This volume contains two sections, one abridged version of Sundara Kandam along with invocatory verses, Gayatri Ramayanam, Sankshepa Ramayanam, Ramadhyavatara Ghattam, Sita-Rama Vivaha Ghattam, Aditya Hrudayam and Sita-Rama Pattabhishekam concluding with Hanuman Chalisa; section two deals with musings on the Valmiki Ramayanam.
For the author, Justice S. Ranganathan, it is a labour of love. According to him, the purpose of bringing out this 800-plus page volume focusing only on Sundara Kandam has been his fear that the habit of the tradition of reading the whole Valmiki Ramayanam or Sundara Kandam may gradually disappear in course of time. He, therefore, found a three-way solution — restrict the study of only Sundara Kandam, focus the study to select verses and provide Tamil transcription along with English translation of the verses.
Lucid narration
The author has aimed at not only readability but also lucidity in his narration of the text. He quotes appropriately from Periyazhwar, Kambar and Tulsidas, revealing his proficiency in languages other than English. The author states that many scholars regard the Ramayana as the essence of Saranagati Sastra. He refers to this doctrine expounded by the Vaishnavite saint Sri Vedanta Desika in his ‘Abaya Pradana Sara’, in support of his statement.
The second part of the book ‘Musings on Valmiki Ramayana’ contains over 40 brief articles of scholarly interpretation. In one such article, the author draws the readers’ attention to one of the qualities of Rama, as ‘He recognised and acknowledged noble traits of others’. In the article, ‘Why study the Ramayana’, the author quotes ‘Karpaar Ramapiraanai Allaal Matrum Karparo’ (Will any learner seek to study about any Lord other than Rama?) from Tiruvaimozhi. In the chapter on Sita-Rama marriage, the author even goes to the extent of quoting Tamil theatre version of R.S. Manohar’s ‘Ilankeswaran’, while discussing the various versions of Sita’s birth.
Section one is an abridgement of the Sanskrit verses of the 68 cantos of Sundara Kandam and the author recommends this volume for daily parayanam.
There are interesting extracts from K.R. Srinivasa Iyengar’s The Concept of the Beautiful in Sanskrit Literature from the foreword he gave to Dr. V. Raghavan’s book. Also given are extracts from AnIntroduction to Sundara Kandam by Swami Tapasyananda of Ramakrishna Mission and introduction to Vedanta Desika’s Raghuveera Gadyam to give the author’s concept a wholesome view.
Releasing the book at Tag Centre, Justice S. Ranganathan thanked R.T. Chari and his family trust, Ramu Endowments, for coming forward to sponsor the publication.
Sundara Kandam of Srimad Valmiki Ramayanam by Justice S. Ranganathan (retd.), Creative Workshop. Price: ₹ 800
