Epics in Imprints-1.pdf - Vivekananda Kendra Prakashan

THE RAMAYANA: ITS CHARACTER,
GENESIS, HISTORY, EXPANSION
AND EXODUS
SUNITI KUMAR CHATTERJI
After 660 B.C. Satapatha Brahmana takes
its present form. Mention of Cyavana in
Satapatha Brahmana, already a legendary
sage, whose ascetic power enabled him to
take up the form of a decrepit and
shriveled man (later on in the
Mahabharata, the story became that he
was covered up by an ant-hill-Valmika).
Saryata, a descendant of Manu and his
grama or clan. His young men and
daughter Sukanya pelted with clods the
shriveled up Cyavana. Cyavana’s wrath.
Saryata comes and bestows Sukanya to
Cyavana as an appeasement. Sukanya
looks after Cyavana. The Asvins Sukanya.
Obtains boon of healing and youth for
Cyavana from the Asvins. Cyavana tells
the Asvins how they were missing certain
divine rights in a sacrifice and told them
the remedy. Cyavana a descendant of
Bhrgu.
Valmiki—a descendant of Cyavana.
(Krittivasa, 1400 A.D., Valmiki son of
Cyavana). Cyavana 500 B.C. Valmiki.
Valmiki=? Formica: has the Cyavana in
ant-hill legend’ became transferred to
Valmiki because of his name? Asvaghosha,
1
11
st century, A.D., mentions Cyavana as a
predecessor of poet Valmiki. Valmiki,
called a Grammarian (Taittirriya
Aranyaka—200 B.C), because he was an
innovator in language-sloka, Sru an
Eastern Sanskrit form. The popularising
of Sloka verse. Valmiki-first conscious and
sophisticated Poet-Adi-Kavi-deliberate
creator of a series of ideal Characters-
Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Dasaratha and
the rest. The style and story of the
Ramayana versus. that of the
Mahabharata.
FEBRUARY - AUGUST 2003
The Ramayana: Its Character and Exodus
Valmiki created the full story-3 main
component parts:
1) Rama, Sita, Lakshmana,
Dasaratha, Kaikeyi, Bharata-Rama
marrying Sita-Coronation-First
nucleus. The Himalayas.
(Character of Sita modeled on that
of Savitri and Damayanti? Of Rama
as a hero on that of Arjuna?)
2) Sojourn in Dandakaranya—
Viradha-Surpanakha-Ravana-
Marica-the Abduction of Sita-
(Jatayus)-Sita in Lanka. Influence
of Greek Legend (Helen,Paris,
Menelaw on the Ram. Abduction
Story? (of Homer and India—Dion
Chrysostom).
a) The Raksasas-Asuras/
Dramidas-civilised people,
anti-Aryan.
b) The Vanaras-Negroid/
Primitive Austric peoples of
South India-Lithic stone
implements, branches of
trees. The Raksasas-
Polycheirous and
Polycaphalous Braiareos
and other Giants from
Greece. 10-headed, 20handed
Ravana and the
Magic working and
abnormal bodies of
Raksasas of India?
(3) The Vanaras-Hanuman,
Sugriva-Valin-Pact with Sugriva-
Hanuman in Lanka-Building of the
Bridge. The Lanka War—(Indrajit,
Kumbhakarna, Lakshmana. His
wounding by Ravana, Hanuman