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Ramayana #1-2
Prince of Dharma: Prince of Ayodhya / Siege of Mithila
Ashok Banker's Ramayana series is presented here the way the author originally intended for his retelling. Three Magnificent omnibus editions bring together all the six books published earlier. Prince of Dharma, Part One of the Ramayana series, includes the first and second books, Prince of Ayodhya and Siege of Mithila.
Rama's mission, as a prince of dharma, is to prevent the onslaught of the forces of darkness and save the kingdom of Ayodhya. Will his courage and honour triumph over the bestial hordes of the demonlord Ravana? Armed with an unflinching sense of duty and ineffable power of his dev-astra, he sets forth to reclaim the victory of good over evil.
Rama's mission, as a prince of dharma, is to prevent the onslaught of the forces of darkness and save the kingdom of Ayodhya. Will his courage and honour triumph over the bestial hordes of the demonlord Ravana? Armed with an unflinching sense of duty and ineffable power of his dev-astra, he sets forth to reclaim the victory of good over evil.
838 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2007
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Ashok K. Banker
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December 30, 2022
Ramayana #1 and #2- Prince of Dharma: Prince of Ayodhya / Siege of Mithila by Ashok K. Banker- In the book, author mentions that “Bramha”, the Creator has preached the humans that it is their duty of praise the life and philosophy of Lord Rama. Therefore, author has written story of Rama in a series of Books. Two volumes of this book are under review. First part, In Prince of Ayodhya, subtitled "The Ramayana - Book I," the Indian author Ashok K. Banker takes the classic Ramayana and casts it into the peculiar conventions of Western-style fantasy fiction. At first Rama, the young prince, when deprived of his rightful accession to the throne by the machinations of a jealous stepmother, is exiled to the forest where he spends fourteen years accompanied by his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana. They overcome many hardships including the kidnapping of Sita by Ravana, the villainous ruler of Lanka. Prince Rama, who is a righteous man and has divine powers, leads a makeshift army into battle with Ravana, defeats him, and rescues Sita. When they return at last to Ayodhya, Rama is crowned amidst much jubilation. Author’s novel uses only the first book, which ends even before Rama is sent into exile. Second part, Recapitualate the incidents of the prvious book where Rishi Vishwamitra brings Ram and Laksman from Ayodhya to Sidda Ashram where he starts yagna. Sons of Tadaka - Subahu and Marich attack and the first is killed while the second thrown away towards the sea beach by an arrow of Ram. They slepp in the night and plan to visit Mithila. Chaptre 1- Ram wakes up early is chzrmed towards the forest. Lakshman also wakes up early, does not find Ram sleeping next to him and moves out of the hut to search for him. Lakshman is sees a musk deer and tries to befriend her. Just then a lepord attacks them. The musk deer runs away and Vishwamitra appears on the scene. The lepord recognieses Vishwamittra and controls himself. Vishwamitra rebukes Lakshman that he had asked them both not to move out of the Ashram without informing him. They find Ram also standing near the edge of the forest. All of them return back to the Ashram and perform their daily routine- bath, puja and get ready for the jurney to Mithila.
The musk deer is Shurpanakha, she is not able to talk to Lakshman. Her brother Ravana appears and rebukes her about why she killed the Ayodhya Vajra army man who was returning to Ayodhya with the news of death of Tadaka. Ravana puts life in the Vajra second in command and enlivens him with a soul. The second in command commander is now an agent of Ravana who goes to Ayodhya with a message to king Dashrath to be delivered personally to the king.
Rishi Vishwamitra and his group moves towards Mithila. Ashram residents sit in the bullock cart while Vishwamitra, Ram and Lakshman walk in the road. Vishwamitra walks fast as they plan to reach the river side before evening. On the way they hear a sound of men and animals fighting. Vishwamitra does not react . Ram seeks permission to go and interfere. Vishwamitra informs that it if possible that dacoits are fighting with wild animals- then why interfere. Still Ram persists and permission is granted to them. The two brothers run to the place of incident. On reaching there, they find that two persons with their faces coverd with black wrap are fighting a group of dacoits. This group is the same which Ram had encountered on Holi festival at Ayodhya. The dacoits haves been fighting with wolves with old and rusted arms. The dacoits challenge Ram and Lakshman to fight with them, claiming that now they are in their own area. In the name of King Dasratha, Ram asks them to drop their arms and talk in peace but the group is in no mood to listen and threaten Ram and Lakshman. The army commander from Ayodhya is also witnessing the event and the incidents happen at such a pace that he is not able to participate or interfere. A group of two army men residents of Mithila also witness the event. Ram accepts challenge and starts killing the dacoits with his sword. Lakshman joins him. Soon some of the dacoits are killed and the rest of the dacoits run towards the hills where they can hide and take shelter on the caves. Mithila army men also come near and ask why the Ayodhya army men did not participate in the attack. Army commander is not able to give a satisfactory reply. Ram orders the army men to chase the running dacoits and kill them. The army men run after them but they find that the dacoits have entered a cave. Ram asks them to return as there might be more dacoits in the unknown territory. Ram befriends the inmates of Mithila and requests them to join them on their journey towards Mithila. Later in the night during dinner, Vishwamitra informs that the first covered person is Sita and the second person is Nakhuri, her body guard. They travel together to Janakpur.
