Adhyatma Ramayana (Devanāgarī: अध्यात्म रामायण, IAST: Adhyātma Rāmāyaṇa, lit. 'Spiritual Ramayana') is a 13th- to 15th-century Sanskrit text that allegorically interprets the story of Hindu epic Ramayana in the Advaita Vedanta framework.[1][2][3] It is embedded in the latter portion of Brahmānda Purana, and the author is considered to be Vyasa.[4] The Hindu tradition also attributes the text to the Bhakti movement saint Ramananda.[5]
The text consists of 7 books, 65 chapters or 4,500 verses in the form of a dialogue between Shiva and Parvati.[6][1] Adhyatma Ramayana contains the ideal characteristics of Rama and the precepts related to devotion, knowledge, dispassion, adoration and good conduct. Rama is presented as the supreme Brahman in the text, while the struggles of Sita and him are re-interpreted in an abstract spiritual form.[2] The allegory inspired several later versions of the Ramayana story in languages like Awadhi (Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas), Oriya, Bengali and Malayalam version by Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan.[7][3]
- ^ a b Rocher 1986, pp. 157–159.
- ^ a b Ramdas Lamb (2012). Rapt in the Name: The Ramnamis, Ramnam, and Untouchable Religion in Central India. State University of New York Press. pp. 28–33. ISBN 978-0-7914-8856-0.
- ^ a b Paula Richman (2008). Ramayana Stories in Modern South India: An Anthology. Indiana University Press. pp. 17–18, 40. ISBN 978-0-253-21953-4.
- ^ Ramachander, P.R. "Adhyatma Ramayanam". Hindupedia. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
- ^ Rocher 1986, pp. 158-159 with footnotes, Quote: "Among the texts considered to be connected with the Brahmanda, the Adhyatma-ramayana is undoubtedly the most important one".
- ^ Winternitz 1922, pp. 578–579.
- ^ Rocher 1986, pp. 158–159.