Kamba-Ramayana (English Translation of Tamil Ramayana of Sage Kamban in Two Volumes)

About Book -

The story of Rama has been dominating the Indian religious scene from the time immemorial. The complete story of the Ramayapa was hardly popular with the masses in complete form till it was composed by the sage Vlmiki in a book form. The Ramayana which is known as the Adi-kavya or the first ornate poem according to the indigenous estimation is ascribed to the sage Vlmiki, the Adikavi or the first author of the ornate poetry. The Ramayaa deserves to be called as the Adikdvya because of the characteristics of the ornate poetry, such as the description of nature and the presence of the figures of speech, both of words and the sense are quite auspicious.
A number of Ramayapas were composed in different parts of the country. The regional Ramyanas were composed not only in the north but also in the south, in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada languages. Of these regional works, the Kamba Ramyaa which was composed by Mahari Kamban, possibly was the earliest. The Kamba Rmayaia comprises of six kndas instead of seven of the Valiniki Rmayaia.
The sage Kamban was well-versed in the southern recention of the Valmiki Ramyaza, which would be evident from the following episodes which have been included by him in his work:
1. The churning of the ocean and taking of Visnu in the form of Mohini.

2. Conversation between Laksmana and Tr.

3. Destruction of Dhrumkulya.

4. Battle between Sugriva and Ravatta.

5. Journey of she-monkeys to Ayodhya.

6. Dialogue between Kurnbhakartia and Vibhlsana.
This is the first time that an English Translation of this great Tarnil work is in front of the curious readers in two ha