![]() ![]() Many of these retellings (in all the media mentioned) have been prompted by those aspects of the text that have made the tradition uncomfortable, for example, the times when Rama, the hero (who is later acknowledged as an incarnation of the great god Vishnu), acts unrighteously and appears to violate dharma which each individual needs to work out for him/herself. Through these multiple re-tellings, it is the central idea of dharma (the Hindu code of conduct also defined as the ‘right’ and the ‘good’) that is explored and worked out since there is no categorical imperative for human morality. It is these refractions and reflections that seep into the popular imagination and into popular culture – Valmiki’s Ramayana, however, remains somewhat shrouded, seen and understood through the lenses and veils of those who are intimate with the Sanskrit epic. ![]() In fact, the Ramayana provides the metaphors through which Indians understand themselves, an alternative language which explores how we choose to live in the world.Īn indigenous tradition of interpretation and explanation, of developing the nuances and meanings of the Ramayana through reflection, commentary and opposition is as old as the text itself. The Ramayana and all its versions and retellings have been at the heart of Hindu culture for more than two thousand years – in literature, performance, painting and sculpture.
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