Balakanda : Ramayana as Literature and Cultural History

Contents: Introduction. 1. Narada's narration. 2. The arrival of Brahma. 3. Table of contents. 4. Composition and recital. 5. The city of Ayodhya. 6. The king and his subjects. 7. The king's ministers. 8. Idea of a sacrifice. 9. Sumantra's revelation. 10. The story of Rsyasrnga. 11. Rsyasrnga comes to Ayodhya. 12. The eve of the sacrifice. 13. Preparations for the Asvamedha. 14. The Asvamedha. 15. Plans in the heavens. 16. The potion from heaven. 17. The Vanaras. 18. The birth of the Royal Brothers. 19. Visvamitra arrives with a request. 20. Dasaratha's plea. 21. Visvamitra's anger; Vasistha's counsel. 22. Visvamitra initiates Rama and Laksmana. 23. Visit to a hermitage: Kama. 24. The Kingdoms of Malada and Karusa. 25. Appeal to kill Tataka. 26. Tataka's death. 27. Celestial weapons. 28. More missiles. 29. The Avatara of Vamana. 30. Extermination of intruders. 31. The magnificent bow and the journey. 32. The story of Kusanabha and his daughters. 33. Brahmadatta and the marriage of Kusanabha and his daughters. 34. Visvamitra's lineage. 35. The origin of the Ganga. 36. Siva and Uma disturbed. 37. The origin of metals. 38. King Sagara and his sons. 39. Indra's theft and the great search. 40. Sagara's sons destroyed by Kapila. 41. Amsuman gets the horse back. 42. A boon for Bhagiratha. 43. The descent of the Ganga. 44. Bhagiratha's propitiation; Ganga's glory. 45. The churning of The Ocean of Milk. 46. Indra's intrusion into Diti. 47. The Maruts; Sumati's reception. 48. The Ahalya episode. 49. Indra restored and Ahalya resurrected. 50. Rama and Laksmana introduced to Mithila. 51. Satananda's narration of Visvamitra's past. 52. The Miraculous cow Sabala. 53. Visvamitra's request after the feast. 54. Visvamitra's attempt to abduct and consequence. 55. Visvamitra's asceticism. 56. Superiority of Brahminhood vindicated. 57. Trisanku's request rejected. 58. A curse on Trisanku. 59. Visvamitra's call for a sacrifice. 60. A heaven for Trisanku. 61. The Sunahsephas substitute. 62. Sunahsephas' release. 63. Menaka and Maharsi Visvamitra. 64. Rambha and more austerities. 65. Visvamitra becomes a Brahmarsi. 66. The great bow and Sita. 67. The bow broken: the wedding announced. 68. King Dasaratha appraised. 69. Dasaratha's visit to Mithila. 70. Kusadhvaja invited : The Iksvaku dynasty. 71. Janaka's lineage offers of marriage. 72. Kusadhvaja's daughters also to be married. The ceremonies. 73. The weddings. 74. Encounter with Parasurama on the way back to Ayodhya. 75. Parasurama's challenge to Rama. 76. Rama's response and Parasurama's retreat. 77. Return to Ayodhya; departure of Bharata and Satrughna. Bibliography.

"The present volume is the Balakanda--a narration of events in Rama's childhood and youth--from birth to marriage. The translation carries overtones of the oral narrative tradition of the original work. Though most people raised in the Hindu tradition are familiar with the story line of the Ramayana, not every one may be able to answer questions pertaining to the epic such as these: what was Sanat Kumar's prediction regarding Rama? Who was Rishyashringa? What was the name of Rama's sister? What was Kandarpa's favourite weapon? This erudite and engrossing narration of the Ramayana's Balkanda diverts from the linear recounting of events and delves into the intricacies of Hindu mythology revealing various facets of this extremely rich epic." (jacket)

[Varadaraja V. Raman is Professor of Physics and Humanities at the Rochester Institute of Technology. His books include Nuggets from the Bhagavad Gita, Glimpses of Indian Heritage and Satanama.]