Though the structure of the popular Ramayanas composed in Assamese, Bengali and Oriya is based on the version of Valmiki, the poets are eclectic in their choice of material and freely select episodes from the Puranas, Sanskrit devotional Ramayanas, Sakta works and the oral tradition, as long as these are not in direct conflict with Valmiki. Unlike vernacular Ramayanas in some other regions of India, here poets do not allow the narrative to be overwhelmed by theological or sectarian concerns. Many apocryphal episodes common to all three literatures do not seem to be found outside Eastern India.

About the Author:

Dr. W.L. Smith teaches in the Department of Indology, University of Stockholm, Stockholm.

Preface

Contents

Abbreviations of Texts

1. Ramayana Traditions
   Valmiki
   Other Ramayana Traditions
   Sectarian Ramayanas
   The Oral Tradition

2. The Ramayana in Eastern India
   The Setting
   The Poems
   The Poets

3. Structure
   Composition
   The Valmikian Framework
   Adapting Valmiki

4. Sources and Influences
   Puranas
   Erotic Literature
   Martial Literature

5. Factors in Variation
   Explanatory Detail
   Reduplication
   Resolving Contradictions

6. Ethical Revision
   The Death of Valin
   Apologetic Techniques
   The Problem of Sita

7. Bhakti
   The Devotional Reinterpretation
   The Homiletic Approach
   Lila
   Demon Devotees
   Other Apocryphal Episodes

8. Saiva and Sakta Elements
   Saivism
   Minor Sakta Episodes
   The Thousand-Headed Ravana
   Mahiravana

9. Other Apocryphal Episodes
   The Satrunjaya
   The Patali Kanda
   Aetiological Tales

10. Parochialization
    The Rama-Bharata Samvada
    Characterization
    Hanuman
    The Gods

Bibliography

Index