Ramayana – A Critical Appraisal

Contents 155 Preface vii 1. Preliminary Observations 1 2. Birth of Rama 5 3. Rama with Brother Laksmana Accompanies Sage Visvamitra to Janasthana and Destroys the Raksasas 9 4. Descent of Ganga on Earth 18 5. Fight for the Nectar of the Sea between Devatas and Daitya - Danavas 21 6. Rama Breaks Haradhanu and Wins Sita 25 7. Rama’s Exile to the Forest 31 8. Death of Son of Blind Sage and Death of Dasaratha 49 9. Analysis of Rama’s Exile 51 10. Rama Settle in the forest and Bharata’s Efforts to bring Him Back 56 11. Humiliation of Surpanakha 73 12. Surpanakha’s Exposition of Spy – policy and Rajadharma before Ravana 78 13. Abduction of Sita by Ravana 83 14. Search for Sita in the Forest 95 15. Alliance of Rama with Sugriva 102 16. Death of Vali 109 17. Rama deputes Laksmana to Kiskindha to Remind Sugriva to start Search for Sita 125 18. Sugriva’s Vanara Soldiers Begin the Search 131 19. Hanuman Crosses the Sea and Meets with Sita in Lanka 137 20. Valiant Deeds of Hanuman in Lanka and Collection of Vital Intelligence about Raksasa Army 147 21. Rama’s Lanka Campaign 22. Ravana Reviews Was Situation and his Differences with Vibhisana and Kumbhakarma 158 23. Vibhisana’s Surrender before Rama 162 24. Collection of Intelligence by Raksasa Spies 169 25. Vanara Soldiers build Bridge across Sea 171 26. Spy Suka Reports to Ravana 173 27. Ravana Deputes More Spies to Collect Information about Vanara Army 174 28. Ravana Devises a Novel Plan to Win over Sita 180 29. Ravana Rejects Last – Minute Advice of his Well – wishers to have Peace with Rama 182 30. Battle between Raksasa and Vanara Armies 184 31. Death of Kumbhakarna 188 32. Death of Indrajit 199 33. Death of Ravana 208 34. Sita’s Ordeal by Fire 223 35. Rama Leaves Lanka for Ayodhya 231 36. Rama’s Inhuman Behaviour with Sita on her Rescue – Some Observations 233 37. Rama Arrives at Nandigrama and Meets with Bharata 236 38. Rama’s Coronation and his Establishment of a Righteous Society 239 39. Abandonment of Sita 242 40. Death of Brahmana Boy 248 41 Sita’s Entry into Patala 253 42. The Last Journey 257 Conclusion 262 Index 268