Ramayana Unravelled

Ami Ganatra’s book is a powerful and necessary read for anyone who thinks they know the story of the Ramayan. As a Kindle customer, I found this book to be truly myth-shattering. It meticulously dismantles the false narratives that have been spread over generations, replacing them with a thorough, evidence-based understanding of the original Valmiki Ramayan.What I appreciated most was how the author challenges the simplistic, often one-dimensional stereotypes we hold of its characters. Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, Ravana, and Hanuman are all shown to be far more complex than popular culture suggests. Ravana, for instance, isn't just the final villain; we learn that his end was a direct consequence of his own hubris and numerous previous defeats. Even the Rakshasas blamed him for the deaths of their own kin, and the foresight of Vibhishana and Kumbakarna is validated. Moreover, the roles of Angad and Sugreeva are elevated, proving they were essential and impactful characters rather than mere sidekicks.I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is truly interested in knowing the original Valmiki Ramayan, especially those who have grown up with popular TV serials or simplified versions. It’s an invaluable tool for separating fact from fiction and gaining a deeper, more truthful appreciation for the epic.I’ve given this book a five-star rating because of its meticulous research, fearless approach to correcting historical inaccuracies, and its ability to present a beloved story with a fresh and enlightening perspective. It's an indispensable addition to any enthusiast's collection.

Ami Ganatra's skill with words is the first thing one notices when they start reading this book.The way she teaches so much in a few words is truly amazing.Her take on the Ramayan, specially since she read the Sanskrit version of the epic, is very authentic and the way she explains the controversial actions of the most revered characters is simply genius.Her interpretation has made me feel very close to the epic and has increased my fondness for Shri Ram.Highly recommended book!

Most of the facts are majorly known to me but yeah learned something new which is always welcoming .If you are new to it , give it a go . It'll be worth the time ,

I recently finished reading “Ramayana Unravelled” and found it to be a thought-provoking exploration of the lesser-known facets of Rishi Valmiki’s epic. The author, Ami Ganatra, delves into the intricacies of the characters and the narrative with a keen eye, addressing common misconceptions and providing fresh insights into the motivations and actions of the central figures.The book is well-structured and presents a clear and concise analysis of the Ramayana, making it accessible to both those familiar with the epic and newcomers. Ganatra’s writing style is engaging, and she manages to unravel complex themes with ease, offering readers a deeper understanding of this timeless story.One of the highlights of the book is its examination of the relationships between the characters, particularly that of Rama and Sita. It challenges the reader to consider the epic from different perspectives and encourages a more nuanced interpretation of the events and their significance.While “Ramayana Unravelled” is a commendable effort to shed light on the Ramayana’s many layers, it occasionally lacks the depth that a subject of this magnitude deserves. Some areas could benefit from further elaboration, and there are moments where the narrative feels rushed.Overall, “Ramayana Unravelled” is a valuable addition to the body of work surrounding the Ramayana. It stands out for its clarity and the author’s ability to engage with the source material in a meaningful way. I would recommend it to anyone looking to gain a new perspective on an old classic. It’s a solid four-star read that leaves you with much to ponder.

The books are very good.Packaging was poor. But, they reached me is decent condition.

Ami Ganatra’s Ramayana Unravelled explores the lesser-known and often misunderstood aspects of Valmiki’s Ramayana. Rather than simply retelling the epic, the book examines important questions about Rama’s choices, Sita’s character, Ravana’s downfall, dharma, and controversial events from the story.Its greatest strength is its clear and accessible approach. The book encourages readers to look deeper into familiar events and understand them within their original context. However, readers looking for a complete traditional retelling may prefer reading the original Valmiki Ramayana alongside it.Overall: ⭐ 4.5/5A thought-provoking and insightful book for anyone who wants to **explore the Ramayana beyond the stories they already know.**

This book talks about the authentic Ramayana, as written by Rishi Valmiki. And covers a lot of topics like Raj-dharma , dharma , decision-making and its consequences. It also talks about differences among other fictional versions of Ramayana.A must have for every Hindu scripture and philosophy beginners . From my POV, every Hindu should read it , who is not well aware of Valmiki’s Ramayana.

Ami Ganatra, the author of this book, is an engineer with post-graduation in management, as well as a Sanskrit scholar and yoga instructor. After writing an acclaimed book on the Mahabharata, she has turned her attention to the Ramayana.There are many different versions of the Ramayana, but the original Sanskrit text is attributed to Rishi Valmiki, who was a contemporary of Rama himself. This book is sub-titled “Lesser-known Facets of Rishi Valmiki’s Epic” and the author has taken pains to provide detailed references to specific shlokas composed by Valmiki.Every Indian knows the basic story of the Ramayana, but this book provides many details which enable the reader to understand as well as appreciate the events. For example, the reader gets insights into the compulsions faced by Dashrath when he exiled Rama instead of coronating him, the righteous anger of Lakshmana, the devotion shown by Seeta and – above all – the attitude of Rama himself who carried out the unjust order of his father without a trace of anger or malice. Later, there are detailed insights into the character, as well as the actions, of Hanumana, Vali, Jatayu, Ravana, Vibhishana, etc. From a management viewpoint, these are timeless case studies about ethical dilemmas and their resolution.While the author has largely followed Valmiki’s narration, she has highlighted significant differences with other versions of the Ramayana, e.g. “… there is no mention of Lakshmana Rekha in Valmiki Ramayana. The text simply says that Lakshmana left the ashram praying to the forest devatas to protect Seeta.” The author also mentions another popular belief which does not find a place in Valmiki’s Ramayana, “Vali is said to have a boon through which, in face-to-face combat, he obtained half the strength of his opponent and became stronger, leaving the opponent weaker by half. This boon… was the reason for Rama attacking Vali from behind.”The author has commented on certain aspects of the text, e.g. she says that Valmiki described the battle between Rama and Ravana by using ‘Ananvaya Alankar’, a literary device “in which the object compared and the object with which the comparison is made is one and the same. It is used where the object or phenomenon is such that it has no parallel.”Some of the seemingly supernatural events may be allegorical. In other cases, the author has interpreted them with reference to her own technical background, e.g. the ‘Nala Setu’ connecting Lanka with the mainland has been described “not as magic that defies science but as a civil engineering project par excellence.”Read this book to gather fresh insights into the Ramayana and ponder over its intricacies.

I liked most about the style of story-telling by the author and keeping the essence of Valmiki Ramayana intact. It made me to read SANSKRIT WRITTEN RAMAYANA by our great RISHI VALMIKI G. A must read for a SANATANI. Thanks a lot to the author Ami Ganatra g for this piece of work.

This wonderful book is like a bridge between the reader and the original text of Valmiki Ramayan. The language is simple and easy to understand. It sheds a lot of light on all the different characters that are mostly perceived to be mistranslated in many depictions of Shri Ram, Sita and Lakshman. I found a lot of information about them and also learned about many events that took place. They are more real to me now than ever before and I feel much more connected to them.After reading the book, I find myself more enlightened about the role Shri Rama played in his times which was to bring a balance to the entire humanity by setting an example of maryada purushottama..Will recommend everyone and anyone to read this book!!!!

After listening to her podcast, I couldn’t wait to read Ramayana Unravelled. Now, I’ve already finished over 150 pages! The writing is beautiful and easy to understand. Thank you so much for this book. All I can say is—Jai Siya Ram!

Great summary and analysis of a timeless epic. Ami Ganatra answers the questions I had while reading this epic and refutes the anti-Hindu left wing narratives about the epic very well.

I learnt so much from this retelling of the Ramayan. Whilst, it us a story that I know inside/ out, some new light was shed on some of the popular incidents.