Ramayana
FEBRUARY 12 - 18, 2018
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Renderings of Ramayana within India With multiple versions in India itself, there are about 300 variants of the Ramayana STATE-wise
Tamil Nadu – The Tamil
to Langkapuri (Lanka) singlehandedly and managed to dissuade the fish princess, Puteri Ikan, from destroying it by marrying her. Interestingly, Hanuman’s marriage with the mermaid also finds mention in the Thai and Khmer variants of the epic. In the Thai Ramakein, composed in 1798, Thotsakan’s (Ravana’s) abduction of Nang Sida (Sita) is presented sympathetically as an act of love and his fall is depicted with sadness. Meanwhile, we find the depiction of various episodes of the Cambodian Reamker on the carved reliefs at world-famous temples of Angkor
Wat, Banteay Srei and Baphuon, built around the 10th century. In Laos too, the epic is prevalent as Myongsing Ramayana, Phra Lak Phra Lam and Guay Duorahbi. In Myanmar, the two variants, Rama Thagyin and Maha Rama, composed in the 18th and 19th centuries respectively, are very popular. The Filipinos know Ramayana as Maharadia Lawana and Vietnam’s famous dance-drama lakhon bassac depicts their variant of the epic. In Indonesia, the epic was written in 10th century as Kakawin Ramayana with its influence also
Who’s who in ASEAN Ramayanas The counterparts of Indian Ramayana characters
INDIA
Ram Sita Lakshman Hanuman Ravan Vali Sugriva
MALAYSIA
Seri Rama Siti Dewi Laksmana Hanuman Kera Putih Maharaja Wana Balya Raja Sugriwa
BRUNEI Seri Rama Siti Dewi Laksmana Hanoman Rawana
THAILAND Phra Ram Nang Sida Phra Lak Hanuman Thotsakan Phali Thirat Sukhrip
SINGAPORE Rama Sita Lakshmana Hanuman Ravana
VIETNAM
Po Liem Sita General Hanuman Demon Riep
MYANMAR Yama Thida Lakhana Hanuman Dasagiri Bali
INDONESIA Rama Sinta Laksmana Hanoman Rawana Subali Sugriwa
PHILIPPINES
Prince Bantugan Princess Gandingan Hanuman Maharadia Lawana
LAOS
Phra Ram Nang Sida Phra Lak Hanoumane Thotsakane Sangkhip Palichane
CAMBODIA Preah Rama Neang Seda Preah Leak Hanuman Krong Reap Vali Sugriva
Kambaramayanam, a popular version, written by peot Kamban in the 12th century. Andhra Pradesh – The Sri Ranganatha Ramayanam was adapted by Gona Budda Reddy and is the Telegu version of the Ramayana between 1300 and 1310 A.D. The Molla Ramayanamu was adapted by poet Molla. The most extensive work in Telegu is that of Sri Viswanadha Satyanarayana, called the Srimadramayana Kalpavrikshamu. This is a free retelling of the Valmiki Ramayana. It was awarded the first Jnanpith award in Telugu, for which the poet was later acclaimed as Kavi Samrat. Karnataka–The Kannada versions of the Ramayana – the Kumudendu Ramayana (a Jain version), written in the 13th century and the Kumara-Valmiki Torave Ramayana, written in the 16th century. There is another version titled Ramachandra Charita Purana written by Nagachandra during the 13th century. Assam – Saptakanda Ramayana, The Assamese Katha Ramayana or Kotha Ramayana in the 14th century by Madhava Kandali. Bengal – The Bengali Krittivasi Ramayan written by Krittibas Ojha in the 15th century. Goa – Ramayanu written by Krishnadasa Shama in the 15th century in Kardalipura, Goa, in Konkani, manuscripts found in Portugal. Kerala – The Malayalam language Kannassa Ramayanam written by Niranam Rama Panicker in the 16th century, Adhyatma Ramayanam Kilipattu written by Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan in the 16th century (the most popular one) and
permeating to Wayang Kulit – one of the oldest and most revered forms of shadow puppet theatre in that region. Interestingly, some variants here include the story of Arjuna Pramada, which elaborates the meeting of Krishna and Arjuna, with Rama and Lakshmana. It says that during the construction of Situbanda (causeway) between South India and Sri
Mappila Ramayanam among the Muslims. Maharashtra – The Marathi Bhavartha Ramayana written by Eknath in the 16th century. There is also reference of a Ramayana being translated into old Marathi during the 12th or 13th century. Orrisa – The Oriya Dandi Ramayana or Jagamohan Ramayana was adapted by Balram Das in the 16th century. Uttar Pradesh – The Ramcharitmanas written by Goswami Tulsidas in the 16th century is the Ramayana version popular in North India. Gujarat – The Tulsi-Krta Ramayana is a Gujarati adaptation of Tulsidas’ Ramcharitamanas in the 17th century, by the poet Premanand Swami. Jammu and Kashmir – The Kashmiri Ramavatara Charita was written in the 19th century. Telangana – The Telugu Geya Kavyam Manthenna Ramayanam, also known as Manthani Ramayana written by Sri Muddu Balam Bhattu.
Tongue-wise
Kannada – Two prose works
by Nanadalike Lakshminarayana (‘Muddanna’) entitled Adbhuta Ramayana (1895) and Ramaswamedham (1898). Urdu – The version called the Pothi Ramayana was written in the 17th century.
Lanka, Arjuna, on the request of Rama, fires an arrow towards Alengka (Lanka) creating the bridge instantly. Every presentation of the epic is recognition of its contemporaneity, its many levels of inspiration and symbolism. Reinterpreted ceaselessly by the creative genius of the artists and storytellers, it has traversed across centuries.