Valmiki, Kamban, Krttivasa, and Tulsidas’s Rama: Negotiating Godliness and Humanity

Abstract

The character of Rama created by Valmiki has been interpreted and re-interpreted in Indian Literature. Rama has been presented as the warrior hero, the ideal man, the Maryada-Purushottam, the iconic God, an incarnation of Vishnu, and an ordinary human being.  Authors like Valmiki, Bhavabhuti, Tulsidas, Kamba and Krittibas have delineated the character of Rama in various ‘avatars’.  Each author has focused on certain aspects of this character and has highlighted them through his narrative.  Though Rama is presented by Tulsidas as a calm and composed personality who does not give in to emotions, whether of joy, sorrow, or anger, the Kamba Ramayanam shows his wrathful and angry side as well.  Bahavabhuti has focused on the humane aspect of Rama’s personality.  In his play Uttararamcharitam Rama quite openly mourns the loss of his wife, Sita, and cries for her.  Bhavabhuti in his dramatic presentation humanizes the God and does not bring his warrior-like, kingly, Godly persona into focus.  Through my paper I want to examine these varied characterizations of Rama, who is more than a literary character in India.  I would like to explore the different interpretations of his personality and their presentation by authors belonging to different periods but writing in Sanskrit-derived languages.  I wish to explore the phenomenon that is Rama and the way he has been used by authors belonging to varied cultures in India during the Sanskrit era for different purposes and to present different messages.