Epic Ramayana: Sociological Thought, Culture & Ancient Indian Science Dr
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The International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Invention Volume 1 issue 6 2014 page no.482-489 ISSN: 2349-2031 Available Online At: http://valleyinternational.net/index.php/our-jou/theijsshi Epic Ramayana: Sociological Thought, Culture & Ancient Indian Science Dr. Gopal Chandra Bayen Assistant Professor in Bengali Language & Literature Pingla Thana Mahavidyalaya (Vidyasagar University),P.O.-MALIGRAM Dist.-Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal. India, Pin-721140 email- [email protected] Abstract: In this article We have tried to investigate the Poetical Discourse of the Indian epic Ramayana. Beside this, we have tried to justify its scientific and cultural values. The word ‘Ram Rajya’ used in ramayana implied an ideal state with good citizens and values. In Ramayana we have seen Rama and Ravana both used Pushpaka Vimana. Point to be noted that, Ramayana is also a symbolic Epic of world brotherhood. Because it also teaches us ‘Bande Vrataram’ (universal brotherhood). We are all known that brother Lakshmana had leaved his palace for his love and service to elder brother Rama. He is also a symbol of sacrifice . Sita, wife of Rama has also known for her genuine purity, devotion and sacrifice. Through all the episodes of Ramayana we have seen such many Philosophical item of life and scientific life-style of Ramayana Characters. For these kind of human values, Shree Aurobindo Ghosh described Ramayana as ‘Oceanic Poetry’.We had tried to prove this thought. Key Words: Epic, Ramayana, Valmiki, Ayodhya, Rama, Ramarajya, Ravana, Sita, Hanumana, Risshyasringa, culture, Technology in Ramayana, NASA, Environment in Ramayana Introduction: world culture and literature. These are Ramayana, According to general conception, the Ramayana Mahabharata, Iliad and Odyssey. In general, these has described as Epic by the western philosophers four literary genius has called as Authentic epic or and critics, but in ancient Indian point of view the Epic of growth or National epic. Beside this, Ramayana has generally known as another type of epic has found in world literature, history(‘Itihasang Puratanam’). It is the story of which had known as literary Epic. Such as Vatti famous Suryabangsa of ancient India. The king Kavyam, Kalidas’s Raghubansham, Milton’s Rama was from that ancient Indian race. In India ‘Paradise Lost’, Madhusudan Dutta’s ‘Meghnad Rama appeared in many books as national hero. Badha’etc. In Indian context of view, we may Beside this, he has also appeared in hearsays and think the famous Epic Ramayana has related in folk beliefs. His story of life has considered as wide range with our national culture. Many Epic. According to the Oxford Dictionary the term ancient poets had written Ramayana in various ‘Epic’ means – ‘a long poem narrating the deeds point of view, such as Advuta Ramayana, of heroic or legendary figures or the past history Adhyatma Ramayana, Yogabashistha Ramayana of nation’. To discuss the symptom of the epic etc. And in later period of civilization Ramayana Aristotle has said that ‘( It) should be based on a had translated and written in all modern Indian single action, one that is a complete whole in Languages. Such as Krittibasi Ramayana in itself, with a beginning, middle, and end, so as to Bengali, Tulsidas’s Ramayana in Hindi, enable to work to produce its own proper pleasure Kamban’s Ramayana in Tamil, Bhanubhaka’s with all the organic unity of a living creature’ ( Ramayana in Nepali, Madhab Kandali’s The Poetics, translation : Ingram By-water). In Ramayana in Asamiya etc. Beside these Indian this respect there are only four epics had found in versions there are so many other versions of 482 Cite as : Epic Ramayana: Sociological Thought, Culture & Ancient Indian Science; Vol.1|Issue 06|Pg:482-489 2014 Ramayana had found in non-Indian Languages, language of the world. Ancient Indian vedas and such as Chinis, Cambodian, Indonesian, Filipino, Mahapurans had written also in this language. Thai, Burmese and Malaysian etc. Another Ramayana has containing 24000 verses, 500 wondering thing is that, year after year and poet’s cantos(Sarga) or parichhed and 7 kandas. The after poet are describing the story of Ramayana in name of seven kandas are Bal Kanda, Ayodhya their own verse and own style till date. So there Kanda, Aranya Kanda, Kishkindha Kanda, are many poets of Ramayana had found in the Sundara Kanda, Lanka Kanda, Uttara Kanda. And history of Indian literature. But one thing has to be the metre, which formed the verses is called 32 remember that the poet Valmiki was the pioneer syllabic Anustubha. The Ramayana was an writer or the first collector of stories of the important influence on later Sanskrit poetry and Ramayana as known. Beside story telling