Ramayana: A Journey

Few ancient myths are as vibrant today as the Ramayana, which is still portrayed in dances, plays, songs, and movies across India and Southeast Asia. Rama, an incarnation of the god Vishnu, is a young prince of legendary prowess who wins his bride by drawing a bow that no mortal had ever drawn. When his kingdom is denied him by a careless promise and his bride abducted by a king of demons, Rama embarks on a journey that reveals not only his superhuman power but his constant virtue and profound love. Like all great myths, subtleties beyond the tragic and heroic invite the reader to draw parallels to the struggles of daily life--steadfastness in love and work, the value of honesty, the inexorableness of fate. This version of the Ramayana is a brief but abundant retelling of the epic poem and includes gorgeous traditional illustrations of the story in addition to boxed features that introduce various aspects of Hindu worship and customs. As Hindus have known for centuries, the Ramayana rewards reading on several levels. --Brian Bruya