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Title: Ramayana: India's Immortal Tale of Adventure, Love and Wisdom by Krishna Dharma, Krishna Dharma, Valmiki Ramayana ISBN: 1-887089-22-5 Publisher: Torchlight Publications Pub. Date: August, 2000 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $27.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.75 (8 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: A very famous story but...
Comment: I read this book with great interest. Certainly the story of Rama's tale is exciting and one that is recounted many time in the East. However, in reading the story, one thing kept getting in the way: the book keeps praising the virtues of Brahmins non-stop. After a while, this ceaseless glorification of Brahmins became extremely annoying, at least for a non-Indian like me. I am speculating here but the story of Ramayana probably had a big influence in the way the caste system in India evolve through the centuries.
Rating: 5
Summary: Retelling of a Classic Work of World Literature
Comment: Krishna Dharma's retelling of the Ramayana excels at conveying the greatness of this ancient story. The battles in the story are larger-than-life, the emotions intense.
I was put off a little by Rama's behavior from time to time, especially when you consider who he really is. The outcome of the story was utterly obvious from the moment we become aware of Rama's true identity; however, the twist in the story that occurs near the end caught me off guard.
There are other versions of the Ramayana that I've recently become aware of. One portrays the villain, Ravana, as the real hero; if this were one of Homer's poems, Ravana could definitely qualify as a great hero.
I highly recommend Krishna Dharma's retelling. He knows the story well enough, and is creative enough a writer, to fully convey all the messages and emotions the Ramayana attempts to send your way. The artwork is also very beautiful.
Rating: 5
Summary: The Heartbreak of the King
Comment: Rama is the most perfect of King Dasarath's sons. He is wise and kind, devout, respectful, and a fearsome warrior. In the course of his youthful exploits he has fallen in love with Sita, who he now brings back in triumph to his father's city of Ayodhya. But, on the very day he is to be named Dasarath's heir, treachery takes place. Banished from Ajodhya by the machinations of one of Dasarath's jealous wives, Rama and Sita undertake an unconceivable adventure to rid the world of evil and return to Rama what is rightfully his.
And so begins one of the oldest and most spectacular adventures in literary history. Perhaps the oldest Indian epic, 'The Ramayana' is a grand story, a cautionary tale, and a vivid picture of the Vedic culture of one of the world's larger countries. This story, like told in 'The Mahabharata,' is deeply embedded in Indian culture. The tales display many of the key beliefs that have shaped Indian thought for centuries. For a student of the area, searching for common threads, they are required reading. For many this is still a text of religious importance. As Dharma quotes, "This legend is the bestower of longevity, the enhancer of fortune, and the dispeller of sins.
Certainly, in addition to these virtues, 'The Ramayana' is a font of creative ideas. For those of us who get bogged down in Western approaches and answers it is an opportunity to see how other cultures have come to deal with questions that are common to all. As such it is a lesson in the ingeniousness of the human mind and the great commonalties of the human spirit. The difference in context and the epic scale can be a source of inspiration as well as outstanding entertainment.
This edition was created by Krishna Dharma, a Vaishnava priest and well-known translator of Sanskrit writings, is not so much a word for word translation as it is a detailed retelling. As such its style and rhythm is better adapted to Western tastes than stricter, more academic fare. On the other hand, Krishna Dharma leaves little out, and truly captures the feeling of the original. As such this is a massive accomplishment. The inclusion of various illustrations, both black and white and color enhance its value and impressiveness. Previous to buying this copy my exposure to the legend has been via excerpts, descriptions, and reenactments. These were adequate to their purpose, but reading the story in its proper sequence has added much to my experience.
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Title: Mahabharata: The Greatest Spiritual Epic of All Time by Krishna Dharma ISBN: 1887089179 Publisher: Torchlight Publications Pub. Date: 01 February, 1999 List Price(USD): $39.95 |
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Title: The Upanishads by Eknath Easwaran ISBN: 0915132397 Publisher: Nilgiri Press Pub. Date: 01 June, 1987 List Price(USD): $9.95 |
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Title: Bhagavad Gita As It Is: Complete Edition by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISBN: 0892131233 Publisher: Bhaktivedanta Book Trust Pub. Date: 01 March, 1997 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Mahabharata (The Condensed Version of the World's Greatest Epic) by Krishna Dharma, Krishna Dharma ISBN: 188708925X Publisher: Torchlight Publications Pub. Date: May, 2001 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title:The Mahabharata ASIN: B00006LPEG Publisher: Image Entertainment Pub. Date: 26 November, 2002 List Price(USD): $39.99 Comparison N/A, buy it from Amazon for $34.79 |
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