|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
|
A selection
of verses on Ravana, Rama and
Sita |
|
Last year in November, I took part in a matinee performance at the Theater STOK in Zürich. The matinee was arranged in connection with the staging of Maaday Kara, an epic from the mountainous region of Altai. The theme of the matinee was: Epen und Heldenlieder, in other words 'Epics and Heroic Poetry'. Represented were Ramayana, poems in old Greek by Archilochos, and poems in old German by Hildebrand. The following contains the verses I choose for this occasion. These verses were selected - from the 24000 verses that make up Valmiki's Ramayana - with the intention of showing the similarities and differences in the characters of Rama and Ravana, the two heroes of Ramayana. Ravana was quite an equal to Rama. The main, and perhaps the only difference between the Rama and Ravana is that while Rama personifies Dharma (see below for the meaning of the word), Ravana symbolises Adharma because of the one false step he takes. Verses - whether they are about Rama or Sita - also have been included that portray the concept of beauty in Ramayana. The selection below follows the order in which I presented them at the matinee show. The numbers next to the verse in Sanskrit refer to the book (kaanda) - chapter (sarga) - number of the verse in that order. Finally, as I said above these very few verses were selected from a total of 24000. I would appreciate it if you would like to contribute a verse from Ramayana, hich you know, and which touches upon hemes talked about here. Do send me the verse and your translation or just the reference detailing the particular kaanda, sarga and the number of the verse you would like to be included here. Thank you Ch
Note: Dharma is following the path of righeousness and doing one's duty in such a way that every action results in maintaining both the cosmic order and the personal integrity. Adharma is acting in such a way that the cosmic order and personal integrity are both hurt.
Sita War between Rama and Ravana |