Ramayan 1

RAMAYAN

~Rajaram Ramachandran~

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

I have been writing poems in English from the year 1965 on various subjects, stories for children and on religious matters for elders. The various websites posted these poems and gave me every encouragement in this field. These poems have been well appreciated by the poetry lovers in the literary circles.

(1) poemhunter.com (2) kavitanjali.com (3) poettext.com (4) ndtv.com

(5) hangtide.com in their poetrykorner (6) thepoetroadhouse.com

I have been closely associated as a volunteer with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, and the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, Juhu, Mumbai since 1990 end. This gave me an opportunity to have an exposure on the various spiritual subjects connected with the Hindu Religion.

With the experience gained in the past, it was my desire to write poems more on our great ancient literatures. H.G. Bhima Das, Trustee of the B.B.T., H.G. Brajhari Das, President of the ISKCON Mumbai, and H.G. Pancharatna Das, Council Member and Manager of the B.B.T., gave me the relevant books and facilities to write these free verses on our Great Epic Ramayana. I followed the Valmiki Ramayana as far as possible and presented the whole story briefly eliminating detailed descriptions and repetitions, to make it short for the readers in the verse form. For more details, the readers are advised to go through the original version of Valimiki Ramayana.

As this is the maiden attempt of mine to write a mega series of poems, I beg the pardon of the readers for any omissions and commissions, which are unintentional. Their constructive views are welcome always.

Prayer Song

Hare Rama, Hare Rama,
Rama, Rama, Hare Hare.
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna
Krishna, Krishna, Hare Hare

Hey Ram! Thy names are many,
As sweet as the nectar Honey;
By which name if I call
Show mercy on me, Thy will?

Raja Ram or Sita Ram?
Janaki Ram or Jaya Ram?
Bala Ram or Atma Ram?
Kalyan Ram or Pattabhi Ram?

Rajalakshmi, my mother,
Prefixed me her first four letters,
And Ramachandran, my father,
Suffixed me his first three letters.

Thus I became Raja Ram,
An eldest son in the family,
Now in my seventies, an Old Ram,
To write about Thee, Dasarath Ram.

In the past, numerous authors,
Like Valmiki, Kambar, Tulsidas,
Wrote Ramayan with Thy permission,
And with Thy given inside vision.
.
Ask not, what is more to be written,
What others, about Thee, haven't done?
No answer to this question,
I've with me, a simple person.

Not because my name is Raja Ram,
I wish to take up Thy story
But because I love Thee, Sita Ram,
I've this thirst to write Thy history.

I ask nothing from Thee,
Jaya Ram, please allow me
To write Thy story in verses,
Free from any faults serious.

-:oOo:-

Rajaram Ramachandran,

Dated, 25th June, 2004

Please send your comments to me
rajaram@pacific.net.in

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