Contents: Preface. 1. Preliminary observations. 2. Birth of Rama. 3. Rama with brother Laksmana accompanies sage Visvamitra to Janasthana and destroys the Raksasas. 4. Descent of Ganga on earth. 5. Fight for the Nectar of the sea between Devatas and Daitya Danavas. 6. Rama breaks Haradhanu and Wins Sita. 7. Rama's exile to the forest. 8. Death of son of blind sage and death of Dasaratha. 9. Analysis of Rama's exile. 10. Rama settles in the forest and Bharata's efforts to bring him back. 11. Humiliation of Surpanakha. 12. Surpanakha's exposition of spy-policy and Rajadharma before Ravana. 13. Abduction of Sita by Ravana. 14. Search for Sita in the forest. 15. Alliance of Rama with Sugriva. 16. Death of Vali. 17. Rama deputes Laksmana to Kiskindha to remind Sugriva to start search for Sita. 18. Sugriva's Vanara soldiers begin the search. 19. Hanuman crosses the sea and meets with Sita in Lanka. 20. Valiant deeds of Hanuman in Lanka and collection of vital intelligence about Raksasa Army. 21. Rama's Lanka campaign. 22. Ravana reviews war situation and his differences with Vibhisana and Kumbhakarna. 23. Vibhisana's surrender before Rama. 24. Collection of intelligence by Raksasa spies. 25. Vanara soldiers build bridge acrtoss sea. 26. Spy Suka Reports to Ravana. 27. Ravana deputes more spies to collect information about Vanara Army. 28. Ravana devises a novel plan to win over Sita. 29. Ravana rejects last-minute advice of his well-wishes to have peace with Rama. 30. Battle between Raksasa and Vanara Armies. 31. Death of Kumbhakarna. 32. Death of Indrajit. 33. Death of Ravana. 34. Sita's ordeal by fire. 35. Rama leaves Lanka for Ayodhya. 36. Rama's Inhuman behaviour with Sita on her rescue--some observations. 37. Rama arrives at Nandigrama and meets with Bharata. 38. Rama's coronation and his establishment of a righteous society. 39. Abandonment of Sita. 40. Death of Brahmana Boy. 41. Sita's entry into Patala. 42. The last journey. Conclusion. Index.
"Based on the Valmik Ramayana, this book discusses the major events of the Ramayana including those in the UttaraKanda, analyzing and interpreting them with a fresh approach. Written in a simple and lucid style, the work deals with the birth of Rama, his destruction of raksasas accompanied by his brother Laksmana, of Dasaratha, Rama's exile, the many developments that led to the war between Rama and Ravana and the later events like Rama's coronation, his abandonment of Sita and the last journey of Lord Rama. It brings out the many qualities of Rama like virtuousness, courage, compassion, equanimity of mind, devotion to duty and truth, and selflessness that make Rama a glorious, divine figure and the story in the Ramayana an unparalleled epic of the world. It also discusses the controversial acts of Rama like his killing of Vali and humiliation of Sita after her rescue. It underlines the importance of the example of Rama and the teachings of the Ramayana in the contemporary world.
The volume will fascinate a range of readers--general readers as well as scholars of Indian religion and culture who want to gain a fresh perspective on the glorious Ramayana tradition." (jacket)
