Feb 13, 2018 —CANADA (SUN) — The first in a serial presentation of the preeminent versions of Sri Ramayana.
REGIONAL VERSIONS OF RAMAYANA
Sri Ramayana has been rendered in a great many languages, both Indian and foreign. There are also many noteworthy examples of Ramayana versions from various states across the Indian subcontinent, and a few of these have been previously mentioned. Following are some of the best known among them, by state:
Andhra Pradesh:
The Sri Ranganatha Ramayanam was adapted by Gona Budda Reddy as a Telugu version, between 1300 and 1310 A.D. The Molla Ramayanamu was adapted by the poet Molla.
The most extensive work in Telugu is that of Sri Viswanadha Satyanarayana, called the Srimadramayana Kalpavrikshamu. This is a free re-telling of the Valmiki Ramayana. It was awarded the first Jnanpith award in Telugu, for which the poet was later acclaimed as Kavi Samrat.
Assam:
Saptakanda Ramayana, the Assamese Katha (or Kotha) Ramayana written in the 14th Century by Madhava Kandali.
Bengal:
Goa:
Ramayanu written by Krishnadasa Shama in the 15th Century in Kardalipura, Goa in Konkani. Manuscripts have been found in Portugal.
Gujarat:
The Tulsi-Krta Ramayana is a Gujarati adaptation of Tulsidas' Ramcharitamanas in the 17th Century, by the poet Premanand Swami.
Jammu and Kashmir:
Karnataka:
Kannada versions of the Ramayana include the Kumudendu Ramayana, a Jain version written in the 13th Century, and the Kumara-Valmiki Torave Ramayana, written in the 16th Century. There is another version titled Ramachandra Charita Purana written by Nagachandra during the 13th Century.
Kerala:
In the Malayalam language, Kannassa Ramayanam was written by Niranam Rama Panicker in the 16th Century. The Adhyatma Ramayanam Kilipattu was written by Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan in the 16th Century, and is perhaps the most popular version from Kerala state. The Mappila Ramayanam is a version popular with Muslims.
Maharashtra:
The Marathi Bhavartha Ramayana written by Eknath in the 16th Century. There is also reference of a Ramayana being translated into old Marathi during the 12th or 13th Century.
Orissa:
Tamil Nadu:
The Tamil Kambaramayanam, a popular version written by the poet Kamban in the 12th Century.
Telangana:
The Telugu Geya Kavyam Manthenna Ramayanam, also known as Manthani Ramayana was written by Sri Muddu Balam Bhattu.
Uttar Pradesh:
In Awadh, the Ramcharitmanas written by Goswami Tulsidas in the 16th Century is one of the most popular Ramayana versions in North India.
REFERENCES:
Wikipedia
