Hindu Epics Southern Asia Institute 27 September, 2007 Presentation by Allison Busch

Two Major Indian Epics Mahabharata The story of the great Bharata people (attributed to Vyasa) Ramayana The story of Rama (attributed to Valmiki)

What is Sanskrit? “perfect” “language of the gods” An ancient Indo-European language Sample of writing: बलसय परमण च वभग च बलघस

Historical Timeline of India Indus Valleyc BCE Vedic Culture c Classical Indiac. 500 BCE-500 CE  Epic Period Medieval Periodc CE  Regional cultures  Indo-Muslim Sultanates (especially from 1200) Mughal Rule Colonial Rule Independence1947 Global India 1990s-present

Books of the Ramayana BalaBook of childhood *AyodhyaBook of Ayodhya *AranyaBook of the forest KishkindhaBook of Kishkindha Sundara“Beautiful book” *YuddhaBook of the war UttaraFinal book

Major Characters of the Ramayana Rama (Raghava) Lakshmana (Saumitri) Bharata Kaikeyi Dasharatha Manthara Sita Ravana

Alternate names & patronymics Raghava, “of the Raghu clan”=Rama Vaidehi, “from Videha”=Sita Maithili, “from Mithila” = Sita Kākutstha “descended from Kakutshta” Saumitri, “son of Sumitra”= Lakshmana

10 avatars of Vishnu 1. Matsya (Fish) 2. Kurma (Tortoise) 3. Varaha (Boar) 4. Narasimha (man-lion) 5. Vamana (dwarf 6. Parashurama (Rama with an ax) 7. Rama 8. Krishna 9. Buddha 10. Kalki (yet to come)

Major Tensions in the Text Dharma versus Adharma Asceticism and Desire Righteous kingship (Ramrajya) Concern with female chastity

Many Ramayanas Sitayana Non-Sanskrit Ramayanas (e.g.Tulsidas) Folk Ramayanas Paintings Dramas Dance Political Uses

Rama in modern Indian politics The destruction of the Babri Masjid (Dec. 1992) Gujarat killings (February 2002) Use in political campaigns