Kuvempu's two Ramayanas

When adult literacy program was launched, the newly literate wanted to read first Hindu epics. So Kuvempu prepared a simple prose  version of Valmiki Ramayana. It was very popular.

Later Kuvempu wanted to prepare his own verse version of Ramayana, giving free rein to his imagination. So was born "Sri Ramayana Darshanam", a Kannada epic. He wanted to place it in a global context, so he first invoked Homer, Virgil, Dante & Milton in addition to his Indian predecessors.

Some key events have been re-imagined here. When Sugriva challenged Vali, Vali remembered their childhood days & thought he would carry Sugriva back as a gift to Ruma, his wife. But when Rama saw his friend being carried away, distraught, he loosed an arrow at Vali, whose back only was visible.

In Lanka, Anala, daughter of Vibhishana & Vajrari, the infant son of Indrajit are brought centre stage. Anala, though morally supporting her father, chooses to stay back in Lanka with her beloved Uncle Ravana. She also comforts Sita in Ashoka vana. Ravana, very fond of her, offers her his Pushpaka vimana itself to go & meet her father whenever she wants.

Before the climatic battle, Ravana has a change of heart & while wishing to defeat Rama, wants to make him a captive & offer him to Sita as a gift like Vali did to Sugriva earlier. So he comes alone to the battle. But Rama, not wishing to lose to Ravana, had to destroy him.

Even in Sita's Agnipariksha after the war, at the last moment, Rama also enters the fire  along with Sita & both come out unscathed &  triumphant. These re-imaginings did not go well with the traditionalists who were livid with rage. But for those of an open mind, this version is also one facet of the multi-faceted gem, that is the Ramayana.