Kamba-Ramayana in Two Volumes)

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Item Code: NAD515
Author: Shantilal Nagar
Publisher: Parimal Publication Pvt. Ltd.
Language: (English Translation of Tamil Ramayana of Sage Kamban
Edition: 2023
ISBN: 9788171103164
Pages: 999
Cover: Hardcover
Other Details 9.5 inch X 7.5 inch
Weight 2 kg
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Book Description
In Two Volume

Volume One: Bala Kanda, Ayodhya Kanda, Aranya Kanda, Kiskindha Kanda.
Volume Two: Sundra- Kanda, Yuddha-Kanda(Ist Half), Yuddha-Kanda (IInd Half)

About the Book

The story of Rama has been dominating the Indian religious scene from the time immemorial. The complete story of the Ramayapa was hardly popular with the masses in complete form till it was composed by the sage Vãlmiki in a book form. The Ramayana which is known as the Adi-kavya or the first ornate poem according to the indigenous estimation is ascribed to the sage Vãlmiki, the Adikavi or the first author of the ornate poetry. The Ramayaa deserves to be called as the Adikdvya because of the characteristics of the ornate poetry, such as the description of nature and the presence of the figures of speech, both of words and the sense are quite auspicious.

A number of Ramayapas were composed in different parts of the country. The regional Ramäyanas were composed not only in the north but also in the south, in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada languages. Of these regional works, the Kamba Ramãyaa which was composed by Mahari Kamban, possibly was the earliest. The Kamba Rämayaia comprises of six kãndas instead of seven of the Valiniki Rãmayaia.

The sage Kamban was well-versed in the southern recention of the Valmiki Ramãyaza, which would be evident from the following episodes which have been included by him in his work:

1. The churning of the ocean and taking of Visnu in the form of Mohini.
2. Conversation between Laksmana and Tãrã.
3. Destruction of Dhrumkulya.
4. Battle between Sugriva and Ravatta.
5. Journey of she-monkeys to Ayodhya.
6. Dialogue between Kurnbhakartia and Vibhlsana.

This is the first time that an English Translation of this great Tarnil work is in front of the curious readers in two hardbound volumes.

