Shodasi : Secrets of The Ramayana

 Here is a book with ground-breaking research. The title of the book is Shodasi. And it was written by non other than Gunturu Seshendra Sharma, an erudite scholar and prolific author in Telugu. In fact, he has a unique place in the field of Telugu literature and his outstanding scholarship both in Eastern and western philosophy and poetry is legendary. Shodasi is a name associated with Mantra Sastra. And it is another name for Sri Bala Tripura Sundari. How would it be connected with Ramayana, authored by Valmiki ? Everyone could frown over the very idea of conceiving the plot. Valmiki's poetic diction is not that easy to comprehend and it has many secret layers. The magnum opus is a repository of critical discourses and it is replete with inconceivable and unfathomable issues.

Seshendra Sharma's capacity for meticulous observation of 24 thousand slokas disclosed new avenues and this book is literally an experiment in nutshell. According to author the exposition of the story of Ramayana by Valmiki is not a narration in excellent poetic style. Underlying this is an attempt to infuse in it the directives of the esoteric theories of Kundalini Yoga. Seshendra has also done extensive research into the Maha Bharatha and proves conclusively that Vyasa has, in his epic Maha Bharatha, closely followed Valmiki in many aspects. Analogies in the Ramayana appear in a new light , once you have gone through it. How Kalidasa got inspired from Valmiki in terms of depicting changes in the nature has been proved with extensive range of examples.

Trijata Dream, Sundara Kanda and all other important cantos were examined in the unprecedented way. Valmiki took all his similies, words and thoughts from Vedic literature. Author gave many examples to support his proposition. One of the novel points in this is interesting. He says one who was Indra in Vedas appeared like Vishnu in Puranas. That means the attributes of Vishnu in Puranas will be seen in Indra of Vedas. The book is thought-provoking and well written. English translation rendered by Dr. Gurajada Suryanarayana Murthy, a retired scientist in Baba Atomic Research Centre.

( Pages : 245,    Price : Rs. 400,  available on Amazon)

--- Murthy Kvvs