The first-ever Ramayana to be written in a regional language, the Bichitra Ramayana claims a special place in the larger tradition of Ramayana writing as much for its independent retelling practice as for its indigenous, secular distinctiveness. Originally written in Odia in the mid-fifteenth century by Siddheswar Das (later known as Sarala Das), it owes its origins to the Uttarakanda of Valmiki Ramayana. Its great departure and divergence from the master text shows that it has an agenda and politics of its own, demonstrated so powerfully that it makes the original invisible. Rich with folklore and legends and composed in the oral tradition, the Bichitra declares itself as a text for the layman. The voice of the common people supercedes the voice of the wise; the natural replaces the rational; the religious paradigm is substituted by a secular identity, and the mind is overtaken by the heart. The chief attraction of the Bichitra is the issue related to the position of women in a patriarchal society and the relationship between the two sexes.
Foreword 11 Introduction 15
1. Invocation 39
2. Prologue 41
3. Sitas
Journey to the Forest 44
4. The Support of the Wild Animals 62
5. Sita in
Valmikis Hermitage 65
6. Sitas Journey to Bideha 69
7. The Birth of Laba
and Kusha 71
8. Sita at her Fathers House 76
9. Birth Rituals of Laba and
Kusha 81
10. Sitas Trial by Fire 83
11. Early Education of Laba and Kusha 90
12. Laba and Kusha Collect Alms Outside Bideha 96
13. The Gods Plan for the
End of Tretaya Yuga 99
14. Labas Journey to Ayodhya 103
15. Rama Listens to the Ramayana 108
16. Calamity in Lomapadas Kingdom 112
17. Preparations to Fetch Risyashrunga 115
18. Risyashrunga Seduced by the
Prostitutes 119
19. Risyashrunga Arrives in Anga 126
20. Labas Return to
Bideha 131
21. Kushas Delay in Return Makes Sita Angry 133
22. Laba and
Kusha Agree to Sing Together 137
23. Laba and Kusha Leave for Ayodhya 141
24.
Singing by Laba and Kusha 146
25. Shantas Marriage 149
26. The Story of
Lanka 187
27. Ravana Blessed with a Boon 202
28. Marriage of Rama and his
Brothers 229
29. Parsuramas Embarrassment 235
30. Ramas Journey to the
Forest 237
31. Khara and Dusana Eliminated 241
32. Sitas Abduction 244
33.
Making Friends with Sugriba 248
34. Lanka Set Ablaze 250
35. Preparations for
the Battle 253
36. Bibhisana Seeks Refuge 255
37. False Heads 257
38. The
Battle Breaks Out 259
39. Angada as Messenger 261
40. Indrajitas Fight 264
41. Rama and Lakshmana
Caught in Cobra Snare 268
42. The Killing of Indrajita 272
43. The Killing of
Kumbhakarna 274
44. A Duplicate Sita 278
45. Lakshmana Wounded Lethally 271
46. The Killing of Mahiravana 287
47. Jambomalis Battle 290
48. The Killing
of Ravana 292
49. Sitas Trial by Fire 297
50. The Dead Soldiers Regain Life
300
51. Return to Ayodhya 302
52. Ramas Commendable Actions 306
53. Sita in
exile 309
54. Sita in Valmikis Hermitage 314
55. Birth of Laba and Kusha 317
56. Sita at her Fathers House 319
57. The Second Trial by Fire 324
58. End
of the Ramayana Recitation 328
59. Revelations by Laba and Kusha 331
60.
Welcoming Laba and Kusha 336
61. Ramas Journey to Bideha 340
62. Sitas
Waiting 344
63. The Meeting between Sita and Rama 349
64. Sita Sinks into the Netherworld
355
65. Mourning by Rama and Others 358
66. Mourning in Ayodhya 365
67. The
Preparation for the Funeral Rites 370
68. Annual Rituals for the Dead 376
69.
The Marriage of the Princes 378
70. The Partition of the Inheritance 380
71.
Going on a Pilgrimage 385
72. Journey to Heaven 389
73. Epilogue 392 Glossary
397
Siddheswar Das, later known as Sarala Das, lived and wrote during the fifteenth century in Odisha. Bichitra Ramayana is important not only as one of the earliest instances of vernacular epic but also because of its innovativeness in terms of characterization and plot.