Preface

The story of Rãma has been dominating the Indian religious scene from the time immemorial. The complete story of the Ram Ayana was hardly popular with the masses in complete form till it was composed by the sage Valmiki in a book form. The Ramayana which is known as the Adi-kävya or the first ornate poem according to the indigenous estimation is ascribed to the sage Välmiki, the Adikavi or the first author of the ornate poetry. The Ramayana deserves to be called as the Adikdvya because of the characteristics of the ornate poetry, such as the description of nature and the presence of the figures of speech, both of words and the sense are quite auspicious. It differs even in its present form from the Mahabhãrata, not only in its external experience but even in spirit. Whereas the Mahabharata has lost its epic form to some extent, the Ramayarsia still retains the original character. The meters are almost alike in the Rämãyana and they appear more appealing and polished in spirit. On the other hand, the Mahdbharata, reflects the genuine feelings of its character without any artistic embellishment, whereas in the Ramayana they seem to bend under the pen of the poet and are therefore less natural and more self-conscious. The sacred character of the Mahdbhãrata is not so much due to its heroes as to the dedicative section added to it at some stage, but in the case of the Ramayana the sanctity attached to it, is due to the inherent purity of its hero and the heroine, who in their true deified character, have ever represented the high ideals of Indian conjugal love, devotion and faithfulness. Both the epics have influenced the actions and thought of the Indian people for thousands of years. Their universal popularity is evidenced from the fact that not only the dramatists of the classical period but also the writers in the medieval Indian languages to the present day in all parts of the country could not resist the temptation of drawing inspiration from the epic created by Valmiki consisting of seven books or the Kalidas enshrining therein twenty four thousand verses. As in the case of Mahabhãrata, the Ramayaiia also has not come down to us in its original form. Some of the scholars believe that the first and the seventh Kalidas are the later additions, but others have forcefully contested the view. As to the position of Daaratha and Rama in the Indian history and their antiquity, it may be stated that on the basis of the chronology worked out by the scholars, it would be evident that there had been a span of sixteen generations between Rãma and Kia or a distance of nearly four centuries or so between them. The scholars believe that the Bharata war was fought almost in the fifteenth century and in case 1450 B.C. is taken to be the probable date or the same, then the date of Räma on the basis of twenty five years for each generations between RAma and Srutayu, the last king of the race of Räma, it would work out to be 1850 B.C. or so, which compares well with the date of 1950 B.C. ascribed to RAma by Pusalkar (The Vedic Age, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, pp. 270 ff). Pusulkar takes 3102 B.C. as the age of Manu and he claims that Räma flourished sixty five generations subsequent to Manu. He considers eighteen years for each generation. Thus the age of Rama according to him works out to be 3100- 65x18=1930B.C.orroughly 1950 B.C.
It is indeed a fact that the story of RAma does not famed exhaustive coverage in the Vedic literature, but several of the names of the important characters, do fmd place in the Vedic literature, which includes Rãma, Daaratha, AhalyA, Vasitha, VivAmitra, Hanumän, Gautama and others. They are mentioned there in one form or the other. Before the emergence of the Aryans on the sacred soil of India, they are believed to have lived in Iran as the part of the large Aryan community. It appears that the Räma tradition had been quite strong in Iran and west Asia in the remote past. Dr. A.W. Azhar has identified several sites in Afghanistan, Iran and several other west Asian countries where the name of Rãma is present in one form or the other. These include Ramaha, Ramakanda (the name of a hill in the north-west of Afghanistan), Ramagud (the name of a town in Persia), Rämanuid (a village in Hamadan), RArnaduni (a small village in the outskirts of Bukhara), Rämasan (a village in Bukhara), Ramayan (a village in Kakjan), Ramatun (a city of Gurgan), Rãmajaid (a village in Bukhara established by the king Afrasah) etc. This list is only illustrative and not exhaustive. (A.W. Azhar, Persian Ramakatha, Surya, Delhi - Vol. I, Part-I, 1982, pp. 26 ff.)
Indeed Välmiki was inspired to compose the work at the instance of the four-faced Brahma, who also provided him with the brief of the story through ages. Of course the brief provided to him by Narada, made available to him the highlights of the story and the rest of the work of composition was done by the sage Välmiki according to his own intelligence and laming, which he had achieved after performing great tapas. It is quite surprising that the person known as Ratnakara who earned his live LaHood by evil means was totally changed after the performing of tapas and the cruel Ratnäkara in the form of the sage ValmIki developed such a tender heart that he could feel painful at heart with the cry of a Krauflca bird which was shot by a hunter. In disgust Valmiki pronounced a curse on him as follows:
equally well. At that stage one person used to recite the Ramayaiia verses, explaining the meaning and significance of each one of them, while the large crowd, listened to the same. Indeed the composing of the work by ValmIki gave a boost to the popularity to the Ramayaia since it could tell the complete story. Soon there developed a desire, by other writers to incorporate the story in their contemporary works in one form or the other whether in Sanskrit or other regional languages. The great poets like Bhafli, Kalidas, and others, produced many works highlighting the story. The Purana writers could not escape from influence of the story and several Puraiias like Brahinida, Hariva,ñáa, Vãyu, Narasimha, Matsya, Bhagavata, Visnudharmottara, Skanda, Varãha and other Puraias incorporated the story of Rama in one way or the other. By about the medieval times a large number of poets mushroomed who produced the works of excellence on Ramayana in the regional languages which carried the popularity of Ramayana with the masses even in remote regions.
