Levels of Self-reflexivity...

This weekend I read Vyasa's Adhyatma Ramayana. It's stress is on spirituality when compared to the other versions of Ramayana, unlike Valmiki's even is astounding.

In my review of Mahashweta Devi's After Kurukshetra I have written a bit about the relationship between causes and events in the world as envisaged in the Indian traditions. I wrote how stories gained a certain self-reflexive second level to them with the passing of time. The self-reflexivity shows in the later retellings of the main text through a mentioning of causes for events as known beforehand. The ending is often given away and  occasionally there is a twist. To the list of such self-reflexive texts that are also retellings, Adhyatma Ramayana can be easily added.

In the Adhyatma Ramayana, when Rama asks Sita not to accompany him to the forest. Sita asks: "Rama, have you heard of any version of the Ramayana where Sita doesn't follow Rama into the forest? Why should, I, then stay behind?"

While in the original Valmiki version Sita insists on accompanying Rama by saying this and that. Look what Sita says in reply here. This Sita, like the author, Vyasa belongs to the next yuga. An entire yuga has passed...from Treta to Dvapara. And lo! Look at the level of self-reflexivity here...it is so obvious for anyone to see. And yet there is a way of enjoying this rasa as well.

By the way, my mother wants to give me a copy of the Ramayana at my wedding. "Just the happy part" she insists. Sita Kalyanam, maybe? Hmm.

In Bangalore, the Ramanavami Music Concerts have begun... 

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