Hanuman Nataka (critical study)
by Nurima Yeasmin | 2015 | 41,386 words
This page relates ‘Deviation from the Original’ of the English study on the Hanuman-nataka written by Shri Damodara Mishra in the 11th century. The Hanumannataka is a Mahanataka—a fourteen-act Sanskrit drama dealing with the story of Rama and Hanumat (Hanuman) and presents the events in the lifes of Rama, Sita, Ravana and Hanuman (the son of Anjana and Vayu—the God of the Winds) based on the Ramayana story.
Deviation from the Original
The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki is a śravyakāvya while the Hanumannāṭaka of Śrī Dāmodara Miśra is a dṛśyakāvya. A writer of the dṛśyakāvya while following a śravyakāvya is sure to address some disadvantages also. Here Śrī Dāmodara Miśra while making the theme of the Hanumannāṭaka deviated from the original in certain cases, and added some innovated ones of his own.
Now, there may be a brief discussion on the deviation from the original.
In Vālmīki’s Rāmāyaṇa, Rāvaṇa, the king of Laṅkā is the tragic hero and occupies a dominant role, while Rāma is the winning hero in the Hanumannāṭaka Further in the Hanumannāṭaka, Rāvaṇa is portrayed as the rival of Rāma, in respect of Sītā. He is presented as an earnest lover of Sītā. His love and longing for Sītā is vividly described in the drama. Rāvaṇa is deeply attracted by the beauty of Sītā. Rāvaṇa has left no stone unturned to win Sītā. But all his attempts went in vain. In the drama Rāvaṇa’s love towards Sītā is shown vividly than his heroic deed and ferocity.
In the Hanumannāṭaka, in different situations and manner, the role of Paraśurāma or Jāmadagnya Rāma is shown. In the 1st Act of the Hanumannāṭaka, Paraśurāma arrives at Mithilā during the svayamvara of Sītā and had a debate with Rāma. But in Vālmīki’s Rāmāyaṇa, Paraśurāma met Rāma on the way back to Ayodhyā after Sītā’s svayamvara, on hearing the news of breaking the bow of Śiva. This bow was his preceptor’s bow. So he accused Rāma for breaking it. This is a deviated scene from the original one.
In the Hanumannāṭaka, Paraśurāma came with the message of Rāvaṇa that he wanted to marry Sītā but he refused to lift the bow of Śiva in Janaka’s royal court. But when Rāma was ready to marry Sītā after breaking the bow, love lorn Rāvaṇa’s heart got tormented.
In the Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki, it is found that Rāma went to the forest with Sītā, Lakṣmaṇa and Niṣādarāja Guha.But in the Hanumannāṭaka, there is found no description about the Niṣādarāja Guha.
In the Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki there is found the description of the hermitage of Bharadvāja, but in the Hanumannāṭaka, there is no mention about it.
In the Hanumannāṭaka, there is found no description of Śarabhaṅga, Sutīkṣṇa and Agastya, whereas Vālmīki’s Rāmāyaṇa contains long description of all of them.
The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki bears lengthy description of the marriage of Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, Bharata and Śatrughna. But in the Hanumannāṭaka, there is found description of only Rāma’s marriage and not of the other three princes.