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Book Review – Valmiki Ramayana: A Commentary by Lakkaraju Ananta Rama Rao (Three Volumes)

Among all famous versions of Ramayana that are being narrated and circulated across the world for ages, Valmiki’s Ramayana tops the chart for its veracity and originality. Valmiki and Vyas are considered two top-notched poets from India that recorded and wrote the greatest books of the world ‘Ramayana’ and ‘Mahabharata’ respectively in their eras.


Today our literature arenas are abundant with retellings and various versions of storytelling and commentaries pertaining to Ramayana. In light of spreading of the most original text and commentary, late Shri Lakkaraju Ananta Rama Rao did meticulous study and research on Ramayana for decades. The book Valmiki Ramayana – through three volumes – is a monumental task in commentary literature.

His volumes of commentary brilliantly sketch all characters and their roles and the splendor and magnificent of courts and kings with immaculate cultural scope. The book volume delves deep in Ramayana from all angles of events referred as Kandas.

The power of commentary is such that it brings alive the Ramayana of Valmiki, the monumental Sanskrit epic on the life of Rama, ideal man and incarnation of the great god Vishnu, who has been profoundly affecting literature, art, religions, and cultures of South and Southeast Asia from olden times to the present. Filled with thrilling battles, flying monkeys, and ten-headed demons, the work, composed almost 3,000 years ago, recounts Prince Rama’s exile and his odyssey to save his abducted wife, Sita from Lanka, and later on established a utopian kingdom.

Based on the authoritative three-volumes, this thick combined book presents the unabridged commentary in English, revised and reformatted into paragraph form. The book includes a new introduction providing important historical and literary contexts. Ideal for students and general readers, this edition of the Valmiki’s Ramayana introduces an extraordinary work of world literature to a new generation of readers.

Before diving in the mainstream narrative of Ramayana, it is recommended to go through this commentary for better clarity on gods, courts, characters, and all Kandas (event). Another glorious aspect of this book is its in between comparative study of Ramayana with West’s literature through the work of Homer, Virgil, Milton, and many more. The author’s insights and knowledge about the vast cast of characters from main to auxiliary to mega events to sparking pinpoints is all tremendous, worth applauding. You would feel that he is all encompassing. This must be revered and savored to keep our historical and cultural heritage get going. A great work for current to upcoming generations!

All the volumes are available to buy from Amazon

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  1. VenkatMarch 15, 2024 at 1:13 AM

    Thanks for this enlightening review on a timeless classic

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