Adikavya most popular Indian epic

Dr Vincent Smith, a renowned Indologist and Professor of Ancient Indian History and Archaeology at Oxford University, said: "Innumerable anecdotes in Ramayana and Mahabharata are more popular in rural India than the fables of Bible and the preachings of Quran in their respective lands".

(Ancient Indian History, published by the Oxford University Press, 1906) Hardly can we find a place in any part of India that is not associated with the Ramayana, which is known as the Adikavya written by Sage Valmiki, and the Mahabharata. It is believed that Ramanavami synchronises with the birthday, marriage and coronation of Sri Rama. Hence Seetharama Kalyana is the most important part of the festival. They are celebrated in Hanuman temples also.

Suravaram Pratap Reddy garu, with the patronage of the Nizam of Hyderabad, published ‘Hinduvula Pandugalu’ (Festivals of Hindus) in 1931. Quoting the Sanskrit version, he says Sriramanavami, one of the important festivals of the Hindus, is celebrated on Chaitra Suddha Navami in Punarvasu Star. This year it falls on 15th April.

According to Suravaram, Sriramanavami is celebrated by the Red Indians in South American countries also. He says historians wrote of trade, commerce and cultural relationship with American Continents before the Christ – long before Columbus. He further states the importance of Ramayana as a treatise on good governance (Proverbial Ramarajya) and the life of Rama and Sita as a 'model couple' (Adarsa Dampathyam).

Bhadrachalam in Telangana is one of the most important places in India where the celestial marriage is celebrated with gaiety and fervour. Since the time of the Nizams, it has been a State function. Bhadrachalam Ramadasu's devotion to Srirama is well-known. He was said to have spent enormous amounts from the treasury to build the Bhadrachalam Temple and offer gold ornaments to Rama, Sita and others.

When he was being persecuted by the Nawab's force in Golconda Fort, Ramadasu narrates the Ten Thousands of Varahas ( 1 Varaha = Rs 4) he spent on each accounts: Compound Wall; Temple Gopuam; Mantapa; Chariots; Bharatha; Shathrughna; Lakshmana and Seethamma.

He questions the “Foremost among the Ikswaku Rulers,” Rama: "Are these amounts spent by your father Dasaratha or did your father-in-law Janaka send it? I spent from the Treasury. Oh! Ramachandra.” unable to bear the pains, I am blaming you. Without ill will or rancour fill up the treasury." It is said that the treasury received the amount, unknowingly from an unknown source; ostensibly, the Lord Himself.

After the bifurcation of the State, AP has selected the Kodandaramaswamy Temple in Vontimetta in Kadapa district as the official place of worship to celebrate the celestial marriage. The temple of the Vijayanagara Architecture has been made over to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams for administration.

Interestingly on the left bank of the River Tunga, the 200-year-old Seetharmanjaneya Swamy Temple at Ardikoppa near Thirthahalli in Shivamogga district in Karnataka, resembles the architecture of Bhadrachalam Temple. A little distance from Ardikoppa Mrugavadhe is a village on the left bank of the Brahmi River, a tributary of the Tunga in Thirthahalli Taluk.

Mallikharjunaswamy is the presiding deity in the ancient temple of the Hoysala style. Mrugavadhe means 'Murder of the animal.' It is believed that Mareechika disguised as Sreerama at this spot killed the deer. Deer’s head fell at Mundagadde (Field where the head fell), now known as Mandagadde on NH-13, 30 Km from Shivamogga.

Deer’s neck was strewn at Koraluru (Neck place) now the place is called Kolavara, in Thirthalli taluka. Though the deity is Mallikharjunaswamy, Sreerama Navami is celebrated for nine days at Mrugavadhe. Hence the belief is strengthened by the tradition. Ramanjaneyaswamy Temple at Shimoga is also related to the Ramayana.

Scripting introduction in Telugu to "Hinduvula Pandugalu", Dr S Radhakrishnan, in his message said: "Reddy has dwelt with many traditions. Undoubtedly some of them are outdated. With that pretext, neglecting rational, auspicious and occasions intended to gather with fraternal love and affection is indefensible." Same sentiments are echoed by Swami Chinmayananda: "Bhakthi is the attitude of the mind, and Jnana is the attitude of the intellect, both flow towards the Lord."