Lao Ramayana Gvay Dvorahbi

Contents Foreword ix Preface xiii List of Illustrations xv Abbreviations xvii Transliteration xix Chapter I: Introduction 1 Manuscript used for the present edition Title of the text The Geographical setting of the story Folklore in the story Origin of the skirt (sin) Horns of the buffalo The Monkeys The bat plays trick Chapter II: The Gvay Dvorahbi in Relation to Indian and Extra-Indian Versions of the story of Rama 8 Genealogy Birth of Sita Marriage of Sita Abduction of Sita Rama’s Meeting with Sita Episode of the Buffalo Dvorahbi Episode of Nandiyak Birth of Hvorahman (Hanuman) Hanuman Leaps Towards Sun Rama Kills Valin Hanuman in Search of Sita Ongot’s Mission to Lanka Construction of Rafts over the Ocean Hanuman’s Relation with the Princess of the Under world Banishment of Vibhisana Abduction of Rama Battle of Lanks Exile of Sita Birth and Adventures of Brah Put and Brah Rup Conclusion Chapter III: The Gvay Dvorahbi: Translation 34 Section I Section II Chapter IV: The Mural Paintings of vat oup-Moung 75 Plates Chapter V: The Gvay Dvorahbi: Text 83 Inscriptions of Vat oup Moung 135 Dramatis Personae in the Gvay Dvorahbi 139 Genealogical Table based on the Gvay Dvorahbi 140 Select Bibliography 141 Index 145