Preface

atmano'nyasya sadbhave purvasthityanuyayyapi | vastu bhatitaram tanvyah sasicchayamivananam || Dvanyaloka Udyota -IV .14 "So long as there is a separate life of its own, even a poetic theme bearing close correspondence to an earlier one will acquire exceeding beauty; just as the delightful face of a woman will appear exceedingly charming in spite of its strong resemblance to the moon". This statement of Anandavardhana holds good with the Sundara Ramayana, the subject of the current study. INFLUENCE OF RAMAYANA Ramayana holds a unique place in the literary history of the world. Based on the original Ramayana many authors have composed the Ramayana in Sanskrit and other languages. The influence of the Ramayana could be seen not only in poems, in the dramatic literature but also in other species of literature throughout the centuries. Many i

authors who got inspired have contributed their ideas on the themes of the Ramayana. Some of them are adaptations or deviations or abridgement. Adhyatma Ramayana, Ananda Ramayana, Vasista Ramayana, Adbhuta Ramayana, Bala Ramayana, Suka Ramayana and so on, are many works worth noticing in the development of the Ramayana literature. seven The Sundara Ramayana is a Kavya in Cantos with 1209 verses condensing the original Valmiki Ramayana composed by the 20 th century author Sri Sundaresa Sastri. He has also rendered a Tamil translation of the entire work. This work gives a comprehensive survey of Rama's story fulfilling the features of an interesting Kavya. The Sundara Ramayana of Sri Sundaresa Sastri the work taken for the study was highly appreciated by the erudite scholars of his time. Vangipuram Sri. Rangachariar, a scholar under the kingdom of Sri. Rajagopala Thondaman observes that, "gokarnabhijanena sundarabudha valmikisambodhita sriramayanasamgrahassuracito vidvanmanah karsati | ii

balanam sukhabodhakassuruciro'lamkaravrttadibhih sausabdyena ca kalidasakavitasadrsyamabhyasnute || " 66 This work the epitome of Valmiki Ramayana, well composed by the scholar 'Sundara' belonging to the place called Gokarna attracts the hearts of all these scholars. It easily enters into the minds of the young. It is so sweet with the accomplishment of figures of speech, prosody and chosen words similar to Kalidasa" Sri. N. Raghava Sastri, Headmaster of Veda Sastra Patasala of Pudukottai, observes this work thus. "atra ca sriramayane pratisargam pradarsitah kathamsah prayena samgrhitah | prasiddhani ca padani samghatitani | madhura ca sarani hrdayamgama ca vartate | " "In this work, mostly the narrative episodes of every sarga are brought out in a condensed form. Popular words are being used. The style is sweet and pleasing to the heart". The Sundara Ramayana was printed at the 'Sri Janardhana Printing Works Limited', Town High School Road, Kumbakonam, in the year 1938. Before proceeding to analyse Sundara Ramayana, a brief survey of the sources of the Ramayana is also given. iii

Since no attempt has been made by the scholars to investigate and critically analyse this interesting Kavya, the present study is undertaken. This study extends to seven chapters. The place of Sundara Ramayana its author and his family, the glory of Ramayana and a brief survey of the poems on the theme of Ramayana are dealt with in the First Chapter. The Second Chapter gives the prose rendering of the poem in English with phalasruti. The Third Chapter deals with expressions and parallel expressions. The Fourth Chapter contains commentary on allusions and character sketches. The Fifth Chapter analyses the figures of speech, observation, description and rare grammatical usage. motifs. The Sixth Chapter deals with the words of wisdom and omens as The concluding chapter critically estimates the overall presentation of the author. iv

Note on Methodology All the relevant references in this thesis are given at the end of every chapter as per the superscript number given in the body of the thesis. So also, the relevant portion of the quotations alone are given in the chapter notes for the sake of brevity. The appendices contain the relevant materials referred to in the body of the Thesis. Select Bibliography is added at the end. Despite the care taken, there may be some inadequacies, but they may be pardoned. They are not neglected items, but left out to keep the thesis within its limit. I owe my sincere thanks to Dr. R. Thiagarajan, M.A., Ph.D, Head of the P.G. & Research Department of Sanskrit, Presidency College, Chennai-5, who was instrumental for my undertaking this work. I also thank him for his incessant guidance and support for all the help rendered by him, but for which, it would have been otherwise an incredible task for me. I offer my heart felt thanks to Dr. (Sri) N.Verse Vasudevachariar, correspondent, Sri Ahobila Math Oriental Higher Secondary School, West Mambalam, Chennai, 600 033 for all the encouragement and support rendered to me for completing this work. Thanks are due to Sri. R. Ramakrishna Iyer, V

retired professor of Sanskrit, A.M. Jain College. I sincerely thank profusely thank Mrs. Verse Gowri who is the Grand daughter-in-law of the author Sri. Sundaresa Sastri, for giving me all information about the author and also for the photograph of the author. I profusely thank Mrs. Uma, M.A. M. Phil., M.Ed., PGCTE, P.G. English Teacher as well as my colleague in Sri Ahobila Math Oriental H.S.S, for her best assistance to me while executing this work. I will be failing in my duty, if I do not express my appreciation to Verse Pratibha for the abundant and meticulous care she has bestowed on executing this work. I thank my parents-in-law and my parents for having encouraged me to pursue my a reaserch. I thank my husband and also my son for helping me from time to time. I am rather moved since my grand father is not alive now, as he always wished me to pursue a doctorate degree. vi TN 1. Jaye