The regional Ramayanas were composed not only in the north but also in the south, in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada languages. Of these regional works, the Kamba Rãmãyaia which was composed by Mahari Kamban, possibly was the earliest. The date of this Ramayana has been a matter of controversy. While some scholars take it to be the work of seventh century A.D., others consider it to be the work of ninth to twelfth century A.D. The Kamba Ramayana comprises of six kaiçlas instead of seven of the Valmiki Ramayaza . There is a tradition that Oflakkutana who happened to be the contemporary poet of Tamil language also composed the Ramayaiia in Tamil but on listening to the work of Ramayaiia by Kamban, he destroyed the six kalidas of this work. When Kamban came to know about it, he rushed to Oakkutana and could rescue only the seventh kändas of the Ramayaiia with a promise to him that he would not compose the Uttara-kaiicla of the Tamil Ramayaiia. Because of this, the Kamba Ramayaa does not have the Uttara-kaiçla which was composed by Of laldcutana, and includes the episodes of the excise of Sita because of the evil words of a waterman which is on line with the story of the Valmiki Ramayana. Evidently the hoping verses of the Kamba Ramãyana reveal that Kamban was a devotee of iva. He has made it clear while composing his work that he had followed the arrangement of his work on lines of the Vãlmiki Ramäyana and other few works. The poet therefore seems to have been influenced with the Janaki-harazarn by Kumaradasa who flourished in the eighth century A.D.
The sage Kamban was well-versed in the southern reception of the Valmici Rãmãyana, which would be evident from the following episodes which have been included by him in his work:
1. The churning of the ocean and taking of View in the form of Mohini.
2. Conversation between Laksmana and Tãrã.
3. Destruction of Dhrumkulya.
4. Battle between Sugriva and Rävaia.
5. Journey of she-monkeys to Ayodhya.
6. Dialogue between Kumbhakaria and Vibhiaia.
Some of the episodes are however available in the Adhyatma Ramayaa, Ranganatha Ramayana and other texts also, which also stand included in the work of Mahari Kamban; some of these episode are of special importance in the Kamba Ramayana:
(1) The entry of Rama and Lakmaiia together with Visvamitra m Mithila has been exclusively mentioned in this Ramayaia. The city of Mithila has been described in considerable detail. The poet arranges for meeting between Rama and Sita all the time of Rama’s entry in Mithilä. As a result of this, both of them fall in love with each other. Thereafter their meeting with Janaka and the svyamvara of Sita has been mentioned. This narration is also available in one form or the other in the Janaki-haraiath.
(2) The journey of Daaratha from Ayodhya to Mithilã has been described by Kamban in five saragas providing elaborate details of the damsels of the inner quarters, the conjugal pleasure, the collection of flowers, and the water-sport. Almost similar discussion is found in Janaki-haranath wherein the water sport of Daaratha with his queens has been highlighted.
(3) In the episode of the abduction of Sitã a new element has been introduced by Kamban in which Ravana has been depicted to have become panicky, apprehending his destruction with the very touch of Sitã. He is therefore said to have dug the earth around her and carried the block of earth together with Sita (Aranya-Kanda, Sarga-8) to Lanka.
(4) In the Yudha-Kanda, Vibhiashana advices Ravana not to engage himself in battle with Rama who happened to be the incarnation of Narasimha. This is a unique projection which is not found in any other text (Sarga-3).
(5) At the command of Mahodara, a demon named Maruta takes to the form of Janaka and advices Sita to accept Ravana as her husband. This episode is also not met with in any other text (Sarga- 16).
(6) There is a mention of the conjugal pleasure by the demons and the demo nesses before the start of the battle. Such projection is also found in Setubandha and Jãnaki-haraiath (Sarga-24)
The text of Kamban moves on the parallel to the text of the Valmiki a few examples of which are given under here:
6, (1) The turning of Indra into the form of a cat.
(2) Indra’s attraction towards Ahalya and curse of Gautama.
(3) Origin of the enmity of Manthara towards Rama.
(4) Personification of the goddess of sleep, the breaking of the bow of Siva by Rama.
(5) The description of the ornaments of Hanuman.
(6) Throwing of the bones of Dundubhi by Lakmana
(7) The episode of Svyamprabha and meeting of the army of monkeys with Sampati.
(8) Mention of Trijata as the daughter of Vibhiana.
(9) Mandodari’s departure with her husband, after her death.
(10) Binding of Lakmana with Nagapaa.
(11) The killing of Illusory Sitä and departure of Vibhishana to Lanka in the form of a bee to fumed out the truth about Sitä.
(12) The killing of Kumbhakaria and Indrajit, Bharata’s resolve for ending his life in the absence of Rama.
On the basis of the work composed by Kamban he could very well be placed in the category of Amharic and because of that he has been described as a Mahari Kamban as the author of the Tamil work, which indeed had been quite an enormous job. I had taken up the translation of several Ramayanas works in Sanskrit and regional languages. Out of these, some have already come out and the rest are in the process of printing. In all, I intend to translate into English as many of the Ramayanas works as possible and hope to do so in future with great speed, though I am not quite satisfied with the past progress. I hope by the grace of Rama, I would be able to do as much as possible in future. My only associate in bringing out this work has been Añkita, who has worked quite hard, willingly and diligently. I wish her all well in her future life. My grateful thanks are also due to the Bhuvan Vanu Trust, Lucknow, the Hindi translation of Kamba Rdmãyaa published by them and other works provided me the necessary guide lines in my translation work.

