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Cover Story | The Ayodhya Issue

The Epic Epiphany

The abiding attraction of the Ramayana to Indian society, and to the Indian mind, lies in the innumerable idealised social relations that abound in the epic. Its importance as a template for social bonds is what is often missed in the textual discussions that preoccupy scholars

The Epic Epiphany

At Valmiki’s ashram, Narada tells the sage that the ruler of Ayodhya, Ram, is the most noble king, possessing all the qualities Valmiki was looking for. Narada then goes on to narrate the story of Ram to Valmiki (Courtesy: Ramayana, introduction by JP Losty and text by Sumedha V Ojha, Roli Books, 2016)