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Ramcharitmanas 2
The most popular devotional text recounting the adventures of the Hindu god Ram
The Ramcharitmanas , composed by the poet-saint Tulsidas in the sixteenth century during a dynamic period of religious reform, was instrumental in making the story of Ram-and his divine feats against Ravan, the demon king of Lanka-widely accessible to the common people for the first time. Prior to that, this tale was exclusively the preserve of the priestly class who could read Valmiki's Sanskrit epic, The Ramayana. By reimagining Valmiki's text in the vernacular language, as a poem to be imbibed through recitation rather than reading, Tulsidas kindled a devotional revolution, forever changing the religious and social landscape of northern India.
Rohini Chowdhury's exquisite translation brings Tulsidas's magnum opus vividly to life, and her detailed introduction sheds crucial light on the poet and his work, placing them both in the wider context of Hindi literature.
The Ramcharitmanas , composed by the poet-saint Tulsidas in the sixteenth century during a dynamic period of religious reform, was instrumental in making the story of Ram-and his divine feats against Ravan, the demon king of Lanka-widely accessible to the common people for the first time. Prior to that, this tale was exclusively the preserve of the priestly class who could read Valmiki's Sanskrit epic, The Ramayana. By reimagining Valmiki's text in the vernacular language, as a poem to be imbibed through recitation rather than reading, Tulsidas kindled a devotional revolution, forever changing the religious and social landscape of northern India.
Rohini Chowdhury's exquisite translation brings Tulsidas's magnum opus vividly to life, and her detailed introduction sheds crucial light on the poet and his work, placing them both in the wider context of Hindi literature.
- GenresClassics
416 pages, Paperback
Published December 6, 2019
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20 people want to read
About the author
Tulsidas
124 books33 followersTulsidas was a realized soul and saint, poet, often called reformer and philosopher from Ramanandi Sampradaya, in the lineage of Jagadguru Ramanandacharya renowned for his devotion to the Lord Shri Rama.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
November 10, 2021
This is a long ode of worship of Ram. Using the Ramayana of Valmiki as a structure, this work praises Ram in almost every verse, he is handsome, pure, radiant, generous, etc etc. He can do no wrong, even though an objective view of his actions, willfully murdering many people that are called demons, could be said to be those of a blood thirsty maniac.
The translator says that they can't reproduce the beauty of Tulsidas' poetry in English, and as he is considered one of the greatest Hindi poets this absence makes the work tiring to read.
No beautiful poetry, wooden characters, a plot that moves slowly and has no surprises, makes for a dull book.
The translator says that they can't reproduce the beauty of Tulsidas' poetry in English, and as he is considered one of the greatest Hindi poets this absence makes the work tiring to read.
No beautiful poetry, wooden characters, a plot that moves slowly and has no surprises, makes for a dull book.
Displaying 1 of 1 review