Multivalence of an Epic

<p>This volume examines The Rāmāyaṇa traditions of South India and Southeast Asia. Bringing together 19 well-known scholars in Rāmāyaṇa studies from Cambodia Canada France India Indonesia Malaysia Singapore Thailand UK and USA this thought-provoking and elegantly illustrated volume engages with the inherent plurality diversity and adaptability of the Rāmāyaṇa in changing socio-political religious and cultural contexts.</p><p>The journey and localization of the Rāmāyaṇa is explored in its manifold expressions – from classical to folk from temples and palaces to theatres and by-lanes in cities and villages and from ancient to modern times. Regional Rāmāyaṇas from different parts of South India and Southeast Asia are placed in deliberate juxtaposition to enable a historically informed discussion of their connected pasts across land and seas. The three parts of this volume organized as visual literary and performance cultures discuss the sculpted painted inscribed written recited and performed Rāmāyaṇas. A related emphasis is on the way boundaries of medium and genre have been crossed in the visual literary and performed representations of the Rāmāyaṇa.</p>