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18.The epilogue

 

I am having mixed feelings in completing the

narration of the Ramayana of Valmiki and Kamban. I am happy that the epic is

concluded successfully but at the same time a little sad thinking that the joy

of writing on this immortal epic has come to an end. But in all my posts I feel

that I am running against time considering my age and it is by the divine will

of Sri Rama that I was able to finish the work earlier than expected. It must

be the grace of Hanuman, who is said to

be present wherever ramakatha is going on, which has made me achieve my task.

 

Several eminent scholars have written on Ramayana and

eminent speakers and exponents of harikatha have given the nectar of Ramayana to us but still I feel

like what Kamban said,

 

Osai pettru uyar paarj kadal uttru,oru

poosai, muttravum nakkupukkena,

aasai pattri araiyaluttrEn, mattru,ik

kaasu il kottratthu iraaman kadhai aro?

 

If the great kavichakravarthi says that like cat

wishing to lick the milky ocean fully, he tried to compose the poetry of

Ramayana how can people like me have the courage to narrate it? Still it is the story

of Rama which will be lapped up by the devotees and connoisures like nectar ,

no matter who tells it. Desika says in his Yadhavabhyudhaya , a beautiful epic

on Sri Krishna,

 

amrtham yadhi

labhyetha kim na grhyetha maanvaiH?

 

If the nectar is made available will it not be grasped

by the people? With such hopes I have arated writing on Ramayana of Valmiki and

Kamban and I offer my humble salutations to the Lord for guiding my hand and my

thanks to all who have found this enjoyable.

 

I should mention the major influence on me in wrting

this topic. I have heard Ramayana and

read about it since my childhood and also taught it for many years. But it was

hearing the versatile and eloquent

harikatha of Padhmabhushan sangeetha kalanidhi Madurai TNSeshagopalan on Valmiki

ramayana , Kamba ramayana and Thygaraja Ramayana, steeped in devotion which

inspired me to write on Ramayana of Valmiki and Kamban spiced with the reference

from Thyagaraja. I acquired a copy of Kamban only after hearing his elaboration

on the verses of Kamba Ramayana and since then I became ardent admirer of the

poetry of Kamban. Valmiki Ramayana has all the grandeur due to the richness of

the Sanskrit language but the Tamil of Kamban goes to the heart. There are

passages in Kamban which makes one diffiicult to cross without tears. I salute

Valmiki and admire Kamban.