Sri Ramayana Darshanam
Encyclopedia
Sri Ramayana Darshanam is the most famous work and the magnum opus by Kuvempu
in Kannada
based on the Hindu epic Ramayana
. It earned him many distinctions including the Sahitya Akademi
and the Jnanapeeth award in 1967.
The theme is the well known story of Rama
in Valmiki
's Ramayana
, transfigured in the poet's vision. The cardinal element of this vision, which the poet calls 'darshanam', is the poet's realization that all the creation is caused, rvaded, sustained and governed by the cosmic
mind. Abounding in metaphors and Homeric similes, introduced by the poet himself for the first time in kannada, the epic bring home the truth that all beings, even the most wicked and sinful, are destined to evolve and ultimately attain perfection.
Sri Ramayana darshanam is not just another version of Valmiki's story. Kuvempu
's work amounts to an interprtative re-creation of the incidents, the characters and the philosophical, moral and spiritual ideas enshrined in Valmiki. Keeping in view the symbolic nature of his poem, the intent and import of his 'vision', and the zeitgeist
, Kuvempu has made quite a number of modifications in the characters, major as well as minor. What is more he has invented a good many episodes and introduced some new characters in harmony with his conception of the significance of the epic.
The 'Agni-pravesha' (The fire-ordeal) episode illustrates the above statement. At Sita
's command, Lakshmana
makes a pyre for her and Sita mounts it. It is at this point that Kuvempu makes a startling deviation from Valmiki. The moment Sita has offered herself as supreme oblation to Agni, Rama too rushes after her, and enters the blazing flames, much to the shock of all earthly spectators. In a moment, however, Rama comes out of the fire holding Sita's palm in his right hand, and the spectators get a glimpse of their divinity. By this sensational innovation Kuvempu has proclaimed the great principle of the supremacy of the law, and the equality of all before the law, not excepting the law-giver himself. What is more, if this 'Agni-pravesha' is intended to reveal to all the world the truth of Sita's chastity, it is also intended to reveal Rama's fidelity and love for Sita. (Summary by Shankar Mokashi Punekar, an eminent critic, sums up his estimate of Sri Ramayana darshaname in these words!)
It is a single integral, ecstatic symphony
in 22284 lines, running into 877 pages in print. The poet was thirty two when he began and forty-one when he put down his pen to write this epic. The achievement is so grand and so disproportionate to the poet's young age that one can only be amazed by its consummate artistry and perfection. Every line is chiselled to attain an incremental harmony, hardly to be met with in his lyrics. It converts every situation into a wonderful sonal structure which perfectly echoes, the germ motif. It is not a series of Cantata
, but a single orchestral piece. Every line is a variation of the relevant thematic rhythm. No one could have imagined that kannada language is capable of this complex musical quality. For the first time in this century was kannada made a language worthy of Gods.
Sri Ramayana darshanam is dedicated with deep reverence and respect to his mentor Sri TS Venkannaiah (the first kannada Professor of the Mysore University and a great scholar and humanist)
Ramayana Darshanam Review http://books.google.co.in/books?id=KnPoYxrRfc0C&pg=PA4159&lpg=PA4159&dq=sri+ramayana+darshanam&source=bl&ots=Y5MBF0lDCW&sig=mzDEuQY_ExiGkXY_jSpX62xHBhM&hl=en&ei=NqxyS5-hI4yOkQXJ3u39CQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CB4Q6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=sri%20ramayana%20darshanam&f=false
Kuvempu
Kuppali Venkatappagowda Puttappa was a Kannada writer and poet, widely regarded as the greatest poet of 20th century Kannada literature. He is the first among eight recipients of Jnanpith Award for Kannada. Puttappa wrote all his literary works using the pen name Kuvempu...
in Kannada
Kannada language
Kannada or , is a language spoken in India predominantly in the state of Karnataka. Kannada, whose native speakers are called Kannadigas and number roughly 50 million, is one of the 30 most spoken languages in the world...
based on the Hindu epic Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
. It earned him many distinctions including the Sahitya Akademi
Sahitya Akademi
The Sahitya Akademi ', India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India...
and the Jnanapeeth award in 1967.
The theme is the well known story of Rama
Rama
Rama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
in Valmiki
Valmiki
Valmiki is celebrated as the poet harbinger in Sanskrit literature. He is the author of the epic Ramayana, based on the attribution in the text of the epic itself. He is revered as the Adi Kavi, which means First Poet, for he discovered the first śloka i.e...
's Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
, transfigured in the poet's vision. The cardinal element of this vision, which the poet calls 'darshanam', is the poet's realization that all the creation is caused, rvaded, sustained and governed by the cosmic
COSMIC
Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate is a program designed to provide advances in meteorology, ionospheric research, climatology, and space weather by using GPS satellites in conjunction with low Earth orbiting satellites...
mind. Abounding in metaphors and Homeric similes, introduced by the poet himself for the first time in kannada, the epic bring home the truth that all beings, even the most wicked and sinful, are destined to evolve and ultimately attain perfection.
Sri Ramayana darshanam is not just another version of Valmiki's story. Kuvempu
Kuvempu
Kuppali Venkatappagowda Puttappa was a Kannada writer and poet, widely regarded as the greatest poet of 20th century Kannada literature. He is the first among eight recipients of Jnanpith Award for Kannada. Puttappa wrote all his literary works using the pen name Kuvempu...
's work amounts to an interprtative re-creation of the incidents, the characters and the philosophical, moral and spiritual ideas enshrined in Valmiki. Keeping in view the symbolic nature of his poem, the intent and import of his 'vision', and the zeitgeist
Zeitgeist
Zeitgeist is "the spirit of the times" or "the spirit of the age."Zeitgeist is the general cultural, intellectual, ethical, spiritual or political climate within a nation or even specific groups, along with the general ambiance, morals, sociocultural direction, and mood associated with an era.The...
, Kuvempu has made quite a number of modifications in the characters, major as well as minor. What is more he has invented a good many episodes and introduced some new characters in harmony with his conception of the significance of the epic.
The 'Agni-pravesha' (The fire-ordeal) episode illustrates the above statement. At Sita
SITA
SITA is a multinational information technology company specialising in providing IT and telecommunication services to the air transport industry...
's command, Lakshmana
Lakshmana
Lakshmana was the brother and close companion of Rama, and himself a hero in the famous epic Ramayana...
makes a pyre for her and Sita mounts it. It is at this point that Kuvempu makes a startling deviation from Valmiki. The moment Sita has offered herself as supreme oblation to Agni, Rama too rushes after her, and enters the blazing flames, much to the shock of all earthly spectators. In a moment, however, Rama comes out of the fire holding Sita's palm in his right hand, and the spectators get a glimpse of their divinity. By this sensational innovation Kuvempu has proclaimed the great principle of the supremacy of the law, and the equality of all before the law, not excepting the law-giver himself. What is more, if this 'Agni-pravesha' is intended to reveal to all the world the truth of Sita's chastity, it is also intended to reveal Rama's fidelity and love for Sita. (Summary by Shankar Mokashi Punekar, an eminent critic, sums up his estimate of Sri Ramayana darshaname in these words!)
It is a single integral, ecstatic symphony
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
in 22284 lines, running into 877 pages in print. The poet was thirty two when he began and forty-one when he put down his pen to write this epic. The achievement is so grand and so disproportionate to the poet's young age that one can only be amazed by its consummate artistry and perfection. Every line is chiselled to attain an incremental harmony, hardly to be met with in his lyrics. It converts every situation into a wonderful sonal structure which perfectly echoes, the germ motif. It is not a series of Cantata
Cantata
A cantata is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir....
, but a single orchestral piece. Every line is a variation of the relevant thematic rhythm. No one could have imagined that kannada language is capable of this complex musical quality. For the first time in this century was kannada made a language worthy of Gods.
Sri Ramayana darshanam is dedicated with deep reverence and respect to his mentor Sri TS Venkannaiah (the first kannada Professor of the Mysore University and a great scholar and humanist)
External links
The Encyclopaedia Of Indian Literature (Volume Five (Sasay To Zorgot), Volume 5 By Mohan LalRamayana Darshanam Review http://books.google.co.in/books?id=KnPoYxrRfc0C&pg=PA4159&lpg=PA4159&dq=sri+ramayana+darshanam&source=bl&ots=Y5MBF0lDCW&sig=mzDEuQY_ExiGkXY_jSpX62xHBhM&hl=en&ei=NqxyS5-hI4yOkQXJ3u39CQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CB4Q6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=sri%20ramayana%20darshanam&f=false