Book Review- Ramayana - The Game of Life : Rise of the Sun Prince- Shubha Vilas

Title- Ramayana - The Game of Life: Rise of the Sun Prince
ISBN- 13: 978-81-8495-530-9
Author- Shubha Vilas
Publisher- Jaico Books
Genre- Mythology
Price- Rs 250
Pages- 252



The Author
The author, Shubha Vilas is a spiritual man with degrees in law and engineering and writes inspirational stuff that is based on Sanatan philosophy. He also interacts with youth in educational institutions and delivers motivational lectures so, he has this natural talent of connecting with people and that shows in his writing which is not aloof from practical day-to-day life.

The Cover
The cover shows Ram and Lakshman protecting Vishwamitra's rites from Maricha and Subahu in an animated artwork. The elegant drawings and exquisite colors paint a very vivid and bright picture and bring a sanctity to the whole book.

The Book
The story of Ramayana is not alien to us Indians as it is told and retold to us throughout our cultural upbringing at various stages. Lessons from Ramayana are a part of the Indian psyche now and the character of Maryada Purushottam Ram is an epitome of virtue to all of us. The question arises as to what can the book further tell about the epic that we don't already know and well, the answer is that there is a reason Ramayana has been told and retold in India- the subtextual meanings, the beauty of narration, the lessons- they can never cease to fascinate the intellectual appetite of the spiritual-seeker. The book has notes at pages where the author has provided insights about the story and also added notes on various other versions of the epic. It is a book that would interest the young and the old alike.

The Quality
The pages are crisp and the language is easy to understand; the beauty of the prose is intact and the story flows effortlessly. The fonts have the genteel aura of a sacred text that helps the reader attain trance while reading. The story is interesting for the ones just reading for the thrill of it and the pace of the plot is not sacrificed for the demand of wonderment or spiritual insights. Sign of a true classic!

The historical contexts and the side notes about various characters and mythical beings surely would interest the history buffs like myself. The book is a true treasure and I cannot thank blogadda and Shubha Vilas enough for the opportunity of reading it. I cannot wait for the Book 2 and I am thinking of gifting the set to my parents.

Rating- I don't think there are enough stars in the world for me to rate an epic like Ramayana. I give it infinite stars out of 5.

∞/5

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