Part 2 - Introduction to the Sundara Ramayana

The Sundara Ramayana in seven cantos with 1209 verses, the composed in 20 th century, is the condensed version of the original Valmiki Ramayana. The author Sundaresa 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. It appears that the author has named this work appropriately to echo the name of the author, at the same time giving tribute to the work as a 'beautiful' composition. This work abounds in many figures of speech. It epitomizes Valmiki Ramayana mostly through the verses couched in a long metre Sardula Vikridita. It is highly informative through allusions appropriately brought into the context. The narration of the story original, quick and successive, taking the essence of every Sarga of the original Valmiki Ramayana. Touching expressions, lucid style, employment of figures of speech with appropriate emotions and sentiments make this work an appreciable narrative Kavya. In short, this acts as an exemplar to epitomize a voluminous work like the Ramayana without sacrificing the spirit and beauty of the original. 'Siva Parakrama, Sundaresa composed other works viz., Mahamayi stotra and Sithalastaka. Excepting Mahamayi stotra, the 3

other two works are available. Sri Siva Parakrama written by the author is classified under five sections called Alaya Panca Ratna, Abhiseka Panca Ratna, Saundarya Devi Sapta Ratna, Kailasanatha stuti and Nityanusandhana. The author begins his work with his salutations to Ganapati and Sarasvati. In Alaya Panca Ratna, he praises the temple where in, the main goddess is Saundarya Nayaki the spouse of Kailasanatha. He invokes her blessings in this section. In the Abhiseka Panca Ratna,through five verses, he describes about the consecration of Kailasa natha temple. In Saundarya Devi Sapta Ratna, through seven verses, he describes the beauty of the goddess. Kailasanatha stuti of 64 verses, epitomizes 64 lilas with beautiful sabda and arthalankaras. Nityanusandhana is the prayer by the author to Lord Vinayaka, Subrahmanya, Sarasvati, Nandikesvara, Mahesvara, Gowri, Nataraja, Dvarapalakas, He Somaskanda, Daksinamurthi, Lingodbhava, Mahavisnu, Mahalaksmi, Sri Sayyalayesvara, Durga Candikesvara and Sri Bhairava. And he ends this work by meditating on Nagatirtha. Yet another work Sitalastakam by the author serves as a remedy to people ailing from dangerous diseases like small pox and chicken pox. The verses hail Goddess Mariamman, a village deity, and aid people to seek Her blessings, pleading her to bestow all goodness and 4

happiness to mankind. Valmiki Before proceeding to analyse Sundara Ramayana the merit of Vami Ramayna is brought to mind and a brief survey of the works on the Ramayana is made in the following paragraphs.