The enduring tale of Rama: Ramaneeya Sri Ramayanam by Mullapudi Sridevi

'Like a boat that capsizes under its own weight, Sita's beautiful moon-like face waned under the burden of her misery. Wallowing in a sea of sorrow, Sita devoid of all adornment looked like a creeper without flowers in Ashoka Vana' observes Hanuman as he looks at Sita in the beautiful garden in Lanka where she is held captive by the Rakshasa King Ravana. 'The flames that rose up were resplendent like the glow of a thousand suns. A thunder-like sound that seemed to suggest that the entire Universe was crumbling engulfed Lanka when Hanuman set it afire. Ensconced by a thick haze of smoke, clouds resembled black lotuses in the skyline'. These vivid descriptions embellished by the use of 'similes' (Upamalankarams in Telugu) make Valmiki's epic poem a delightful read and 'Ramayana' the 'Adikavyam' or the first known literature in the Smriti form (written by humans) a cherished book. This ancient text epitomising the highest human values in the form of Rama and the path of dharma with the ultimate triumph of good over evil remains ever fresh even as it has been retold in many forms both scholarly and folk. With a beautiful selection of similes from several that abound in the 24,000 verses of Valmiki's Ramayana, Mullapudi Sridevi provides insightful observations in an interesting and extremely readable book titled 'Ramaneeya Sri Ramayanam'.

Ironically, the Ramayana itself emerged from sorrow. Sage Valmiki it is said had gone with his disciple Bharadwaja to bathe in the waters of the River Tamasa, where he spotted a couple of curlew birds in Mithunavasta or the act of making love. A hunter's arrow killed the male bird leaving the female bird grieving. Driven by compassion the words that emerged from Valmiki's lips in perfect metre came to be known 'shlokas' as they originated from sorrow or 'Shoka'. Rama's Ayana (journey) narrated to Valmiki by Sage Narada and blessed by the creator Brahma is a beautiful narrative where every emotion, mood and event is described with the use of superlative expressions. In writing this book the author says she has fulfilled the dream of her husband and well-known writer Mullapudi Venkataramana from the famous 'Bapu-Ramana' duo who had jotted down interesting similes from Ramayana more than four decades ago intending to write a book. The duo had made two successful films titled 'Seethe Kalyanam' and 'Sampoorna Ramayanam' on this subject but Ramana's book, which was based on Valmiki's similes which are in no way inferior to those of the famed poet Kalidasa remained unwritten. 'Ramaneeya Sri Ramayanam' is a realisation of this dream by his wife and author Sridevi showing a deep knowledge of the epic and a flair for interpreting Valmiki's work in an interesting and absorbing manner.

Published by 'Kathaprapancham' in what has become a trademark white cover, the book is enriched with the famed 'Bapu illustrations' from the Ramayana. Valmiki's description of the scene when Rama returns from exile and Bharata hands over power to him captures the lyrical quality of his poetry in all its splendour here. Says Bharata, 'The burden carried by a healthy bull cannot be taken on by a young calf however hard it tries. A crow cannot move like a swan. Similarly, I cannot ever rule this kingdom like you. A young sapling that grows into a huge tree with several branches is of no use without fruit. I have been ruling in your name all these years. It is now left to you to rule this land as long as the almanack exists'.

'Ramaneeya Sri Ramayanam' is a book that captures the essence of Valmiki's Ramayana in a simple and lucid style.