the poet Hindu life and culture. Like the Mahabharata the also described the natural and geographical, Ramayana is not just a story: it presents the sociological, historical and cultural eliments of teachings of ancient Hindu sages (Vedas) in ancient India. So his Sanskrit Ramayana had narrative allegory, interspersing philosophical and suggested not only the story of Indian myth but devotional elements. The characters Rama, Sita, also clarified the old Indian culture philosophy Lakshman, Bharata, Hanuman and Ravana are all and historical parameter. We are all known that in fundamental to the cultural consciousness of ancient period of Indian history there is a rich India, culture of our society and nation. In Valmiki Generally it has known as the story of Arya Ramayana we have seen such many facts and Vijaya. Ravana, the king of Lanka was not from wisdoms which were scientific in nature. Truely the race of Arya. He was from ‘Raksha-Bangsha’. this epic is based on ancient indian historical facts According to Indian myth God Brahma had and movements.The hero of the Ramayana is created this ‘Raksha-Bangsha’ to serve the people Rama. He is not only a character of Ramayana, as patron. Madhusudan Dutta, the great poet of but also an hero of Indian civilization. Like Bengal sketched him as Grand fellow , true patriot Krishna, Rama is also the popular deities and an honest king in his book “Meghnada worshipped in the Hindu religion. Badha”. But in Valmiki Ramayana, the character In Ramayana there is an evidence that how it Ravana has been described as bad fellow. In our was written. According to that information that sociological point of view, Ravana bears a bad the poet Valmiki had heared the story of Rama image till now. He had kidnaped Sita and raped from the God Brambha. And sage Narada told him Rambha, Bedabati and many other women. We to write this in the metre of Anustubha. When are known that In Dashera festival general people Valmiki had came to the beautiful river Tamasa neglect the Ravana. Because Ravana is a king of for his bath, he had seen a dead male curlew and dark. Our great writer Rabindranath Tagore the female curlew overwhelmed with sorrow. The describedRavana as a symbol of croud, greed and male curlew had haunted by a fowler. The heart of disorder.He had written in Prabasi poet gets mournful. Then he expreses his thought patrika,Baishakh,1332 Bangabda, that – “to make in Sloka and wrote ‘Ma nishad pratisthang the honour and pride of humanity, in the plot of twamagama shaashwati sama / Jat Ramayana entered the character Ravana as krounchomithunadekambadhi kammohitam’.This Danaba. Wherever this type of conflict may be is the first verse of Valmiki, generally known as shown in the mind of a single man and on the Adikabita. After this incident Valmiki has started otherside it could be shown between two classes to write Ramayana. of men.” We have to remember that it is the basic concept of moral science in indian context. Indians believed Rama was ideal son and king , Poetical Discourse of Ramayana: Lakshman was ideal brother, Sita was ideal wife The Ramayana was written by the famous Indian and Hanuman was the ideal preist. All these four sage Valmiki, who was the contemporary writer character have true sense of life,morality and of the king Rama. He had written this epic in logic.They are pride of Indian Philosophy and Sanskrit language,which is a famous classical Culture.They are also essence of Indian History. 483 Cite as : Epic Ramayana: Sociological Thought, Culture & Ancient Indian Science; Vol.1|Issue 06|Pg:482-489 2014 The name of seven kandas are Bal Kanda, forest where you dwell is Ayodhya for me and Ayodhya Kanda, Aranya Kanda, Kishkindha Ayodhya without you is a veritable hell for me.’ Kanda, Sundara Kanda, Lanka Kanda, Uttara After Rama's departure, king Dasharatha, unable Kanda. The story of Ramayana consists in these to beared the grief and died. But Bharata refused chapters. to profit from his mother's wicked scheming and Balkanda: There was a famous kingdom in visits Rama in the forest. He had requested Rama ancient India, named Ayodhya. Dasaratha was the to return and rule. But Rama had determined to king of this state. He had three main queens. They carry out his father's order and refused to return are Kausalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra .The king was before the period of exile. So Bharata carried very brave and happy. But he was childless for a Rama's sandals, and keeped them on the throne. long time. According to Ramayana he performs a And he ruled the kingdom as Rama's agent. fire sacrifice in Ayodhya, which has known as Putra-Kameshti Yagya .After the success of this Aranya Kanda: Rama, Sita and Lakshmana had fire sacrifice, Rama was born to Kausalya, started their journey to southward along the Bharata was born to Kaikeyi, and Lakshmana and banks of river Godavari.