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96 pages

English

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The popular classic in which good vanquishes evil, now in a pocket-friendly version for childrenThe Ramayana is one of the best-known epics in the world—the tale of Rama, the prince of Ayodhya, who exiles himself to the forest for fourteen years to honour his father’s word. In the forest, Rama, his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana meet new friends and unusual foes, and each day brings new adventures. But Ravana of Lanka, the king of demons, ruins it all by abducting Sita. To rescue her, Rama enlists the help of Hanuman and his monkey army. In the final battle many heroes die and new ones are born.In this fast-moving version for children, the ancient tale takes on new life. The traditional ingredients are all there—drama and excitement, gods and princes, love and war, infinite stories within stories, monkeys who cross oceans and carry mountains, shape-changing demons and bizarre monsters—but described with freshness and vitality by Bulbul Sharma. This contemporary retelling, which answers questions and provides explanations, is the perfect first Ramayana for everyone.

Sujets

Philosophie et théologie

Hinduism

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Publié par	Penguin Books India Pvt Ltd
Date de parution	07 février 2007
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9788184758481
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0300€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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BULBUL SHARMA
The Ramayana
PUFFIN BOOKS
Contents

About the Author
Dedication
The Birth of Rama
Tataka
Mareecha and Subhahu
Sita
Ahalya
The Swayamvar
Dashrath s Plan
The Plot
The Curse
The Banishment
In the Forest
Dashrath s Death
Into the Wild
Panchavati
Soorpanakha
Khara s Revenge
In Ravana s Court
Mareecha
The Golden Deer
The Abduction
The Search for Sita
Kabandha
The Monkey Clans
Kishkinda
The Search Begins
Hanuman in Lanka
Preparing for War
Crossing the Ocean
Before the Battle
The First Battle
Kumbhakaran
Indrajit
Ravana
Return to Ayodhya
The Second Banishment
At Valmiki s Ashram
The Aswamedha Horse
Back at the Ashram
Rama and His Sons
Afterword
Copyright Page
PUFFIN BOOKS
THE RAMAYANA
Bulbul Sharma is an artist and writer. She also works as an art teacher for children with special needs. She has written a novel, Banana-flower Dreams , three collections of short stories, and Tales of Fabled Beasts, Gods and Demons for children.
For Naina
The Birth of Rama

The city of Ayodhya, the capital of the kingdom of Kosala, was a wonderful place where people lived and worked contentedly. Everyone was peace-loving, good to their neighbours, and kind to animals. King Dashrath was a just and responsible ruler, and looked after his people as if they were his own children.
However, the king and his three queens were not happy. Their vast palace, with its glittering golden roof, silver doors and huge gardens, seemed a quiet and lonely place sometimes. King Dashrath did not have any children and this made him very sad. So after consultation with his ministers, he decided to hold a huge yagna to please the gods in the hope that they would bless him with a child.
Once the date of the yagna was decided, the city of Ayodhya began to bustle with activity. New roads were laid and hundreds of new buildings were constructed to house the many holy men, princes and ordinary people from other parts of the kingdom who were expected to attend this great yagna. Rasyasringa, a very learned sage, was invited to conduct the ceremony, The assistant priests began to collect the things needed for the yagna and read up the prayers, and the cooks in the royal kitchen began planning their menus for each day.
Finally, the great day arrived. As the people of Ayodhya watched, the grand chariots of the princes began to roll into the city one by one, followed by hundreds of sages and holy men, who came on foot. Children scampered on to the rooftops to watch the line of people walking in from faraway cities and villages.
The yagna fire was lit and barrels of ghee were poured into it. Holy men began to chant the prayers that would continue day and night. Carts full of flowers were brought and their contents distributed among those participating in the prayers. The smoke from the sacred fire, fragrant with sandalwood and incense, rose into the sky and the gods looked down approvingly from heaven.
As it happened, the gods had all gathered together that day for an important discussion. A demon-king named Ravana was creating havoc all over the three worlds, and the worried gods wanted Brahma, the creator of the universe, to do something about him.
Many years ago, you gave Ravana a boon as a reward for the penances he had performed. This boon has made him so powerful that he is now slaughtering and plundering his way through the world. Soon he plans to overthrow us and take over heaven, too. You must stop him before it is too late, said the gods to Brahma.
Brahma thought for a while. When he had granted the boon to Ravana, who had pleased him with his thousand-year penance, he had no idea of the trouble this would cause. The demon-king had begged him, Make me invincible, O great Brahma, so that no god or demon can defeat me. Brahma had granted him his wish. Now, protected by this wonderful boon, Ravana had grown wicked and cruel, and was killing all the innocent gods and demons who stood in his way.
Yes, I must do something to stop him, thought the lord of creation as he looked down to see the flames from King Dashrath s yagna fire grow higher and higher. As he watched, an idea struck him. I will ask Vishnu, the preserver of the universe, to be born on earth as a man, he decided. Ravana had asked me to make him more powerful than gods and demons. He was too proud to ask for protection against man. Vishnu can be born in King Dashrath s house as his son. He is a noble king. I would like to bless him with a son who is a part of Vishnu and who will defeat Ravana.
Vishnu, when asked, agreed to be born on earth as King Dashrath s son in order to defeat Ravana. As soon as the gods had made this plan, the yagna fire began to glow with a golden light.
All the princes and sages who had gathered around the yagna were amazed when a tall golden figure appeared in the flames. His skin was tinged with red, and his hair glowed like a lion s mane. He held a golden bowl in his hands, which was filled with kheer. The gods are pleased with your prayers and have sent this gift to you, said the golden being to King Dashrath in a sweet voice that rang through the air.
Give this sacred kheer to your wives and you will be blessed with children. As soon as King Dashrath took the bowl of kheer from the heavenly creature, he vanished into the flames.
King Dashrath quickly went to Queen Kaushalya s chamber and gave her half of the bowl of kheer. Then he gave one half of what remained to Sumitra, his second queen. Kaikeyi, the third queen, got half of what was left. Dashrath gave the remainder of the kheer to Sumitra.
After a while, four sons were born in the palace. The eldest was Rama, Queen Kaushalya s son. The second was Bharata, Queen Kaikeyi s son. Queen Sumitra, who had eaten the kheer twice, had twins who were named Lakshmana and Shatrughna.
Tataka

