(Text with Introduction & English Translation)
                                           Dr. K. P. A. Menon
                                                        Part. 2
                                   (Sundrakandam, Uttarakandam)
The Adhyatma version of the Ramayanam is in the form of a dialogue between Uma and Mahesvara in seven parts described as Kandas. Though the composer has generally followed Valmiki's version in narrating the story of Rama along with Sita and Laksmana, there are some serious deviations also on occasions. To start with, Lord Vishnu is solicited by the Goddess Earth and other celestials in the ocean of mil and he takes his birth as Kausalya's offspring in his divine form. Lakshmana has been pictured as the manifestation of the divine serpent Ananta and the other two brothers, of the Lord's conch and discus. In spite of many variations it will appear that, ultimately, it is only a modified version of Valmiki's epic composed with the objective of giving proper enlightenment on the different paths of liberation, primacy being given to that of devotion. Lord Siva himself refers to it as the quintessence of the Vedas.
CLASSICAL SANSKRIT LITERATURE OF KERALA - VOL.  NO. 6