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Shodasi : Secrets of the Ramayana

By Sharma, Seshendra

Book Id: WPLBN0100000409
Format Type: PDF (eBook)
File Size: 1.61 MB.
Reproduction Date: 7/7/2013

Title:	Shodasi : Secrets of the Ramayana
Author:	Sharma, Seshendra
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Non Fiction, Religion, Literary Criticism in Spiritualism
Collections:	Literature, Authors Community, Most Popular Books in China, Favorites in India
Historic Publication Date:	2013
Publisher:	Gunturu Seshendra Sharma Memorial Trust (Non-Profit)

Member Page:	Saatyaki S/o Seshendra Sharma
Citation APA MLA Chicago Sharma, S. (2013). Shodasi : Secrets of the Ramayana. Retrieved from http://self.gutenberg.org/

Description
* * * Valmiki Ramayana – Greatest Medicine for Mankind The story of Ramayana is prescribed as textbook for students. Sita and Rama are worshiped as prime couple. No need to mention about reciting it. Whether Valmiki was satisfied with simple narration of the story? Seshendra Sharma denies it. He analyzed it mentioning that to understand the inner meanings of Valmiki Ramayana, the scientific knowledge is essential. The underlying secret of the sage’s mind will be known through the knowledge of science. It is the firm opinion of Seshendra that the argument that “the sciences are for scholars only” is a conspiracy hatched by Selfish scholars and lazy uneducated persons. Seshendra who has democratic ideology and conviction on science and literature informs the public about the secrets of Ramayana expounded by Valmiki. He explains that Valmiki dedicated ambrosia (The Greatest Medicine) named “Kundalini Yoga” to the mankind. The poetry in the metre of Anushtup Sloka is the honey coating to the medicine. It was explained with great introspection and exemplary scholarship. He concludes that the Ramayana is older than the Maha Bharatha and it is another form of Veda. Valmiki introduced the system of meditation in Ramayana. The Introspection and research bent of mind of Seshendra are spread over in the book in two streams. The exuberant fragrance of scholarship is experienced throughout the book. The present generation can understand the scholarship of Seshendra in Vedas and Mantra Sastra. Seshendra is a poet who has composed unique Ruthu Ghosha (Cry of the Seasons: Metrical Poetry) and revolutionary free verse –Mande Suryudu (The Burning Sun). Two Great Peaks in the world literary criticism and research Shodasi: Secrets of The Ramayana and Swarnahamsa Harshanaishada from the mighty pen of the great Telugu poet, Gunturu Seshendra Sharma are considered to be the two great peaks in the world literary criticism and research. This is a truth most contemporary Telugu writers and readers aren’t aware of. The way Seshendra could discover Kundalini Yoga, Gayathri Mantra in Shodasi, he could discern the treasure trove of mantra yoga, Sri Mahatripurasundari, Chintamani mantra in Swarnahamsa. At a time when our universities which are mere Degrees production Units, churn out “solid waste” in the name of research; Seshendra even while attending to his job as a Municipal Commissioner created research oriented critical volumes like a sage. Though Shodasi was published in 1967 and Swarnahamsa in 1968; Swarnahamsa was created by him much before Shodasi was conceived. The concepts that Srinatha, Nannayya and Mallanatha, the Telugu Classical poets couldn’t decipher, Seshendra could. He humbly submits that he is most fortunate that the triumvirate had left behind some pertinent concepts only to be discovered by him at a later stage. These two great kavyas were serialised under the editorship of late Neelamraju Venkata Seshaiah in Andhra Prabha Daily, Sunday Literary Supplements from 1963 to 1967 and Seshendra’s poems and non-fiction were published in the book forms (6) only after they appeared in serial form in Andhra Prabha.

Summary
This is an exemplary book which elevated the status of Indian Literary Criticism to the peaks of the world literature. Shodasi is a name associated with a great hymn. The title suggests that it’s a book on spiritual discourse. A reading of this book suggests that the spirit of scientific temper is critical to comprehend Valmiki’s Srimad Ramayana. Besides this, command on Vedic or Scriptural knowledge is essential. What does a layman has to say when a towering personality like Viswanatha Satyanarayana himself extolled the critical acumen and serious scholarship of Seshendra Sharma. Sharma has made it crystal clear that unless one has an apparent understanding of the plot’s context, psyche of the characters, and the milieu of the bygone days supplemented by extraordinary scholarship, sound knowledge of phonetics and awareness on contemporary issues; one cannot easily comprehend the poetic diction of Valmiki. The debate on the phrase “Netraturaha” is a fitting example. The uniqueness of the title, Sundara kanda, Kundalini Yoga, Gayatri Mantra secretly hidden in Trijata’s dream sequence, considering The Bharatha as an image of The Ramayana.... this book is a repository of many such critical discourses. It is replete with inconceivable and unfathomable issues. This magnum opus is an invaluable gift to the Telugu literature.

Excerpt
Sri Sundara Kanda is nothing but Kundalini yoga Many great secrets that are most venerable are given in Srimad Ramayana. Therefore, it became a sacred text which is daily read as a ritual. It would not have been elevated to such level if it were only a narration of a story. We do not read Manu Charitra* daily as a ritual. We do not consider that book as a means of achieving salvation. That is the difference between these two books. The great secrets in Ramayana are the most helpful to all seekers of salvation. It is so because Ramayana has Gayatri Mantra and Kundalini Yoga which are revealed in the Sundara Kanda. The very first verse of this Kaanda gives indication of that subject. The initial seven verses are like the head of this Kanda. The first verse is: ‘Tato Raavananeetaayaah Seetaayaah satrukarsanah iyesha padam anweshtum chaaranaa charite pathi’. It means;’ (Hanuman) who is a terror to the enemy decided to travel along the path which is followed by Charanas in search of Sita who was taken away by Ravana’. That is the meaning.

Table of Contents
Contents 1. Seshendra’s Profile 6 2. Gunturu Seshendra Sharma : An Extraordinary Poet –Scholar : The Hindu 7 3. About the Translator 8 4. Translator’s Note 9 5. Seshendra Sharma: Supreme Deity of Intellectual Criticism 11 6. Shodasi : Foreword by N.Ramesan 16 7. Shodasi : Foreword by Viswanatha Satyanarayana 18 8. Shodasi : Sanskrit Foreward by Gunderao Harkare 24 9. One Thought to begin with 29 10. Commentators on Valmiki 35 11. Wonders in Valmiki 44 12. Philology of Valmiki 52 13. A discussion on “Netraturah” 62 14. How was the name Sundara Kanda Chosen? 66 15. Sri Sundara Kanda is nothing but Kundalini Yoga 78 16. Discussion on the name of Sundara Kanda 118 17. Trijata’s Dream is nothing but Gayatri Mantra 126 18. Bharatha is image of the Ramayana 134 19. The relationship of the Megha Sandesham with the Ramayana 154 20. It is Appropriate to Say that in the Ramayana Supreme Deity is Indra rather than Vishnu 162 21. Indra and Vishnu in Veda 188 22. Debate on the Ramayana is more recent than the Bharatha 197 23. New evidence to show that the Ramayana was earlier than 202 the Bharatha 24. Benedictory verse of Saakuntalam is Eulogy of Devi 248 25. Nrinaam Eko Gamyaha (All humans have the 261 same destination)