Paula Richman
Throughout Indian history, many authors and performers have produced, and many patrons have supported, diverse tellings of the story of the exiled prince Rama, who rescues his abducted wife by battling the demon king who has imprisoned her. The contributors to this volume focus on these "many" ,Ramayanas,.,While most scholars continue to rely on Valmiki's Sanskrit ,Ramayana, as the authoritative version of the tale, the contributors to this volume do not. Their essays demonstrate the multivocal nature of the ,Ramayana, by highlighting its variations according to historical period, political context, regional literary tradition, religious affiliation, intended audience, and genre. Socially marginal groups in Indian societyâ€”Telugu women, for example, or Untouchables from Madhya Pradeshâ€”have recast the Rama story to reflect their own views of the world, while in other hands the epic has become the basis for teachings about spiritual liberation or the demand for political separatism. Historians of religion, scholars of South Asia, folklorists, cultural anthropologistsâ€”all will find here refreshing perspectives on this tale.
Religion,Hinduism,Cultural,India,Nonfiction,Religion,History,Fantasy,Mythology,Writing,Essays
Many Ramayanas: The Diversity of a Narrative Tradition in South Asia