The Domestic Felicity of Sita and Rama

Taking keen. interest in Telugu classical literature, in general, and a specific interest in I Kavisamrat Viswanadha §Satyanarayana, Sri J. Venkateswara Rao rendered into Telugu prose, parts of the former's magnum opus, Ramayana Kalpavriksham with the _ titles, Samsaya Khandam and Sita Ramula Dampathya Vaibhavam. These have already got great critical acclaim.

That the foundations of Indian culture were deeply embedded in Dravidian culture is now an incontrovertible fact. Dravidian culture is one of the most ancient cultures of the world. Those cultures, slightly contemporaneous to one another, slowly started fading out. However. the primordial Dravidian culture continues to thrive without losing its quintessence despite the apparent changes in systems of dress and address.

Dravidian University was established in 1997 to mirror the real and rich picture of Dravidian culture not only in its linguistic, literary, cultural and philosophical facets but in science and technological angles also.

The main objectives of Dravidian University are to augment the common weal and social well being of the communities of marginal languages and to build bridges among the Southern states. While working on each language separately in varied areas, it aims at a synthesis and a discovery of the common heritage through Comparative Studies.

Prasdranga (Publications wing) and Anusrjana (Translation Bureau) are the two most significant wings of the University from out of its several on going progressive activities.

Sri Viswanatha Satyanarayana is a great Telugu poet of 20" century who has enriched the Telugu Literature with his unparalleled skill of writing all literary forms of high standard. He is honoured with Jnanapith Award for his master piece, Ramayana Kalpavriskham in classical Telugu poetry.

This book is a lucid and very readable English translation of Sri J. Venkateswara Rao’s Telugu Prose paraphrase of selective parts of Ramayana Kalpavriskham dealing with the marital life of Sita and Rama which was already published under the title Sita-Ramula Dampatya Vaibhavam"’. It is a surprisingly absorbing book. Sri J. Venkateswara Rao is a staunch admirer of Ramayana Kalpavriskham. He is very much impressed by the importance given by Sri Viswanatha to the marital bliss of Sita and Rama.

Prof Prema Nandakumar who has translated this book into English is well known in literary circles. She is quite at ease in many languages in addition to English. She is the author of many significant books.and highly competent reviewer of books dealing with literature , religion and culture. Her translation of the present book is an excellent performance in a style which is between scholarly ostentation and matter of fact insipidity. It is very readable and very rewarding.

In these troubled times, when marriages are becoming unstable, this book can act as acorrective putting marriage in the right perspective as a spiritual bond far above sacramental or civil bonds.

The University is proud in bringing out this book which while introducing Ramayana Kalpavriskham also inspires the young people to realize the great Indian values of life.