Posted:
Sorry, Vibs. I was so busy last week and at the beginning of this week that I couldn't post all the information that u wanted to read. But I keep my promise just like our beloved Ramji. Pran Jaye Par Vachan Ne Jaya. š I am free today and the first set I will be posting is from the book 'The Lost Plays of Rama.'
Some background information to understanding the lost plays: only fragments of the plays are available now. Since the Ramayana was dramatized, the events in the Ramayana are made larger than life for dramatic quality, for visual impact, and for pleasing the audience. Also, looks like one of the requirements of Sanskrit drama was innovation and each dramatist innovates within the stories of Ramayana to fit this requirement.
I will post only the details that conflicts with Valmiki's version.
Yasovarman's Raamaabhyudaya
Yasovarman was the King of Kanuaj in the early part of 8th century CE (AD for Indian members). He was also the patron of Bhavabhuti. Seems that Yasovarma was upset even in his time at the changes the poets were making to Valmiki's Ramayan. His play starts from Pancavati and ends with the Rajyabhishek. Yasovarman's plays mirror Valmiki's episode by episode.
The Krtya Ravana
The surviving pieces of the play is about the witchcraft used by Ravana during the war.
1. Ravan invokes a female witch called Krtya to let her loose on Ramji's camp during the war.
2. Surphanakha taking Sita away and she becomes Maya Sita (this is really weird and God knows where the dramatist came up with this weird idea).
3. Ravan cutting off of Ramji's head and showing it to Sita (the Sagars showed this).
Chalita Ramayan
1. The gossips who r responsible for Sita's banishment in Uttarkand are not real but happen because of the magic of Lavanasur. Lavana sends some rakshas in disguise to start the gossip and poison Rama's mind. Lavana does this to take revenge on Ramji. The reason for this is not mentioned. Is this where the Sagars got the story of Karkati and Lavana's revenge?
2. The poet here makes the demons impersonate Manthara and Kaikeye and makes them start the gossip to poison Ramji's mind.
3. The Sagars followed this one: the gossip begins when the 'Pumsavana" ceremony (godh-bari) for Sita begins.
4. This poet, like Bhavabhuti, has Janaka, Arundhati, and others visiting Sita regularly in the Valmiki ashram.
The Jaanakiraaghavaa play
1. Ravan coming to the Swayamvar and threatening to take Sita away by force. Sita being afraid of this and confiding her fears to her sakhi Priyamvada.
2. In the Pushpa Vatika, Sita admiring some Ashoka trees and Ramji hinting about her abduction by Ravan to Ashoka Vatika.
The Raghavabhyudaya
1. Sagars used this: where Ramji thanks Kaikeye after returning from the forest and tells her that it is because of her that he met so many rishi/munis in the forest.
2. Ravana invoking a rakshashi called Jaalini who comes disguised as Sita to Ramji's camp and asks Ramji to take her back. Now Ramji is faced with a dilemma since he does not know this is a rakshasi Sita in disguise. Does he take back Sita and forgive Ravan or does he go keep his word to Vibishan that he would make him (Vibishan) king of Lanka? Indra comes there and asks Ramji to take Sita back and forgive Ravan.
3. As usual Lakshmana sees through the maya of Ravan and exposes Ravan. Then Ravan threatens Lakshman.
The Ramananda
Looks like not much of this play survives except for the lamenting by Rama that his second separation from Sita is worse than the first. It would be great if Sagars show Ramji saying this dialogue in the next episode.
Not much survives from these other plays:
1. Mayapushpaka
2. Raghavananda
3. Svapna Dasanana
4. Abhijaata Janaki
5. Abhinavaraghava
6. Maricavancita
7. other Stray plays
I will post more from tomorrow. I am free for a few days. Vibs and all other members, I hope u enjoy these different versions (whether u agree with these versions or not) as much as I did.
Some background information to understanding the lost plays: only fragments of the plays are available now. Since the Ramayana was dramatized, the events in the Ramayana are made larger than life for dramatic quality, for visual impact, and for pleasing the audience. Also, looks like one of the requirements of Sanskrit drama was innovation and each dramatist innovates within the stories of Ramayana to fit this requirement.
I will post only the details that conflicts with Valmiki's version.
Yasovarman's Raamaabhyudaya
Yasovarman was the King of Kanuaj in the early part of 8th century CE (AD for Indian members). He was also the patron of Bhavabhuti. Seems that Yasovarma was upset even in his time at the changes the poets were making to Valmiki's Ramayan. His play starts from Pancavati and ends with the Rajyabhishek. Yasovarman's plays mirror Valmiki's episode by episode.
The Krtya Ravana
The surviving pieces of the play is about the witchcraft used by Ravana during the war.
1. Ravan invokes a female witch called Krtya to let her loose on Ramji's camp during the war.
2. Surphanakha taking Sita away and she becomes Maya Sita (this is really weird and God knows where the dramatist came up with this weird idea).
3. Ravan cutting off of Ramji's head and showing it to Sita (the Sagars showed this).
Chalita Ramayan
1. The gossips who r responsible for Sita's banishment in Uttarkand are not real but happen because of the magic of Lavanasur. Lavana sends some rakshas in disguise to start the gossip and poison Rama's mind. Lavana does this to take revenge on Ramji. The reason for this is not mentioned. Is this where the Sagars got the story of Karkati and Lavana's revenge?
2. The poet here makes the demons impersonate Manthara and Kaikeye and makes them start the gossip to poison Ramji's mind.
3. The Sagars followed this one: the gossip begins when the 'Pumsavana" ceremony (godh-bari) for Sita begins.
4. This poet, like Bhavabhuti, has Janaka, Arundhati, and others visiting Sita regularly in the Valmiki ashram.
The Jaanakiraaghavaa play
1. Ravan coming to the Swayamvar and threatening to take Sita away by force. Sita being afraid of this and confiding her fears to her sakhi Priyamvada.
2. In the Pushpa Vatika, Sita admiring some Ashoka trees and Ramji hinting about her abduction by Ravan to Ashoka Vatika.
The Raghavabhyudaya
1. Sagars used this: where Ramji thanks Kaikeye after returning from the forest and tells her that it is because of her that he met so many rishi/munis in the forest.
2. Ravana invoking a rakshashi called Jaalini who comes disguised as Sita to Ramji's camp and asks Ramji to take her back. Now Ramji is faced with a dilemma since he does not know this is a rakshasi Sita in disguise. Does he take back Sita and forgive Ravan or does he go keep his word to Vibishan that he would make him (Vibishan) king of Lanka? Indra comes there and asks Ramji to take Sita back and forgive Ravan.
3. As usual Lakshmana sees through the maya of Ravan and exposes Ravan. Then Ravan threatens Lakshman.
The Ramananda
Looks like not much of this play survives except for the lamenting by Rama that his second separation from Sita is worse than the first. It would be great if Sagars show Ramji saying this dialogue in the next episode.
Not much survives from these other plays:
1. Mayapushpaka
2. Raghavananda
3. Svapna Dasanana
4. Abhijaata Janaki
5. Abhinavaraghava
6. Maricavancita
7. other Stray plays
I will post more from tomorrow. I am free for a few days. Vibs and all other members, I hope u enjoy these different versions (whether u agree with these versions or not) as much as I did.
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