The Riddle of The Ramayana (An Old and Rare Book)

Being encouraged by the favourable manner in which my first book 'The Mahabharata-a Criticism' was received by the public, I am now tempted to place before the reader, as stated in the preface to that book, the second instalment of my ideas, viz. my views on the Ramayana considered from the poetical and historical stand-points. The Ramayana, by which I mean the Ramayana of Valmiki, when considered poetically and historically presents so many aspects and incidents which appear almost inexplicable and therefore imaginary that I have ventured to name this book "The Riddle of the Ramayana." The solution of these apparently inexplicable aspects and incidents which I have given in the following pages will, I trust, be found at least interesting if not convincing in every case.

I have in this book adopted the Devanagari character for printing the Sanskrit Slokas and sentences quoted. Words, however, like Brahmin, which are of usual occurrence are given in English and in their ordinarily accepted spellings. In other respects this book resembles its predecessor almost wholly.

**Contents and Sample Pages**