Manthara who an agent of Ravana. She is able to change on maid servant in to a look alike to visit ailing Dasratha, kiss him and try of poison him. The look alike returns back to the palace of Queen Kekeyi. Manthara has put Kekeyi to sleep by Mantras.
Here the Second in command Ayodhya army commander reaches Ayodhya and informs the army commander that he has a message for King Dasratha. The army men informs that according to discipline he must pass the message to the Minister and to the sons of Dasratha. He disagrees. Ultimately, Dasratha meets him alone. The army man turns into Ravana who tries to pin Dasrath to the ground and makes an effort to kill Dasratha. Though ill, Dasrath jumps and hits his head to the gong where by informing the minister and his sons waiting on the gate to break the door and save him.
Chapter 2- Sumantra, other Ministers, bodyguards and the army men hear the sound and are sure that the King is in danger. They break open the door of the Durbar. They find that the hall is dark and there is no light. They order to bring oil lamps. When the lights arrive they find the seocond army commander is dead, his head was stuck to the gong. King Dasratha is lying on his throne. Dasratha recovers and order that his 2nd in command army commander has informed him that Ravana with a large army will attack the kingdom of his queen Sumitra and Kekeyi in one day. His orders that half his army should move with Bharat and half with Shatrughan to protect these kingdoms and orders them to move out soon. Guru Vashistha comes and orders that he should be left alone with the king. Witih the help of chanting of Mantra, Vashistha makes the demon within King Dasratha to inform what incorrect information has been fed by Ravana to Dasratha. He finds that a small army of Ravana will attack the Kingdom of Sumitra and Kekeyi. The main attack with an army of one crore will take place on Mithila because this kingdom does not maintain an strong army. Vashistha orders that the Kosal army should return back of Ayodhya.
One maid serving with Manthra is tranced and dresses like Kekeyi , visits the ailiing King Dasratha and lies over him and tries to poison the King through lip kiss. But the poison does not enter the lips of the King instead it spills on the pillow. This is the duty hour of Queen Sumitra. Later it is found that some one has made an effort of regicide. The blame falls squarely on Sumitra and Queen Kaushalya doubts Queen Sumitra. Sumitra plans to uncover the deeds of Manthra so that she could prove that she is not guilty of attempt to regicide. She moves to the quarter of Manthra. Manthra finds her and her maid together and traps them in one room where she has been doing Bali (sacrifice) of brahmin young children to appease Ravana. The maid is drunk. They both plan to excape whenever the door is opened. Sumitra pucks a Trihsool (weapon), smears her face with remains of burnt wood and readies herself and the maid to face Manthra. The moment the door opened, they posed as Goddess in anger with Trishul in hand. Manthra was awe struck. Sumitra struck her with the Trushul and both ran out of her quarters and returned to their part of the palace where she lived. She reported the matter to Queen Kaushalya who called the army chief, the palace guards and her body guards. All went to the quarter of Manthra and started a searh but during the time available Manthara had removed all evidence from the room where she had performed sacrifice of brahmin boys and the quarter was clean. They could not frame Manthara for her misdeeds.
Here Rishi Vishwamitra informed Ram that they had to move tonight to the place in Mithila where Ahalya was living as a stone in the Ashram of Rishi Gautam who had cursed her after witnessing her seduced by Indra Kind of Devatas and having sex with him. The team was divided in two parts- first, the Brahmins and other Rishis from his Ashramits. On the next day, this team would cross the river and travel by road to Mithila. The second party consisting of Vishwamitra, Ram, Lakshman, Sita, her aide Nakhudi, Ayodhya Army chief and his army would move to Ahilya Ashram. They all moved out and reached the lonely place where Ahalya was living in a Vasuki pond. Ram was disarmed and was asked to dive in the water and God would help him fetch Ahalya while the team would wait at the bank of the Vasuki Talab. Ram dived and found that power of BAl and Atibal helped to stay without feeling need of oxygen. Soon he discovered that the pond opened in an upturned area where oxygen was available he breathed and searched for Ahlaya. While swinning towards a hut, he kicked the mud, and lo the mud from his feet touched a statue which was Ahalya herself. The statue turned into a woman- Ahalya. They came out and Vishwamitra informed Ahalya that they were moving to the new Ashram of Rishi Gautam. Rishi Gautam was also living tranced for many many years. Vishwamitra woke him up with the help of mantras. He woke up and was informed of the story that Ahalya was seduced by Indra. Gautam pardoned his wife and both left for heaven.