Contents

Vol-I
.
The Patalas Bala Kanda 6
1Nadi-Patala. 6
2Desa-Patala. 8
3Nagar-Patala. 15
4Rajyasasana-Patala. 23
5Sri Avatara-Patala. 24
6Hasta-Dharana-Ptala. 36
7Tadaka-Vadha-Patala. 39
8Yajna-Patala. 45
9Ahalya-Patal. 51
10Mithila-Drsya-Darsana-Patala. 62
11Description of the Race of Raghu-Patala. 79
12The Bow-Patala. 83
13Departure-Patala. 90
14Saila-Darsana-Patala. 97
15The Flower Collection -Patala. 107
16Watewr-Sport-Patala. 112
17Drinking-Patala. 116
18Welcome-Patala. 122
19Moving in the Lanes of Mithila-Patala. 126
20Decoration-Patala. 131
21Marriage-Patala. 136
22Parasurama-Patala. 146
Ayodhya-Kanda.
1Consultation-Patala. 153
2Manthara Conspiracy-Patala. 162
3Kaikeyi's Misdeed-Patala. 170
4Departure from the City-Patala. 181
5Offering of Oil-Patala. 203
6Ganga-Ptala. 212
7Guha-patala. 214
8Forest Entry-Patala. 219
9Citrakuta-Patala. 224
10Bier-Patala. 229
11Marga-Gamana-Patala. 240
12GangaDarsana-Patala. 245
13Pattabhiseka-Patala. 253
Aranya-Kanda.
1Viradha-Vadha-Patala. 265
2Sarabhanga-Patala. 272
3Agastya-Patala. 276
4Jatayu-Darsana-Patala. 282
5Surpanakha-Patala. 286
6Khara-vadha-Patala. 302
7Surpanakha-Conspiracy-Ptala. 319
8Marica-Vadha-Patala. 336
9Jatayu-Vadha-Patala. 345
10Ayomukhi-Patala. 365
11Kabandhu-Vadha-Patala. 373
12Sabari-Patala. 379
Kriskindha-Kanda. 380
1Pampa-Patala. 384
2Hanuman Patla. 388
3Friendship Patala. 395
4Salavrksa Patala. 397
5Dundubhi Patala. 398
6Pressenting of Ornament Patala. 401
7Vali Vadha Patala. 418
8Rajyasasana Patala. 421
9Rainy Season Patala'. 432
10Kiskindha Patala. 444
11Inspection of Army Patala. 447
12Deputing of Monkey army for Search Patala. 454
13Entry into the Cave Patala. 460
14Marga-Gamana-Patala. 464
15Sampati Patala. 469
16Mahendra Patala.
Voll--II
Sundara Kanda
1Crossing of Ocean Patala . 1
2Lanka Search Ptala10
3Sita Darsana Patala 31
4Hanuman’s appearing Patala 45
5Cudamani Patala 55
6Garden Destrauction Patala 62
7Kinkara-Vadha Patala 67
8Killing of Jambumali Patala 73
9Killing of Pancasenapati Patala 78
10Aksaya Kumara Killing Patala 83
11Pasa Bandhana Patala 89
12Freedom from Bondage Patala 94
13Lanka-Dahan Patala 106
14Adoration of the feet of Rama Patala 111
Yuddha-Kanda (Ist Half)
1Samudra-Sandarsana Patala 117
2Consulation of Ranana Patala 118
3Hiranya-Vadha Patala 129
4Taking of Refuge by Vibhisana Patala 146
5Lanka-Sravana Patala 159
6Varuna Sranagamana Patala 165
7Setubandha-Patala 172
8Spy Patala 177
9Lanka Sandarsana Patala 185
10Ravana Inspects the Monkey Army Patala 187
11Mukuta Bhanga Ptala 189
12Vyuha-Racana Patala 194
13Angada Dautya Patala 197
14first day War Patala 201
15Kumbhakarna-Vadha Patala 221
16Mayajanaka Patala 251
17Atikaya-Vadha Patala 260
18Nagapasa Patala 282
19Senadhyaksa-Vadha Patala 309
20Makaraksa-Vadha Patala 317
Yuddha-Kanda (IInd half)
21Brahmastra Patala 321
22Viewing of the Battle field by Sita Patala 340
23Bringing of the Medicine patala 343
24The Sport of Drinking Wine Patala 353
25Maya Sita Ptala 355
26Nikumbhila Sacrifica Patala 363
27Killing of Indrajit Patala 379
28Grief of Ravana Patala 386
29Inspection of the Army Patala 391
30Destruction of Basic Army Patala 395
31Sakti Dharana Patala 416
32Monkey’s inspection of Battle-field-Patala 420
33Inspection of Battle Field by Ravana Patala 423
34Ravana Mounting the Chariot Patala 426
35Sri Rama Mounting over the Chariot Patala 429
36Killing of Ravana Patala 430
37Return ot Ayodhya Patala 451
38Crowning of Rama Patala 479
39The Departure Patala 483
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