The four princes grew up fast, playing in the palace gardens, training in archery, reading the sacred texts and all the other books which princes had to read to learn to become good rulers. All the boys were loved by everyone in the palace for they were good-natured and loving. But the favourite, perhaps, was Rama. Dashrath especially adored his eldest son. Lakshmana, too, was very devoted to Rama and always tried to be by his side.
All too soon the years of their growing up were over, and the little boys who caused so much laughter around the palace became tall, majestic princes. Each of them was a gifted courtier, learned in both the ancient texts and martial skills. All the people of Ayodhya were proud of their valour and courage.
One day, a great sage named Vishwamitra came to visit King Dashrath. Everyone in the palace-queens and princes, ministers and maids, guards and gardeners, cooks and assistant cooks, stable boys and washermen, elephant-keepers and bell-ringers, priests and teachers-rushed about making the great sage comfortable. Someone fetched cool water, someone else washed his feet, while others fanned him with a silken fan in case a fly whizzed too close. They were all very nervous because Vishwamitra, though famed for his wisdom and learning, had a very bad temper.
King Dashrath hovered around anxiously, urging the sage to eat a little fruit or drink some more milk. The king was pleased that the great sage had come to visit him, but he hoped he would go away without losing his temper about anything.
At length, after he had eaten and rested, Vishwamitra explained the reason for his visit. The sage wanted to take Rama and Lakshmana with him to the forest where he lived. There are some demons there who keep disturbing us when we are praying or when there is a yagna. Your brave sons will get rid of these demons for us and make our lives easier, said Vishwamitra.
King Dashrath did not know what to say. He did not want to send his young sons on such a dangerous task. He knew that they were brave and full of courage, but were they not too young to be sent into battle? Yet how was he to refuse the sage? His temper was like a bundle of dry twigs which could flare up any minute and destroy everything in sight.
As the king paced up and down, wondering what to do, Vishwamitra began to narrow his eyes and frown. But before the great sage could utter any angry words, Sage Vashishtha, who was King Dashrath s guru and skilled in dealing with people, stepped forward. He said softly, O king, let Rama and Lakshmana go with Vishwamitra. The entire world knows that he is the bravest of the brave and wisest of the wise. He is the master of every weapon on earth as well as in heaven. Do you think he cannot defeat the demons himself? Of course he can, without lifting a finger. Yet he asks for your sons. He asks for them because he wants to do them good. Send the princes into the forest with the sage, O king, and fear not for their safety. Instead, you should be happy that the great sage Vishwamitra has come himself to ask for them.
At dawn the next day Rama and Lakshmana set out with Sage Vishwamitra. Though they were sad to leave their parents and brothers, they were very excited about going into the forest to fight the demons. They walked fast, their swords gleaming at their waists, bows in their hands and quivers of arrows bouncing on their backs.
Soon they reached the river Sarayu, where Vishwamitra told them to rest for a while. A gentle breeze made the leaves on the old peepal trees flutter, and the river gurgled happily as if to welcome the princes.
Fill your palms with water from the river. I will teach you a mantra which will take away your hunger and thirst. You will never feel tired and will be able to walk long distances easily. When you meet the demons in battle you will be full of energy, said Sage Vishwamitra. He began chanting a magic mantra as Rama and Lakshmana listened closely with their heads bowed and eyes shut in concentration. To their amazement, they soon felt filled with a new strength and all