Valmiki has barely put his pen down after completing his magnificent creation, the epic Ramayan, when he realises he has competition. The sage Narad tells him that there is a better Ramayan, written by Hanuman. Valmiki is devastated! And when Hanuman sees Valmiki so upset, what does he do?
Tulika’s series Our Myths explores the plural and regenerative quality of stories from mythology that have come down generations. As the story of Hanuman’s Ramayan unfolds, humorously and gently, so does the idea that there is no one version of the well loved story about Ram, Sita, Hanuman and Ravan, but many – a fundamental comment on the nature of all myths. A story belongs to no one person. It can have as many forms as there are tellers, it can grow and change, and each time it makes us see it afresh. Here, the quirky illustrations based on the style of Mithila folk paintings tell their own story!
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priyabram
Is this a new book of yours? Also, just this weekend I had a spat with my Dad when I mentioned that the Chalisa translation states that Hanuman is an avatar of Shiva. My Dad, a vaishnavite, lost his temper stating this as blasphemy. To me, avatars, relationships help tell a story but don’t at the least take away from our learning…and yet I struggle with this struggle of ‘right’ versus ‘wrong’ that inflicts Hinduism. There is a right way and everything else is blasphemy… why such limited tolerance…
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Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik Reply:
January 4th, 2010 at 9:10 pm
To allow other truths is love…..it takes time to love…give people time
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Jan 04, 2010 @ 8:34 pm
S.Giribabu
“To allow other truths is love…..it takes time to love…give people time”
very well said Dev.
I want to share something which my father told me long time back. As a kid I repeatedly used to ask him if all the stories about Gods, Ramayana, Mahabharata are true and this is what he said.
For a beginner or some one who is struck , it’ always easy to communicate the teachings of life when it is interwoven with stories. Stories stays with us for long and with time(maturity) the essence also emerges.
I am 42 and I still remember it.
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Jan 07, 2010 @ 10:54 pm
Sunita
You have presented a new fact about Ramayana.Humanaji is the greatest selfless devotee of Shri Ram.
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Jan 09, 2010 @ 7:10 pm
D.Sampath
i have been taking models of rituals from
ramayan(laksman rekha crossing), ashtavakra geetha(conversation between a mendicant and saint)and ganga myth(leave your favourit obsession).
i am now a director in pegasus a trainig institution.your presentaionis very appropriate to the new generation.chief belief officer in future group is a break through for us indians.i have been taeching, training and consulting for many years following the same precepts.. but you will show case it to the world..
way back in the 80′s with Dr Garg we did a mythology lab , i have personally got in touch with my identity in the myth of virabdra through a dream..
so mythological figures as frozen archetypes are alive and to tap their energ fpor commnitie’s good people like you are required
may god give you many years of active life…
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Jan 10, 2010 @ 8:44 pm
Kannappa
Truly a new insight on Ramayana. There are some very ardent Vaishnavites who think that Hanuman is not a true Devotee of Rama since he deicided to stay over to preach Rama’s Katha for following generations thru his Rama Bhakti. Hanuman thus disobeyed Rama who invited everyone including Hanuman to follow him to attain Moksha by joining him and going into the Sarayuu.
On the other hand, there is a popular Karnatic classic song sung during many weddings in South India – “Seetha Kalyanam Vaibhogama” composed by Thyagaraja. The composer puts himself in the “padhukas” of Hanuman and composes this song as if Hanuman himself was present at the wedding of Seetha and Rama!! The Song begins – pavanaja stuti pAtra pAvana caritra….
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Jan 12, 2010 @ 10:20 am
ashok gupta
i wud like to buy this boook immidiately i m based in delhi pls tell me where to buy itr from
ashok
9971886801
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Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik Reply:
February 9th, 2010 at 11:17 am
Do write to tulikabooks@vsnl.com
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Feb 09, 2010 @ 10:00 am
Harini Dave
Hello Sir,
I am really very exicited for Friday’s because on Fridays I can read your articles in Corporate Dossier and let me tell you that they are very profound and gives a very good insight about our mythological side and simultaneously the way you relate it to the current Business scenarios its amazing.
Kindly suggest few books which can give such insights.
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Jun 19, 2010 @ 5:16 pm
vinita
i am going to buy this book. hope it is available in book stores and not just with tulika publishers.
i like what u said abt. books opening up different dimensions to different people based on their inner worlds. picassa said something similar abt his paintings. there is no one painting…like there is not one book…it depends on which angle of light that is visible to u from wherever u are…and what u “see” in the picture / book. So it one not one picture / book but many many pictures and books born out of one. i am looking forward to pictures in your book. i love hanuman…and would like to know what dimensions u open up.
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Jul 17, 2010 @ 6:38 am
Niraj
Devduttji,, I have small question.
Were the people who indulged into slave trading and husbandry called asuras in ancient india? What are the possible meaning of asura according to you?
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Devdutt Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:46 am
check out http://devdutt.com/churning-out-lakshmi/ and http://devdutt.com/decoding-lakshmi/ to know more about Asuras
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Jul 19, 2010 @ 8:35 pm
Renu Soman
What are your comments on the premise of the movie ‘INCEPTION’, starring Leonardo di Caprio? About planting ideas and dream travels like in time travels? Looking forward to your comments…
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Devdutt Reply:
August 18th, 2010 at 8:54 am
Anything is possible
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Aug 17, 2010 @ 6:37 am