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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobarth.org
Acharya Shri Kalassagarsun Gyanmandir
The Valmiki Ramayana
Valmiki is more skilled in the use of upama and rapaka. Simplicity of style and clearness of thought are the chief characteristics of his poetry
The Rāmāyaṇa had come down to us in four recensions viz., Bombay-recension published at Bombay. Bengal-recension, published at Calcutta, was translated with valuable notes by G. Gorresio which was available in five volumes, North-Western recension (Kashmirian recension) is the third work, which was published from Lahore, South-Indian recension was published from Madras. It does not differ much from the Bombay recension. The first three recensions differ from one another considerably. It is not possible to suggest which recension comes closest to the archetype of Valmiki. Schlegel favoured the Bengal recension while Bohtlingk concluded that the most old form is found in the Bombay recension. The story as given in the Harivansa bear more resemblance to Bengal recension. The Ramayana Manjari of Kşemendra presupposes the existence of North-Western recension. The Ramayana-Campu of Bhoja is based on the Bombay recension. In fact these recensions came into existence at a very early date. They might have sometimes influenced one another.
Several commentaries which are available on the work speak
of the popularity of the Ramayana. But most of them are very recent. The important ones are:1. Ramayana-Tattva-dipika by Mahesvara-Tirtha. 2. Tilaka by Rama 3. Amsta-Kataka by Srirama 4. Bhoşana by Govindarāja. 5. Valmiki-hşdaya by Ahobala
Appaya-Diksita has commented on the Ramayana in his Ramayana Tatparya-Sangraha and Trayambaka-makhina has done so in his Dhuma-Kota.
The present copy is the reprint of the Ramayana which was published by Venkteshwar Pesss Bombay. It consists of four com mentaries. The first commentary is Bhusana written by Govindaraja. The second is entitled Rámánujiya by Råmánuja. The third is known as Tant-Sloki by Ahobala and the fourth is RamayanaTattva-Dipika by Mahesawaratirtha. Besides these, it contains notes from Bhivaprakasika and Satyatirthiya.
Govindaraja is a famous commentator on the Valmiki Rami. yaga and stands supreme among the South Indian commentatory.
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