Influence of Ramayana has spread beyond Indian subcontinent, says Union Minister

The Ramayana has transcended the Indian subcontinent leaving a lasting legacy in the global consciousness, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said in Tiruchi.

The Ramayana has transcended the Indian subcontinent leaving a lasting legacy in the global consciousness, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said in Tiruchi on Tuesday.

The influence of the Ramayana has spread to Southeast Asia where versions of the epic have been adopted, adapted, and integrated into local cultures, the Minister said. He was inaugurating a State-wide initiative to promote Kamba Ramayana - one of the most significant works in Tamil literature — by the South Zone Cultural Centre (SZCC).

The Ramayana has shaped religious practices, art, and literature with numerous temples and cultural festivals dedicated to the epic, the Minister said and added that its connection between the North and the South India was particularly profound. While Valmiki’s Ramayana in Sanskrit laid the foundation in the north, Kambar’s Tamil Ramayana gave it a distinct regional voice.

“Despite differences in language, geography and cultural practices, the shared narrative of Lord Rama binds us together fostering a sense of unity and collective identity.” The connection between Kambar’s Tamil Ramayana and Valmiki’s Sanskrit version highlight the diversity and unity of India’s cultural heritage, the Minister said. The Ramayana in its many forms had inspired countless works of art, literature, music, and dance worldwide, he added.  

The initiative by the SZCC will feature a series of performances at various temples across Tamil Nadu, workshops, symposia, and educational competitions aimed at reviving the oral tradition of Kamba Ramayana recitals and its broader cultural impact.

The initiative is spread over three phases each contributing to the preservation and spread of Kamba Ramayana. Performances in important temples across the State, including Thirupullambuthangudi, Madurantakam, Thiruneermalai, and Vaduvur will be held in phase I after the inaugural event.

In phase-II, a week-long Kamba Ramayana festival will be held at Kambarmedu in Therazhundur — the birthplace of poet Kambar who penned the epic in Tamil. This festival will feature continuous recitals of Kamba Ramayana, dance dramas, and scholarly discussions on the cultural and literary significance of the epic. Dance performances will bring the story to life in innovative theatrical styles.