Product Description

The original Ramayana was written three thousand years ago by a reformed thief-turned-sage named Valmiki. Now, with breathtaking imagination and brilliant storytelling, Indian writer Ashok K. Banker has recreated this epic for modern readers everywhere. Ayodhya the Unconquerable: legendary capital of warriors and seers. Never invaded, never defeated, greatest fortress of the civilised world. Soon it will be a wasteland of ashes and blood. For Ayodhya lies in the shadow of a demon's wrath, a demon that even the gods fear, a demon that even now is sending all its dreadful power to ravage the world of mortals. And only Rama, Prince of Ayodhya, can hope to prevent the onslaught of darkness and halt the demon invasion. But Rama will not fight alone. The sword of his brother will shield him, the wisdom of a seer will guide him...but in the final battle it will be Rama's courage alone that will save or damn Ayodhya.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #281922 in Books
• Published on: 2005-06-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 532 pages

Customer Reviews

The Ramayana - Indian Legends and Power Personified
The Ramayana - Prince of Ayodhya is a very well written book in the modern world about the Greatest of all Epics of Traditional India.Every Indian , who knows their deity well , would only know that they were powerful and godly.This books goes ahead and helps the reader to imagine and fill the gap in his mind.I guess after reading the book , my whole idea of Lord Ram has changed quite a bit.He no more is that Plain looking Arvind Govil from The Television Series - Ramayana long time back.He is a God !!

The book really helps is digesting the fact that spirutuality has great power and that its usage was great and holy.The description of all characters is so well fitting as if that is what one had imagined a character to be !!! The power of each character is well defined and felt almost with every page turned.

I am much happy to have read the book and consider my lucky for the same for it was my inquisitive nature to find about India , its culture and history that I set out to look for something.And then there it was , my gallant knight in armour - The Prince of Ayodhya.I love you Rama and I thank Ashok Banker to have acted as a cupid here...Thanks again Ashok!!!

P.S: To all who might think of buying this book , I have a small but good advice - Get the whole set , all of them at once.You will thank me for this.

Prince of Ayodhya
Being British Asian, although I haven't ever read the Ramayana in great detail, I thought I knew the main contents, but this entire book, was completely new to me. Its about what Rama when through before he was exiled, I didnt even realise anything had even happened to him before this. I couldnt stop reading it and Book 2 isnt out til later this year. I would recommend it to anyone who has wanted to know more about the Ramayana, specially since the language used throughout is modern and easy to read compared to other versions of the Ramayana.

An excellent start!
Rama.

Thus begins the retelling of The Ramayana, one of the most holy epics of the Hindus, and that one word, I feel, conveys infinity.

Ashok K. Banker has taken upon himself the task of retelling this mammoth epic and the first book “The Prince of Ayodhya” gives us a very good idea of what to expect in future volumes and that feeling is a very good one. What an amazing writer!

Ramayana is an epic with many characters with complex histories and the author does a splendid job of introducing us to the characters and their past. He literally transports us into the world of Rama and spares no detail of the world we have been transported to. His style of writing makes the book a ‘un-putdown able’ book! Once you start--you're addicted, the author captivates our imagination and senses and manages to hold our attention right till the very end, where he leaves us in a state of hunger for further volumes.

Readers must realize that the Ramayana is not just this one book, but the entire series as a whole. We can only begin to comprehend and appreciate the Ramayana once we finish that final 7th book, until then we have to go with the flow and enjoy where the author takes us, which is probably even beyond his control, but the author can make the trip a pleasurable one, which I believe Ashok K Banker is doing very effectively.

Some western readers complain that they find the use of Indian words a little trying, but I say to such people make the best use of this opportunity to learn something new! The usage of these words makes the book complete, because certain words and phrases cannot be translated and even if they can be translated, they may lose their essence.

On the whole the book is simply brilliant and is a must read not just for Indians, but just about anybody who wish to read a story of love, brotherhood, dharma (duty) and not to miss the evil that lies in wait…The Ramayana is of course all this and much, much more.

I say get this book now and join Rama on an adventure that should not be missed.