Ramayana Centre: Launching of four books in New Delhi

Four new titles have been added to the Ramayana Centre Library with their launching by Prabhat Prakashan publishers at a grand book launching ceremony at Constitution Club, Rafi Marg, New Delhi on 21 January 2015. They are: three books of Dr (Mrs) Vinoo Arun namely – Stuti Suman, Sanskar Ramayana and Ramkatha Me Naitik Moolya and Manas Mein Nari by Pt R. Arun.

They were launched by Hon. Dr Mahesh Sharma, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and Hon Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Minister of Information and Broadcasting.

The function was also graced by the presence of Ag. High Commissioner of Mauritius Dr Lokesh Chandra, Chairman of ICCR Shri D.P Tripathi, member of Rajya Sabha Prof Ramesh Kumar Pandey, the Vice-Chancellor Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha, New Delhi, Dr Ashok Chankradhan, Dr Goenka, Shri Bankata retired IAS officer and many other eminent personalities. In spite of the very cold weather, the hall was packed to capacity. The publisher Shri Prabhat Kumar welcomed the guests and paid his gratitude to all present.

The author Dr (Mrs) Arun said that though man has made tremendous progress in the field of science and technology and has gained material richness, yet he is lagging behind in moral, ethical and spiritual advancement. There is a general erosion in values. In this context, the conduct of Lord Ram can be a guide for humanity. The meaning of Ramayana is the path of Ram. That is why sage Valmiki asked Naradji ‘please let me know about a person who is full of virtues, who has a conduct that can be followed by others’, and Naradji mentions the name of Lord Ram.

Thus Ramayana is a lived illustration of the values and ideals taught by Shri Ram and other great characters in the Ramayana. This epic became so popular that many other Ramayanas were written in Sanskrit and in almost all the regional languages of India. In 16th century, Ramcharitmanas was written by Goswami Tulsidas in Avadhi (a regional variant of Hindi) in which the same values and ideals have been presented in the context of his time.

The book Ramkatha Me Naitik Moolya is a comparison of the ethical values presented in Valmiki’s Ramayana and Ramcharitmanas. These values are eternal and universal.

The other book Sanskar Ramayana is based on the portions of Ramayana to be read at different points and stages during one’s life course, such as birth and birthday, start of schooling, marriage, entering a new house, any happy event, any crisis or misery, and death. A brief comment has also been given on the relevance of the selected portions.

The third book Stuti Suman is a compilation of the most popular mantras and prayers with which devotees are familiar; they have been chosen so as to enhance the appeal of the book.

In order to reach the maximum number of people, the verses have been rendered in both Devanagari and Roman scripts from their original Sanskrit. Each word has been broken down for a better understanding and pronunciation, and the meaning of each word has been given in Hindi and English. Finally, the whole verse has been translated in both languages.

Mrs Arun concluded her speech with thanks to the organiser. Shri Pranhatji, the two ministers and all the distinguished guests for their presence.

Pt Arun, the President of Ramayana Centre and the writer of the book Manas Mein Nari expressed his joy at the large attendance of intellectuals, professionals, scholars and lovers of Lord Rama and Ramayana. While speaking about the book he pointed out that it depicts seven lady characters of Ramayana namely; Kaushalya, Sumitra, Manthara, Ansooya, Shabari, Tara and Mandodari. Though Manthara is a negative character, yet without her Ramayana might not have probably existed. It is she who persuades Kaikeyi to ask her two boons – which could not only have broken the unity of the family but also would have made Ayodhya a battlefield. It is the wisdom of Kaushalya and Sumitra that the kingdom of Ayodhya was saved.

Ag. High Commissioner of Mauritius in India Mr J. Naeck praised the efforts of Pt. Arun to set up the Ramayana Centre in Mauritius and to propagate and promote values and ideals of Ramayana locally and worldwide. He thanked both ministers for launching the books and the distinguished audience for their presence.

The books were then launched by Hon Mahesh Sharma, the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. He appreciated the work done by Mr and Mrs Arun and stated that books are the best friends. He acknowledged that Ramayana has a great impact on his life.

Readers may please note that all these books, as well as other publications and materials, such as CDs, etc, are exposed and available at the Ramayana Centre book stall currently open at Ganga Talao on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri.

RNG