A series of four weekly lectures focusing on the celebrated Indian epic, Ramayana. Particular reference will be made to the Srivaishnava commentary 'Bhushana', composed by the Govindaraja in the 16th century. Lectures will be useful for students preparing papers in the study of Hinduism, and no background knowledge of Hinduism or the Ramayana is required.

Tuesdays, 10.00 - 11.00, commencing 14thOctober
Christ Church College, Oxford, Lecture Room 1

Lecture Schedule

Lecture 1: (14th Oct.) Introduction: Valmiki, the "first poet", and the Ramayana, the "first poem" in Sanskrit Language; its greatness as a text that elaborates and substantiates the meaning of the Veda; its relation to the other great epic, the Mahabharata; a comparative estimate of the avatars of Sri Rama and Sri Krishna.

Lecture 2: (22>nd Oct.) The commentaries on the Ramayana and their contribution to our understanding of the inner meaning and beauty of the poem.

Lecture 3: (29th Oct.) Important verses from the first three books (kandas) of the Ramayana

Lecture 4: (5th Nov.) Important verses from the remaining three books and from the final book (Uttara Kanda); concluding remarks.