The team continued its journey to Mithila. King Janak was informed about their arrival. They were received and lodged in King's palace. Next day Swayamwar of Sita had been organised. The challenge was that a heavy Bow belonging to Lord Shiva should be lifted, stringed and arrow to pierce the target in the shield. Ravana dressed up as a young aspirant attend the swayamwar. He lifted the bow, stringed it and without aiming to the target shot it towards Vishwamitra. King Janak informed him that shooting an arrow towards the Rishi is disrepectful. Ravana showed disrespect towards Janak caught him by his neck and tried to strangle him. Visihwamitra interfered and inforemd Ravana to leave King Janak and also that he had not hit the target with his arrow according to the challenge. He asked Ram to try the challenge. Ram raised the Bow, stringed it, took out an arrow and hit the target. Thus, he was declared winner and Sita would be his wedded wife. Ravana went away informing that his army of about one crore in number will attack his kingdom by evening. King Janak was awe struck. He called his army men, organised a war committee, called back war veterans, organised bows and arrows at the walls of the boundary of Mitila. He prayed Vishwamitra for help. Ayodhya army men who had come with Ram, decided to take part in the war. Five persons, Vishwamitra, King Janak, Ram, Lakshman, Sita, Nakhuri went to a high tower from where they could watch the Ravana army movements. True by evening Ravana;s army was moving in straight line towards the city of Mithila. Vishwamitra informed that while moving to heaven, Rishi Gautam gave him the celestial weapon named Brahmastra. This weapon could destroy the whole army. Vishwamitra informed Janak that who ever uses the celestial weapon will loose all his Godly power and remain a normal human being. King Janak refused to use the Brahmastra for fear of loosing his tapasya. Ram agreed to use the celestial weapon. Lakshman sprang up and said tbat both brothers will use it, knowing well that the power of Bal and Atibal provided by Vishwamitra will also go away. Both brothers use the Brahmastra. Ravana army and the Ayodhya army fight were immediately killed.
Modern Indian writing by Amish and Ashok K Banker have stressed that celestial weapons should generally not be used. If in emergency, any celestial weapon is used, the user has to pay a penalty- in this book, it is loos of all power while in Amish's book it is that the user has to live in the forest away from the people for 12 years.
Such books show new Indian epics in new light and are welcome by the reading community. The publishers are smart. These books bring incidents in speed and keep the reader bound to the script. The script also shows love, war, spirtuality, palaces, Kings, Queens, army, thus making the book attractive for the movie screenplay to be written easily. It is a good read book and a must read for all.
The musk deer is Shurpanakha, she is not able to talk to Lakshman. Her brother Ravana appears and rebukes her about why she killed the Ayodhya Vajra army man who was returning to Ayodhya with the news of death of Tadaka. Ravana puts life in the Vajra second in command and enlivens him with a soul. The second in command commander is now an agent of Ravana who goes to Ayodhya with a message to king Dashrath to be delivered personally to the king.
Rishi Vishwamitra and his group moves towards Mithila. Ashram residents sit in the bullock cart while Vishwamitra, Ram and Lakshman walk in the road. Vishwamitra walks fast as they plan to reach the river side before evening. On the way they hear a sound of men and animals fighting. Vishwamitra does not react . Ram seeks permission to go and interfere. Vishwamitra informs that it if possible that dacoits are fighting with wild animals- then why interfere. Still Ram persists and permission is granted to them. The two brothers run to the place of incident. On reaching there, they find that two persons with their faces coverd with black wrap are fighting a group of dacoits. This group is the same which Ram had encountered on Holi festival at Ayodhya. The dacoits haves been fighting with wolves with old and rusted arms. The dacoits challenge Ram and Lakshman to fight with them, claiming that now they are in their own area. In the name of King Dasratha, Ram asks them to drop their arms and talk in peace but the group is in no mood to listen and threaten Ram and Lakshman. The army commander from Ayodhya is also witnessing the event and the incidents happen at such a pace that he is not able to participate or interfere. A group of two army men residents of Mithila also witness the event. Ram accepts challenge and starts killing the dacoits with his sword. Lakshman joins him. Soon some of the dacoits are killed and the rest of the dacoits run towards the hills where they can hide and take shelter on the caves. Mithila army men also come near and ask why the Ayodhya army men did not participate in the attack. Army commander is not able to give a satisfactory reply. Ram orders the army men to chase the running dacoits and kill them. The army men run after them but they find that the dacoits have entered a cave. Ram asks them to return as there might be more dacoits in the unknown territory. Ram befriends the inmates of Mithila and requests them to join them on their journey towards Mithila. Later in the night during dinner, Vishwamitra informs that the first covered person is Sita and the second person is Nakhuri, her body guard. They travel together to Janakpur.
Manthara who an agent of Ravana. She is able to change on maid servant in to a look alike to visit ailing Dasratha, kiss him and try of poison him. The look alike returns back to the palace of Queen Kekeyi. Manthara has put Kekeyi to sleep by Mantras.
Here the Second in command Ayodhya army commander reaches Ayodhya and informs the army commander that he has a message for King Dasratha. The army men informs that according to discipline he must pass the message to the Minister and to the sons of Dasratha. He disagrees. Ultimately, Dasratha meets him alone. The army man turns into Ravana who tries to pin Dasrath to the ground and makes an effort to kill Dasratha. Though ill, Dasrath jumps and hits his head to the gong where by informing the minister and his sons waiting on the gate to break the door and save him.
Chapter 2- Sumantra, other Ministers, bodyguards and the army men hear the sound and are sure that the King is in danger. They break open the door of the Durbar. They find that the hall is dark and there is no light. They order to bring oil lamps. When the lights arrive they find the seocond army commander is dead, his head was stuck to the gong. King Dasratha is lying on his throne. Dasratha recovers and order that his 2nd in command army commander has informed him that Ravana with a large army will attack the kingdom of his queen Sumitra and Kekeyi in one day. His orders that half his army should move with Bharat and half with Shatrughan to protect these kingdoms and orders them to move out soon. Guru Vashistha comes and orders that he should be left alone with the king. Witih the help of chanting of Mantra, Vashistha makes the demon within King Dasratha to inform what incorrect information has been fed by Ravana to Dasratha. He finds that a small army of Ravana will attack the Kingdom of Sumitra and Kekeyi. The main attack with an army of one crore will take place on Mithila because this kingdom does not maintain an strong army. Vashistha orders that the Kosal army should return back of Ayodhya.
One maid serving with Manthra is tranced and dresses like Kekeyi , visits the ailiing King Dasratha and lies over him and tries to poison the King through lip kiss. But the poison does not enter the lips of the King instead it spills on the pillow. This is the duty hour of Queen Sumitra. Later it is found that some one has made an effort of regicide. The blame falls squarely on Sumitra and Queen Kaushalya doubts Queen Sumitra. Sumitra plans to uncover the deeds of Manthra so that she could prove that she is not guilty of attempt to regicide. She moves to the quarter of Manthra. Manthra finds her and her maid together and traps them in one room where she has been doing Bali (sacrifice) of brahmin young children to appease Ravana. The maid is drunk. They both plan to excape whenever the door is opened. Sumitra pucks a Trihsool (weapon), smears her face with remains of burnt wood and readies herself and the maid to face Manthra. The moment the door opened, they posed as Goddess in anger with Trishul in hand. Manthra was awe struck. Sumitra struck her with the Trushul and both ran out of her quarters and returned to their part of the palace where she lived. She reported the matter to Queen Kaushalya who called the army chief, the palace guards and her body guards. All went to the quarter of Manthra and started a searh but during the time available Manthara had removed all evidence from the room where she had performed sacrifice of brahmin boys and the quarter was clean. They could not frame Manthara for her misdeeds.
Here Rishi Vishwamitra informed Ram that they had to move tonight to the place in Mithila where Ahalya was living as a stone in the Ashram of Rishi Gautam who had cursed her after witnessing her seduced by Indra Kind of Devatas and having sex with him. The team was divided in two parts- first, the Brahmins and other Rishis from his Ashramits. On the next day, this team would cross the river and travel by road to Mithila. The second party consisting of Vishwamitra, Ram, Lakshman, Sita, her aide Nakhudi, Ayodhya Army chief and his army would move to Ahilya Ashram. They all moved out and reached the lonely place where Ahalya was living in a Vasuki pond. Ram was disarmed and was asked to dive in the water and God would help him fetch Ahalya while the team would wait at the bank of the Vasuki Talab. Ram dived and found that power of BAl and Atibal helped to stay without feeling need of oxygen. Soon he discovered that the pond opened in an upturned area where oxygen was available he breathed and searched for Ahlaya. While swinning towards a hut, he kicked the mud, and lo the mud from his feet touched a statue which was Ahalya herself. The statue turned into a woman- Ahalya. They came out and Vishwamitra informed Ahalya that they were moving to the new Ashram of Rishi Gautam. Rishi Gautam was also living tranced for many many years. Vishwamitra woke him up with the help of mantras. He woke up and was informed of the story that Ahalya was seduced by Indra. Gautam pardoned his wife and both left for heaven.
The team continued its journey to Mithila. King Janak was informed about their arrival. They were received and lodged in King's palace. Next day Swayamwar of Sita had been organised. The challenge was that a heavy Bow belonging to Lord Shiva should be lifted, stringed and arrow to pierce the target in the shield. Ravana dressed up as a young aspirant attend the swayamwar. He lifted the bow, stringed it and without aiming to the target shot it towards Vishwamitra. King Janak informed him that shooting an arrow towards the Rishi is disrepectful. Ravana showed disrespect towards Janak caught him by his neck and tried to strangle him. Visihwamitra interfered and inforemd Ravana to leave King Janak and also that he had not hit the target with his arrow according to the challenge. He asked Ram to try the challenge. Ram raised the Bow, stringed it, took out an arrow and hit the target. Thus, he was declared winner and Sita would be his wedded wife. Ravana went away informing that his army of about one crore in number will attack his kingdom by evening. King Janak was awe struck. He called his army men, organised a war committee, called back war veterans, organised bows and arrows at the walls of the boundary of Mitila. He prayed Vishwamitra for help. Ayodhya army men who had come with Ram, decided to take part in the war. Five persons, Vishwamitra, King Janak, Ram, Lakshman, Sita, Nakhuri went to a high tower from where they could watch the Ravana army movements. True by evening Ravana;s army was moving in straight line towards the city of Mithila. Vishwamitra informed that while moving to heaven, Rishi Gautam gave him the celestial weapon named Brahmastra. This weapon could destroy the whole army. Vishwamitra informed Janak that who ever uses the celestial weapon will loose all his Godly power and remain a normal human being. King Janak refused to use the Brahmastra for fear of loosing his tapasya. Ram agreed to use the celestial weapon. Lakshman sprang up and said tbat both brothers will use it, knowing well that the power of Bal and Atibal provided by Vishwamitra will also go away. Both brothers use the Brahmastra. Ravana army and the Ayodhya army fight were immediately killed.
Modern Indian writing by Amish and Ashok K Banker have stressed that celestial weapons should generally not be used. If in emergency, any celestial weapon is used, the user has to pay a penalty- in this book, it is loos of all power while in Amish's book it is that the user has to live in the forest away from the people for 12 years.
Such books show new Indian epics in new light and are welcome by the reading community. The publishers are smart. These books bring incidents in speed and keep the reader bound to the script. The script also shows love, war, spirtuality, palaces, Kings, Queens, army, thus making the book attractive for the movie screenplay to be written easily. It is a good read book and a must read for all.
August 2, 2015
Ramayana is one of those stories that is laced with our childhood. we have all heard of it - be it through the animated recounting of our grandparents or through those Sunday morning series that our mothers watch fervently. It is a story that is so ubiquitous in Indian culture that everyone's heard of it. Banker has taken such a well-known story and yet somehow reinvented it in a way that's both compelling and gripping. His language is so beautiful I am spellbound. Every metaphor, every simile is so rich that it lends itself beautifully to the mind's eye. I was disappointed initially to find that the characters lack depth. The obedient, obeisant and goodie-goodie Ram, the bold and beautiful Sita, the loyal lackey Lakshman, the all-seeing seers - all more or less stereotypical. A character is always a lot more fun to read when he/she is multifaceted. Here, every character is two-dimensional. But Bankers makes up for his lack of substantial characters with splendid language and riveting storyline.
An amazing read , am shamelessly hooked. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
An amazing read , am shamelessly hooked. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
April 20, 2015
Truly enjoyed this book and I'm certain the rest of the series will be just as good. The author has a very simple writing style with big words thrown in once in a while. Its been long since I had to look up a word but I certainly did that frequently while reading Ramayana. I don't know how true the story is to the original Ramayana; my only comparison is the TV show all those years ago on DD. But judged purely as a story; I've been totally engrossed.
June 15, 2015
I'm an ardent reader of Tamil author Sandilyan whose forte is historic fiction. I think I have found his equivalent in English. Ashok Banker's narration was every detailed and was quite a page turner. Each character was layered and the book gave a fresh perspective on Ramayana. I am looking forward to finishing all the books in this series.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews